MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee County Transit System will not have to completely eliminate routes next year after receiving an additional $4.7 million in the county’s budget.
But based on next year’s service levels, MCTS president and CEO Steve Fuentes says they’re projecting an $18-$20 million budget gap in 2027.
“In ​2026, we ​are ​still ​using ​our ​remaining ​$8 ​to ​$9 ​million ​​of ​COVID ​money. Those funds will ​not ​be ​there ​in ​2027,” Fuentes told the county’s committee on transportation and transit on Wednesday.
With the budget gap in mind, transit leaders say they plan to engage with the public throughout next year as they evaluate service levels for 2027.
MCTS was originally planning to eliminate six bus routes in 2026 to help close a $14 million budget gap.
The additional funding in next year’s budget will allow those routes to operate during “peak hours,” along with a reduced version of the same-day paratransit service.
“We ​will ​be ​able ​to ​make ​adjustments ​throughout ​the ​year,” said Fuentes. “I ​want ​to ​make ​sure ​that ​is ​fully ​understood. ​How ​we ​start ​in ​January ​I ​would ​almost say ​with ​certainty ​that’s ​not ​how ​we’re ​going ​to ​end ​in ​December.”
Meanwhile, bus riders will see a fare increase from $2 to $2.75 starting next month to help close the budget deficit.
The report for MCTS’ 2026 service plan is below.
