Milwaukee County Transit System

Milwaukee County Transit System

Parent	Milwaukee County Government
Founded	June 1, 1975
Headquarters	1942 North 17th St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Service area	Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Waukesha counties
Service type	bus service
Routes	50+
Hubs	Downtown Transit Center (Wisconsin Ave)
Stations	Kinnicknnic Ave Garage, Fond du Lac Ave Garage, Fiebrantz Garage
Fleet	About 400 buses
Daily ridership	151,000 (2011 avg. weekday)
Fuel type	Diesel
Operator	Milwaukee Transport Services, Inc.
Website	Milwaukee County Transit System

The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) is the largest transit agency in Wisconsin, and is the primary transit provider for Milwaukee County. It ranks among the top 50 transit agencies in the United States for total passenger trips. The Milwaukee Transport Services, Inc. is a quasi-governmental agency responsible for the management and operation of the Milwaukee County Transit System. The county-run agency was formed in 1975 (under the direction of the "newly" created Milwaukee Transport Services, Inc.) after taking over the assets of the Milwaukee & Suburban Transport Company, a private operator.

Bus fleet

MCTS bus 4413, a 2001 New Flyer D40LF

MCTS operates a fleet of over 400 New Flyer low floor buses. All buses are 40 feet (12 m) long.

Fleet numbers

Active

Numbers	Builder	Model	Delivered	Notes
4600-4639	New Flyer	D40LF	April 2002	All retired 4616, 4619, 4636 & 4638 inactive. 4607, 4614, 4617, 4626, 4632, 4633 & 4639 were converted as fare collection buses for Summerfest & Wisconsin State Fair for 2 seasons (2014-2015).
4700-4750	New Flyer	D40LF	Feb. 2003	22 active as of Nov. 24, 2016 4700, 4703, 4704, 4708, 4709, 4717, 4718, 4719, 4720, 4730, 4731, 4733, 4735, 4737, 4741, 4742, 4744, 4745, 4746, 4748, 4749, 4750 A number are being retired by new buses. A few buses have cameras on the sides. 24 inactive (4701, 4702, 4706, 4707, 4710, 4711, 4712, 4713, 4721, 4723, 4724, 4725, 4726, 4727, 4728, 4729, 4732, 4734, 4736, 4738, 4739, 4740, 4743, 4747)
4800-4829	New Flyer	D40LF	January 2004	Buses have cameras on the outside. 4815 in storage
4900-4914	New Flyer	D40LF	October 2004	officially “2005” as that is when they were paid for; a future purchase for 15 more buses (4915-4929) were canceled due to cuts.
5000-5008	New Flyer	D40LF	January 2006	A future purchase for 23 buses (5009-5031) were canceled due to cuts. 5008 in storage
5100-5189	New Flyer	D40LFR	August 2010	first to feature near-zero emissions
5200-5234	New Flyer	D40LFR	April 2011	A few buses have cameras on the sides and back of the bus.
5300-5354	New Flyer	D40LFR	March 2012
5400-5454	New Flyer	XD40	July 2013	Clean air buses; first fleet in MCTS' history to feature rear destination signs on the back of the bus. Some buses have cameras on the sides and back of the bus.
5500-5534	New Flyer	XD40	January 2014	Clean air buses
5600-5627	New Flyer	XD40	October 2015	Clean air buses with new interior features, such as an automatically opening electronic smart door at the back of the bus. 2 were canceled due to increased costs. NO 5628 & 5629. 5601 & 5603 used for demonstrations in September. 5601 was first new bus in service on Route 19 on Friday October 2, 2015.
5700-5729	New Flyer	XD40	August 2016	Feature cameras on the outside of the bus. All active as of Dec. 2.
5800-5816?	New Flyer	TBD	TBD 2017	Per the specifications of the contract that was awarded to New Flyer in 2014, This coincides with the last of the 75 new buses to be delivered in 2017, with 28 delivered in 2015, 30 in 2016, and 17, depending on increased costs, in 2017.

Retired

Numbers	Builder	Model	Delivered	Withdrawn	Notes
Pre-MCTS (ex Transport Co. fleet)
1320-1483	GMC	TDH-5105	1953-1957 & 1959	1980	1329 & 1343 painted in UWM black & metallic gold in 1975; 1335, 1336, 1339, 1406, 1411, 1415, 1421, 1428, 1430, 1432, 1446 & 1456 painted in two-tone county green in late 1975/early 1976. (All were painted for WTMJ Ch. 4 except 1456) 1466, 1467, 1470, 1473, 1474, 1477, 1479, 1481, 1482 & 1483 painted in dark green and white for Downtown ShuttleBug (Route 7) in 1975. 1483 is the last TDH-5105 built (1959)
1484-1503	GMC	TDH-5301	1960	1985
1504-1586	GMC	TDH-5301	1962	1985
1601-1675	GMC	TDH-5303	1963	1986
1701-1730	GMC	TDH-5303	1964	1986
1751-1760	GMC	TDH-5301	1960	1985	Originally operated by Triboro Coach and acquired in early 1965
1761-1770	GMC	TDH-5302	1960	1985	Originally operated by Triboro Coach and acquired in early 1965; 1761 and 1762 were used as sightseeing buses and can be distinguished by their scenic windows. 1761 used at Mitchell Field [Mitchell International Airport after 1986] (1982-1990)
1801-1863	GMC	TDH-5303	1965	1987	1825 first to be painted in two-tone county green. Were in the plan to be rehabilitated and later dropped.
1901-1960	GMC	TDH-5303	1966	2001	1949 painted white w/green stripe before being rehabbed. Refurbished in 1982-1987 and repainted into MCTS' white with green stripe except 1911 and 1945, retired early and not rehabilitated.
2001-2030	GMC	TDH-5303	1967	2001	Refurbished in 1982-1987 and repainted into MCTS colors except 2024, retired early and not rehabilitated; 2001 was converted into a special bus that was used for handicapped and elderly use (1979-1994); 2003 used as a shuttle at Mitchell International Airport (1996-1998).
Post-MCTS (1975 to present)
3000-3099	Flxible	53102-8-1	1978	1991	First order to feature handicapped seating and lifts and first with air conditioning; introduced MCTS' new color scheme. 3032 used at Mitchell International Airport (1990-1996). 3000 is the last 53102-8-1 built
3100-3249	GMC	RTS-II	1980	2000	First group to display route numbers on right end rear windows. Refurbished in 1987-1990 to add new vertically opening windows and new air conditioning units. 3219-3224 equipped with turbo engines and the only 6 plus a demo. 3120 & 3127 had Cummins engines.
3300-3325	Neoplan	N416	1982	1996	40-ft. Ordered with wheelchair lifts which were removed before entering service. Only 76 of this model built, only MCTS & Atlanta (MARTA) had them plus one demo.
3326-3343	Neoplan	N416	1982	1991	35-ft. Only 18 built and for MCTS. 3334 used at Milwaukee County House of Correction as C3334 (1993-1996).
3400–3439	Crown-Ikarus	286	1984	2000	60-foot articulated buses Very few systems had them, Portland (Tri-Met), Louisville (TARC), Houston and others.
3500-3571	Neoplan	AN440	1985-1986	2002	Second generation; non-wheelchair
3600-3656	Neoplan	AN440	1987	2002	Third generation: longer wheelbase moved rear axle further away from exit door; non-wheelchair. These series had 2 engine types. 3600-3619 were Cummins while 3620-3656 had Detroit Diesel.
3700-3816	Orion	05.501	1990-1991	2004	3700-3801 was the last order without wheelchair lifts; 3802-3816 were assigned to the Metrolink route and were identified by an orange stripe adjacent to MCTS's green; wheelchair lifts; last buses to display route destination numbers on right side rear windows.
4000-4145	New Flyer	D40LF	1996-1997	2011	A number placed in storage from mid 2009 to early 2010 due to cuts
4200-4208	New Flyer	D30LF	1997	2010	Placed in storage in 2008 due to cuts
4300-4389	New Flyer	D40LF	2000	?	Originally retired in 2014. 4302, 4304, 4305, 4320, 4329, 4348 returned to service in Jan. 2015. 4305 and 4320 still in revenue service as of Nov. 29, 2016 & soon to be re-retired & replaced by new buses.
4400-4468	New Flyer	D40LF	2001	2015	Originally retired in 2014. 4417, 4434, 4466 returned to service in Jan. 2015 and re-retired in Sept 2015. 4426, 4439 & 4447 were converted as fare collection buses for Summerfest & Wisconsin State Fair for 2 seasons (2014-2015). 4418 was the only bus in MCTS' history in which a homicide took place on board.
4500-4519	New Flyer	D30LF	2002	2012	4501, 4507, 4510, 4515-4519 went to Sheboygan after 2012
3900-3911	Gillig	Spirit	1991	2001	First used on light routes in 1991. MetroLink orange stripe added in 1992 and used primarily on feeder routes that connected to the Metrolink Route 1. Very few systems had these mini-buses such as Dayton RTA, Monterey-Salinas, Colorado Springs and others.
1000-1004	Gillig	Advantage	2002	2014	Used exclusively for Ozaukee County service. Officially retired on June 8, 2014, with 4 examples of this series being purchased by Wausau Transit System to replace buses that had structural problems. Bus 1004 has been out of service before the retirement due to transmission problems

Relationship with New Flyer

MCTS has had a very long and exclusive relationship with New Flyer since 1996, as their buses have all been first and second generation D40LFs. In Summer 2013 MCTS added 90 New Flyer Excelsiors to its lineup, thus continuing their partnership with NFI as their coach of choice. 55 were delivered in Summer 2013 & the additional 35 in 2014. On October 6, 2014, a Release of Request for Proposal for 75 new buses by the Milwaukee Transport Services, Inc., (MTS), was issued. An award on this contract was issued in December 2014 to New Flyer. The order calls for 75 new buses to be delivered within a 3 year delivery span that begins in 2015 and ending in 2017. In December 2015, MCTS tested a New Flyer Xcelsior that ran on electrically charged batteries that can operate for 120 miles. MCTS is looking at this pilot study as part of a plan to add more non-diesel buses to future fleet orders.

Bus routes

See also: List of MCTS Bus Routes

Most of the year, MCTS operates more than 50 bus routes covering about 90% of Milwaukee County and parts of Waukesha County, Ozaukee County, and Washington County. In addition, special routes are run for certain festivals, sports games, and other special events.

Fares

As of September 2013, the adult, regular, non-discounted bus fare on MCTS is $2.25. 10 pack tickets or a weekly pass can be purchased for $17.50. A monthly pass is $64. Free transfers are given within 1 hour of paying fare.

In 2013, MCTS finalized plans for a transition from paper fare media (tickets, printed passes, and paper transfers) to a contactless smart card known as the M•CARD, with the project completion Leap Day 2016. While exact fares will still be accepted in cash, the M•CARD allows passengers to add daily, weekly, and monthly passes, store a declining value, and receive transfers automatically.

M•CARD Timeline and Transition Milestones

September 29, 2014: M•CARD passes (1, 7 or 31 day) launched at select sales outlets.

October 13, 2014: M•CARD customers were able to purchase Stored Cash Value.

April 6, 2015: MCTS begins issuing a one-time $2.00 charge fee for NEW! M•CARD purchase.

August 5, 2015: M•CARD Online launched (Currently in Beta Testing).

November 16, 2015: M•CARD customers could purchase a 1-Day Pass from the farebox.

Coming 2016: M•CARD Lite (a disposable limited use smartcard) will be available to social service agencies and non-profit organizations.

Beginning February 29, 2016, the distribution of paper transfers and outlets that sale paper fare media will be discontinued! Transfers will only be available electronically (even for cash paying passengers), marking the beginning of an all M•CARD fare structure. Any remaining paper tickets will still accepted as fare through December 31, 2016.

The new fare system was funded predominantly by federal stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Other transit services

MCTS is a partner in the Southeast Wisconsin Transit System, a joint-venture transit partnership that also includes Waukesha Metro Transit and Wisconsin Coach Lines in Waukesha, Washington County Commuter Express operated by Riteway Bus Service in Richfield, Belle Urban System (THE BUS) in Racine and Kenosha Area Transit (KAT) in Kenosha.

Other projects

Regional Transit Authority

In 2010, a proposal to form a regional transit authority that would incorporate MCTS was made in the Wisconsin State Legislature. The move faced opposition from some lawmakers, and was vetoed by then Governor Doyle.

See also

• Milwaukee Streetcar

External links

• Milwaukee County Transit System
• Milwaukee Streetcar Project
• Southeast Wisconsin Transit System website
• Milwaukee's transit history