Milwaukee County Transit System
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Milwaukee County Transit System
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| Parent | Milwaukee County Government |
| Founded | June 1, 1975 |
| Headquarters | 1942 North 17th St.Coordinates: 43°03′18.5″N 87°55′59″W / 43.055139°N 87.93306°W Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Service area | Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Waukesha counties |
| Service type | bus service |
| Routes | 50 |
| Hubs | Downtown Transit Center |
| Fleet | 416 buses |
| Daily ridership | 166,600 (Q2 2008 avg. weekday) |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
| Web site | ridemcts.com |
![[1]](http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/35353_10150235735755192_191072575191_13912073_2399137_n.jpg){kind=link}
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. The county-run agency was formed in 1975 after it took over the assets of the Milwaukee & Suburban Transport Company, a private operator.
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Bus fleet
MCTS operates a fleet of 416 New Flyer low floor buses. 387 (384 active; three inactive) are 40 feet (12 m) long, and 29 (12 active; 17 inactive) of them are 30 feet (9.1 m), including five Gillig Advantage low floor buses dedicated to the Ozaukee County Express (Route 143).
Fleet numbers
Active
| Numbers | Builder | Model | Delivered |
Notes
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000-1004 | Gillig | Advantage | 2002 | |
| 4300-4389 | New Flyer | D40LF | 2000 | 39 equipped with an Automatic Passenger Counting System from InfoDev; 4306/4310/4361/4384 already inactive and retired. Remaining units are slowly being removed and are slated for retirement in 2013 |
| 4400-4468 | New Flyer | D40LF | 2001 | |
| 4500-4519 | New Flyer | D30LF | 2002 | 4500/4501/4502/4506/4509/4512/4516/4517 inactive and retired |
| 4600-4639 | New Flyer | D40LF | 2002 | 4604 inactive |
| 4700-4750 | New Flyer | D40LF | 2003 | |
| 4800-4829 | New Flyer | D40LF | 2004 | |
| 4900-4914 | New Flyer | D40LF | late 2004 | officially “2005” as that is when they were paid for |
| 5000-5008 | New Flyer | D40LF | January 2006 | |
| 5100-5189 | New Flyer | D40LFR | July 2010 | first to feature near-zero emissions |
| 5200-5234 | New Flyer | D40LFR | May 2011 | |
| 5300-5354 | New Flyer | D40LFR | 2012 | On order; to arrive July 2012 |
Retired
| Numbers | Builder | Model | Delivered | Withdrawn |
Notes
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-MCTS (ex Transport Co. fleet) | |||||
| 1320-1483 | GMC | TDH-5105 | 1953-1957 & 1959 | 1980 | |
| 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 |
| 1761-1770 | GMC | TDH-5302 | 1960 | 1985 | Originally operated by Triboro Coach; 1761 and 1762 were used as sightseeing buses and can be distinguished by their scenic windows. |
| 1801-1863 | GMC | TDH-5303 | 1965 | 1987 | |
| 1901-1960 | GMC | TDH-5303 | 1966 | 2001 | Refurbished in 1982-1987 and repainted into MCTS' white with green stripe |
| 2001-2030 | GMC | TDH-5303 | 1967 | 2001 | Refurbished in 1982-1987 and repainted into MCTS colors; 2001 was converted into a special bus that was used for handicapped and elderly use |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 3300-3325 | Neoplan | AN416 | 1982 | 1996 | Ordered with wheelchair lifts which were removed before entering service |
| 3326-3343 | Neoplan | AN416 | 1982 | 1991 | |
| 3400–3439 | Crown-Ikarus | 286 | 1984[1] | 2000 | 60-foot articulated buses |
| 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. |
| 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 | |
| 4200-4208 | New Flyer | D30LF | 1997 | 2010 | |
Future Fleet
- In July 2009 MCTS announced that it had ordered 180 new 40-foot (12 m) buses from New Flyer. The first 90 buses arrived in May 2010 to replace the first generation D40LFs from the 1996 order[2]. This was followed in November 2009 by an additional order for another 90 40-foot (12 m) buses from New Flyer to arrive in 2011 (to replace the 2000 units), thus continuing MCTS' relationship with the bus manufacturer[3].
Bus routes and fares
Most of the year, MCTS operates more than 50 bus routes covering about 90% of Milwaukee County and parts of Waukesha County and Ozaukee County. In addition, special routes are run for certain festivals, sports games, and other special events.
As of January 3, 2010, 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 $64.00. Free transfers are given within 1 hour of paying fare.[4]
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.
Future Projects
MCTS is currently involved in the Milwaukee Streetcar project, which is planning a streetcar line between Milwaukee's downtown and East Side neighborhoods. The streetcar project is being led by the city of Milwaukee after the failure of earlier guided bus and BRT proposals to gain political approval. The City Council approved the project on July 26, 2011, with construction to begin in the fall of 2012 and new streetcars to arrive in 2013. The service is scheduled for a 2014 launch.[5]
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[6].
References
- ^ Schultz, Russell E. (May-June 1986). "Milwaukee Part V [of history of transit in that city]: Milwaukee County Transit System, 1975 to 1985". Motor Coach Age, pp. 3–36. Motor Bus Society. ISSN 0739-117X.
- ^ Press release from New Flyer (July 21, 2009)
- ^ From New Flyer (November 5, 2009)
- ^ "Transfers - Milwaukee County Transit System". http://ridemcts.com/Fares-and-Passes/Transfers/.
- ^ Milwaukee Streetcar
- ^ "Bill could have public paying again for buses" from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (March 3, 2010)
External links
- Milwaukee County Transit System
- Milwaukee Connector Project
- Southeast Wisconsin Transit System website
- Milwaukee's transit history
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