Southeast Wisconsin Transit System
Southeast Wisconsin Transit System is a marketing partnership of five public transit agencies covering the Greater Milwaukee Area in the United States. These operators provide local or intercounty commuter service in the counties of Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, and Waukesha. Washington County and Ozaukee County were formerly a part of the partnership until 2023 and 2024 when their county boards respectively elected to discontinue their transit service without replacement.[1] The partnership is not exclusive, each agency or company maintains separate marketing departments and advertising programs. The partnership does not include joint or coordinated operations, interline fares or transfers, coordinated grant or funding, or coordinated expense sharing as that type of cooperation would be barred by state law. A Wisconsin state law passed in 2011 authored by Stephen Nass and signed by then governor Scott Walker prohibits regional transportation authorities effectively barring agencies from creating formal alliances and funding agreements.[2] Repercussions from that 2011 law and the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in significant reductions of service particularly in the WOW Counties of suburban Milwaukee.
Participating Transit Services
[edit]- Milwaukee County Transit System (Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties)
- Waukesha Metro Transit (Waukesha local and Milwaukee commuter service)
- Ryde Racine (Racine; commuter service to Milwaukee and Kenosha counties)
- Kenosha Transit (Kenosha)
- Western Kenosha County Transit (Kenosha, operated by Kenosha County)
Former Services
[edit]- Ozaukee County Commuter Express
- Washington County Commuter Express (Richfield; commuter service between Milwaukee and Washington counties)