Milwaukee County Transit System

Milwaukee County Transit System

Founded	June 1, 1975 (49 years ago)
Headquarters	1942 North 17th Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Service area	Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and Waukesha counties
Service type	Bus Bus rapid transit
Routes	42
Stops	4,591
Stations	2
Depots	Fond du Lac Operating Station Kinnickinnic Operating Station
Fleet	360 buses
Daily ridership	87,500 (weekdays, Q3 2024)[1]
Annual ridership	17,507,900 (2023)[2]
Operator	Milwaukee Transport Services, Inc.
Chief executive	Denise Wandke
Website	www.ridemcts.com

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.^[3] Milwaukee Transport Services, Inc. is a quasi-governmental agency responsible for the management and operation of the Milwaukee County Transit System.^[4] Its bus fleet consists of 360 buses. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 17,507,900, or about 87,500 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.

Public transit operations began in Milwaukee during 1860. The service consisted of two horse drawn cars. On June 1, 1975, Milwaukee County took over the bus system and established the Milwaukee County Transit System after taking over the assets of the Milwaukee & Suburban Transport Company, a private operator.

In 2009, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle proposed a three-county Regional Transit Authority that would incorporate MCTS.^[5] The proposal faced opposition from some lawmakers and the Regional Transit Authority was never created.^[6]

In late 2013 into the early part of 2014, MCTS began debuting new technology onboard buses. This included introducing real-time bus information allowing passengers to track the exact location of buses, new fareboxes and an electronic fare system by virtue of a smart card (M•CARD), and a stop announcement system complete with visual and audio information. Clever Devices is the provider of the real-time bus information and stop annunciator system, whereas the new fareboxes were provided by Scheidt & Bachmann.^[7]

In 2018, MCTS began a comprehensive study and overview of the entire fixed-route system and began the process of implementing a new system with faster service, more connections, and easier-to-understand routes. Multiple community meetings and forums were held to gather public input on the project. Prior to the project, only about 40% of the system was high-frequency routes, defined as routes on which buses come every 15 minutes during peak hours. The consensus from the study was that riders wanted faster service and were willing to walk extra distance to bus stops. MCTS presented two options - transition the system to an 80-20 model, meaning 80% of the routes would be high-frequency, or a 60-40 model with 60% of the routes high-frequency, the latter being what the public ultimately decided. MCTS analyzed every bus stop in the system and removed some lightly used bus stops to speed up service.^[8] The system overhaul was implemented in 3 phases in 2021, with the first one beginning March 7. This phase involved Routes 15, 19, 31, 33, 35, 51, 52, 63, and the introduction of new routes 20 and 68. The second phase was implemented June 6, 2021, and involved changes to routes PurpleLine, 12, 14, 21, 53, 57 and 80, with new routes 11, 34, 58 and 88 being introduced. The final phase of the project, implemented August 29, 2021, affected routes BlueLine, 22, 28, 54, 55, 56, 60, 76, with new routes 18, 66 and 92 and the retirement of routes 64 and 67. The reimagined transit system was accompanied by a 14% increase in ridership after the first phase was implemented.^[9]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks were required on all MCTS buses. In the early stages of the pandemic, there was a passenger limit of 10 passengers per bus, which was increased to 15, but rescinded on July 1, 2021.^[10] Passengers were encouraged to limit interaction with the bus driver, exit through the back door, and to use contactless fare forms, such as the M•CARD or Ride MCTS app.^[11]

MCTS began transitioning their fare system away from the M•CARD in favor of the WisGo card and Umo App, in mid-2023, with the M•CARD becoming invalid on October 1, 2023. Riders can pay fare via the Umo App using a credit or debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Instead of showing the validation code in the Umo app to the driver, mobile users now hold the validation code up to new fare validators. The new fare system also features the WisGo Card, which effectively replaced the M•CARD. The ability to load 1, 7 and 31-day passes was eliminated in favor of stored value that never expires. The Go Pass and Reduced Fare programs were consolidated into one encompassing Reduced Fare Program. 90-minute transfers will be available for Umo app and WisGo card users and will cost $2 per transfer for regular adult fare, and $1 per transfer for reduced fare users. The new fare system features fare capping, ensuring regular riders do not pay more than $4 daily, $19.50 weekly, and $72 monthly, and reduced fare riders will not pay more than $2 daily, $11 weekly and $32 monthly. Cash remains a payment option, but riders using cash are not eligible for transfers or fare capping. The full adult cash fare was reduced from $2.25 to $2.00 to expedite fare payments (from $1.10 to $1.00 for reduced fare).^[12]

The U-Pass was replaced with a variant of the WisGo smartcard that will provide college students with unlimited rides through their university. Commuter Value Pass users also have a special WisGo smartcard issued by their employer that will provide them with the same benefits as the original CVP program did. CVP users can also use the Umo app.^[13]

The East-West BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), now known as the CONNECT 1 BRT, is an 9-mile (14 km) route that serves the region's most traveled corridor. The BRT route runs primarily along Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee and Bluemound Road in Wauwatosa, connecting riders from Downtown Milwaukee and Marquette University to the west side of the city to the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center (MRMC).^[14] Its goal is to connect thousands of people to and from work, universities, and recreational centers. It features battery-electric buses with USB charging, off-board fare collection, special bus shelters with ramps for ADA accessibility, and dedicated travel lanes along portions of the route.^[15]

In late 2018, the project design was finalized, and subsequently received federal approval.^[16] MCTS utilized a Small Starts Grant Agreement from the Federal Transit Administration, which accounts for $40.9 million of the $55 million project.^[17]

On March 11, 2021, MCTS announced they selected Nova Bus as the manufacturer of 15 LFSe+ battery-electric buses, 11 of which will be used for the new BRT line. MCTS was the first transit system in the United States to have been awarded a contract for Nova LFSe+ buses.^[18][19] The CONNECT 1 officially debuted June 4, 2023. The delivery of the Nova LFSe+ buses has been significantly delayed due to supply chain issues. The first 9 buses were delivered by October 2022. On August 25, 2023, these 9 electric buses were temporarily pulled from service due to a battery recall as a result of a potential manufacturing issue. Nova Bus financed the battery replacements, and all eventually returned to service.^[20] Subsequently, 1009 and 1010 were delivered around October 2023 and 1011 and 1012 were delivered in May 2024. The remaining two buses of the 15-bus order are expected to be delivered by Summer 2024. The off-board fare equipment was also significantly delayed due to supply chain issues, resulting in an extension of the free fare period for the CONNECT 1 until April 8, 2024.^[21] It is estimated that by 2035, MCTS Connect will average more than 9,500 weekday riders, with overall transit ridership in the corridor increasing by 17%.^[22]On June 2, 2024, the line was extended to The Couture, stopping at a transit concourse at the base of the building that is shared with The Hop.

MCTS is known for its bus drivers doing good deeds around the city of Milwaukee, such as rescuing lost children, helping people with disabilities cross busy streets, and much more. Videos of such acts have gone viral, placing MCTS in the national spotlight. This recognition has resulted in MCTS receiving honors from organizations such as PETA^[23] to an Innovators Award from the American Public Transportation Association in July 2019.^[24] MCTS was also featured on a December 2018 episode of Inside Edition.^[25]

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Numbers	Builder	Model	Delivered	Notes
5100-5189	New Flyer	D40LFR	August 2010	First to feature near-zero emissions. 5133, 5163, 5168, 5183, 5189 active as of December 2024.
5200-5234	New Flyer	D40LFR	April 2011	5211, 5217, 5224, 5228-5230 active as of December 2024.
5300-5354	New Flyer	D40LFR	March 2012	5302-5305, 5308, 5310, 5314, 5318, 5323, 5325, 5327, 5328, 5331, 5333, 5337, 5339, 5340, 5344-5346, 5349-5352, 5354 active as of December 2024.
5400-5454	New Flyer	XD40	July 2013	All active as of December 2024. Clean air buses; first fleet in MCTS' history to feature rear destination signs on the back of the bus.
5500-5534	New Flyer	XD40	January 2014	5500, 5502-5533 are active as of December 2024. 5501 retired due to a crash at Teutonia & Silver Spring in 2024. 5534 retired from a fire caused by a mechanical failure on April 27, 2024.
5600-5627	New Flyer	XD40	October 2015	All active as of December 2024. Clean air buses with new interior features, such as an automatically opening electronic smart door at the back of the bus.[26] 5628 & 5629 were canceled due to increased costs. 5601 was first new bus in service on Route 19 on Friday October 2, 2015.[27]
5700-5729	New Flyer	XD40	August 2016	All active as of December 2024. 5713 features a white front LED destination sign. 5729 features an automatic Quantum wheelchair securement system.
5800-5814	New Flyer	XD40	August 2017	All active as of December 2024. First fleet in MCTS' history to feature aluminum rims.
5900-5927	Gillig	Low Floor BRT	June 2019	All active as of December 2024. First full fleet in MCTS' history to feature white LED destination signs and MCTS first Gillig order in decades.
6000-6022	Gillig	Low Floor BRT	June 2020	6000-6014, 6016-6022 active as of December 2024. 6015 retired due to damage from a very bad crash on September 11, 2022 at 11th & Mitchell.
6100-6113	Gillig	Low Floor BRT	2021	All active as of December 2024. The first part of a 73-bus order.[28]
6200-6258	Gillig	Low Floor BRT	2022	All active as of December 2024. The second part of a 73-bus order. 6239, 6249, 6251-6258 were used exclusively for the CONNECT 1 BRT until September 20, 2024 when they started appearing on other routes.
1000-1014	Nova Bus	LFSe+	November 2022	1000-1009, 1011-1014 active as of December 2024. 1010 was severely damaged in an accident on April 20, 2024 near 35th and Wisconsin Avenue.[29] This is Nova Bus' first order for LFSe+ buses in the United States, and Milwaukee's first battery-electric buses. These buses feature USB charging, an automatic Quantum wheelchair securement system, and produce chimes when approaching stops for visually impaired riders. The buses also feature a new light blue paint scheme specifically designed for the CONNECT branding, as opposed to the normal blue, green and yellow MCTS livery.[30][31] The first 9 buses were delivered by late 2022, with 1009 and 1010 being delivered around October 2023, and 1011 and 1012 being delivered in May 2024. 1011 entered service on May 5, 2024, and 1012 entered service on May 11, 2024. They run exclusively on the CONNECT 1 BRT.
6300-6327	Gillig	Advantage	2024[32]	These buses will replace the remaining 5100/5200 series D40LFRs from 2010-2011 and accelerate the retirement of the 5300 series D40LFRs from 2012. The new Gilligs are regular Advantage Low Floor models, compared to the 5900-6200 series BRT Low Floors that MCTS previously received. They feature the Quantum automatic wheelchair securement system. All 28 buses have been delivered and are active as of November 3, 2024.

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	Were in the plan to be rehabilitated and later dropped.
1901-1960	GMC	TDH-5303	1966	2001	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[33]	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.
3900-3911	Gillig	Spirit	1991	2001
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	2017	Originally retired in 2014. 4302, 4304, 4305, 4320, 4329, 4348 returned to service in Jan. 2015. 4305 and 4320 were still active in late 2016 .
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.[34]
4500-4519	New Flyer	D30LF	2002	2012	4501, 4507, 4510, 4515-4519 went to Sheboygan after 2012
4600-4639	New Flyer	D40LF	2002	2017	4607, 4614, 4617, 4626, 4633, & 4639 were converted as fare collection buses for Summerfest and Wisconsin State Fair for 2 seasons ( 2014-2015 ).
4700-4750	New Flyer	D40LF	2003	2019
4800-4829	New Flyer	D40LF	2004	2019	4801 used for a cooling-down spot at Summerfest.
4900-4914	New Flyer	D40LF	2004	2019	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	2004	2019	A purchase for 23 buses (5009-5031) were canceled due to cuts.
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

The Milwaukee County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) plans to seek approximately $55.2 million in federal grants for bus replacements to help finance the Milwaukee County Transit System's transition to an electric fleet. If the county secures the full grant awards MCTS is applying for, that would pay for 32 battery-electric buses and 60 clean-diesel buses.^[35]

In March 2023, Milwaukee County was awarded $8.4 million from the state to support the purchase of 16 battery electric buses (BEBs).^[36]

In January 2012, MCTS introduced three new express bus routes under the brand MetroEXpress. The GreenLine, BlueLine, and RedLine routes have a larger stop spacing than other routes.^[37][38]

In August 2014, MCTS launched two new bus routes: Route 6 (New Berlin Industrial Park Express) and Route 279 (Menomonee Falls Industrial Park Express) and were marketed as "JobLines". These bus routes were the result of a lawsuit against the Department of Transportation claiming that the Zoo Interchange reconstruction project was discriminatory in that it only benefitted commuters from the predominantly White suburbs and did not advocate for public transit improvements in the city. As a result, the state spent $13.5 million on transit improvements, $11.5 million of which supported the funding for the routes until 2018.^[39][40] Route 6 traveled from Port Washington Road & Capitol Drive, along Capitol Drive, Mayfair Road, Bluemound Road, and Moorland Road through the New Berlin Industrial Park to Buy Seasons in New Berlin. Route 279 traveled along Fond Du Lac Avenue from 35th Street to the Park Place Business Park, and then on to the Menomonee Falls Business Park to Pilgrim Road P+R Lot.

On January 18, 2015, the number 10 route was withdrawn. The route, which dated back to the 1920s, was the last streetcar in Milwaukee on its conversion to bus operation in 1958.^[41] Two express services (GoldLine and PurpleLine) were introduced, with the PurpleLine offering express service on 27th Street from Glendale to Franklin, and the GoldLine effectively replacing Route 10 service from Brookfield to Downtown Milwaukee, and also being aligned with Route 30 to serve UWM. Route 61, a third "JobLine", was also introduced, which traveled from 35th Street & Capitol Drive, and ran northwest along Keefe Avenue, Appleton Avenue, Silver Spring Drive, Falls Parkway, and County Line Road to Germantown Walmart.^[42] Route 279 was eliminated on August 27, 2016, because of extremely low ridership. The remaining funding for the route was reallocated into Routes 6 and 61.^[43]

In 2018, the system operated 59 routes with 5,190 bus stops. In December 2018, it was announced that Routes 6 and 61 were retiring due to the end of the Zoo Interchange settlement funding. Both routes were retired by January 6, 2019, with Route 57 being reconfigured to still serve Waukesha County and Germantown Walmart, effectively replacing Route 61, until funding expiration on August 24, 2019. ^[44][45] This temporary extension was a result of additional funds being appropriated by Milwaukee County.^[46] In 2020, MCTS operated 48 routes with 4,591 bus stops.^[47]

All freeway flyer routes, including Routes 79, 137 and 143, in addition to the Cream Puff Line (service to Wisconsin State Fair), the Summerfest Shuttle (informally Route 7) and the Brewers Line (service to Brewers games at American Family Field) were formally eliminated towards the end of 2022 due to a projected budget shortfall in 2025.^[48] The 3 UBUS routes have continued normal operation. MCTS provided two Summerfest freeway flyers in 2023, Route 40S, operating from the College Avenue Park and Ride lots, and Route 49S, operating from the Brown Deer Road East Park and Ride Lot.^[49]

The CONNECT 1 Bus Rapid Transit route officially began June 4, 2023, providing service between Downtown Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center via Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee and Bluemound Road in Wauwatosa. It was the first BRT route in the state of Wisconsin joined a year later in 2024 by the Metro Transit Rapid A route in Madison.

Milwaukee County Transit System – Summerfest Flyer Bus Routes

Route No.	Name	First Stop	Last Stop
40S	College Ave Summerfest Flyer	College Ave P+R Lots (Northeast & Southwest)	Summerfest Chicago Harbor
43S	Hales Corners Summerfest Flyer	Hales Corners P+R Lot	Summerfest Chicago Harbor
49S	Brown Deer Rd Summerfest Flyer	Brown Deer Rd East P+R Lot	Summerfest Chicago Harbor

Milwaukee County Transit System – Current Bus Routes

Route No.	Name	First Stop	Last Stop
BlueLine	Fond du Lac-Mill	Milwaukee Intermodal Station	Fond du Lac/Hampton 124th/Bradley
GreenLine	Bayshore-Airport (via Oakland-Howell)	General Mitchell Int'l Airport	Bayshore Town Center
PurpleLine	27th Street	College-Walmart Drexel-IKEA Loomis/29th	Bayshore Town Center
RedLine	Capitol Drive	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	127th/Capitol Pick 'N Save
CONNECT 1 BRT	Wisconsin-Bluemound Bus Rapid Transit	The Couture	Watertown Plank P&R
11	Hampton Avenue	Hampton/Green Bay	Hampton/124th
12	Teutonia Avenue	Milwaukee Intermodal Station	Service Road/Schroeder
14	Humboldt Boulevard	Wisconsin/Cass	Bayshore Town Center
15	Holton-Kinnickinnic	Chicago/Drexel	Richards/Capitol
18	National-Greenfield	Milwaukee School of Engineering Viet Field (Broadway/Knapp)	Beyond Vision VisAbility Center (108th/Lapham) Industries for the Blind & Visually Impaired Greenfield/124th
19	Dr. MLK Drive-S. 13th	Zellman Court (13th/College) Oak Creek (Centennial-Target)	Florist/Teutonia
20	S. 20th Street	College-Walmart	2nd/National
21	North Avenue	Lake Drive/Water Tower University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	Mayfair Mall
22	Center Street	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	124th/North Ave
24	Forest Home-16th	Northway (60th)/Grange Southridge Mall	MCTS Admin Bldg (17th/Fond du Lac)
28	108th Street	108th/Grange	Lovers Lane/Silver Spring
30	Sherman-Mill	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	Woolworth-Mill/Sherman
31	State-Highland	Milwaukee Intermodal Station	Mayfair Mall
33	Vliet-84th	Wisconsin/Cass	National/79th
34 (Giannis Line)	Hopkins-Congress	Milwaukee Intermodal Station	92nd/Grantosa
35	35th Street	Layton/60th	Good Hope/Teutonia
51	Oklahoma Avenue	New York-Delaware/Oklahoma	Oklahoma/124th
52	Clement-Pennsylvania	Herman/Kinnickinnic	Lake Drive/Kelly Senior Center
53	Lincoln Avenue	Bay/Conway	Lincoln/114th
54	Burnham-Mitchell	Holt/Chase	National/112th
55	Layton Avenue	Layton/107th	Lake Drive/Kelly Senior Center Lipton/Kinnickinnic
56	Greenfield-S. 43rd	1st/Mitchell	Loomis/29th
57	Walnut-Appleton	Milwaukee Intermodal Station	Lovers Lane/Silver Spring
58	Villard Avenue	Green Bay/Hampton	Silver Spring/Lovers Lane
60	60th Street	Layton/60th	Brown Deer Road/66th-Walmart
63	Silver Spring Drive	Bayshore Town Center	Lovers Lane/Silver Spring
66	Burleigh Street	Humboldt/Locust University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	Mayfair Mall
68	Port Washington Road	Fratney/Capitol	Brown Deer East P&R
76	76th Street	Southridge Mall	Northridge Lakes/76th
80	6th St-Green Bay Ave	General Mitchell Int'l Airport MATC South Campus via Airport	Teutonia/Good Hope
81	Amazon-Oak Creek	Amazon MKE2 (Bartel Court)	Fond du Lac/35th-Burleigh (MCTS FDL Station)
88	Brown Deer Road	Service Road/Schroeder	124th/Bradley
92	92nd Street	Layton/87th (84 South)	Brown Deer Rd/107th Brown Deer Rd/114th-Lauer (Coca Cola)
HF1	Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy via Rt. 12	Villard/Hopkins	Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy
HF2	Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy via BlueLine & Rt. 30	43rd/Silver Spring	Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy

Currently, Milwaukee County, MCTS, and the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) are engaged in a study of the 27th Street Corridor. A considerable number of jobs, shopping centers, and medical facilities are along this corridor, currently served by the PurpleLine. This project plans to enhance transit along 27th Street by re-imagining the PurpleLine as a BRT line, which would add a second route to the CONNECT BRT system. While the current PurpleLine is already a pseudo-express route, it does not offer authentic express service for the majority of the route, as on average, stops are 0.2 miles (1,100 ft; 0.32 km; 320 m) apart. This is one of the aspects of transit in this corridor that this project will address.^[50] Furthermore, this project aims to address racial inequalities in the transit system, reduce reckless driving along 27th Street, attract new riders, and overall improve the quality of transit in this corridor.^[51]

The recommended route was developed during the feasibility study, which concluded in 2022. This new, 18-mile route would travel from Bayshore Mall in Glendale to the Oak Creek IKEA via Silver Spring, Teutonia and 27th Street, serving 33 stops in each direction, including St. Luke's Medical Center at 27th and Oklahoma, two Walmart stores, one at 27th and Ohio and another near 27th and Sycamore, and the Northwestern Mutual Franklin Campus near 27th and Drexel. This corridor features nearly 50,000 jobs, 2,500 businesses, 4 major medical facilities, 63 K-12 schools, 36 grocery and big-box discount stores, and 12 community resource centers. MCTS began the environmental review and design phase of the project in 2023, which was expected to conclude in 2025. However in late August 2024, Milwaukee County officials recommended and later approved the shelving of the Connect 2 project for an indeterminate amount of time due to budgetary concerns. The pausing of the project according to County Supervisors will allow MCTS to remain financially solvent until 2028. ^{[52] [53]}

	Ridership	Change over previous year
2010[54]	44,065,845	n/a
2011[55]	44,753,412	01.56%
2012[56]	44,049,428	01.57%
2013[57]	43,008,924	02.36%
2014[58]	40,028,664	06.93%
2015[59]	39,313,138	01.79%
2016[60]	40,256,308	02.40%
2017[61]	34,606,044	014.04%
2018[62]	30,429,788	012.07%
2019[63]	28,972,674	04.79%
2020[64]	15,595,089	046.17%
2021[65]	14,356,646	07.94%
2022[66]	15,557,421	08.36%
2023[2]	17,137,300	011.31%

• Milwaukee Streetcar
• List of bus transit systems in the United States

• Official website