MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Milwaukee County Transit System has announced new details on routes that will see service reductions this fall as the system navigates a nearly $11 million budget shortfall, along with some route additions ahead of the upcoming school year.
The reductions are part of the largest service update since its system redesign in 2021.
Starting August 24th, 17 routes will see service reductions due to the budget situation: Routes 12, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 35, 51, 57, 60, 66, 76, 80, 92, the BlueLine and RedLine will all see changes. Wait times will increase anywhere between three and 13 minutes.
Fall bus service changes also include 95 new stop locations and four new routes, including the return of the U-BUS school service. The return of the U-BUS will include the elimination of the 49U bus line due to low ridership; bus service from the Brown Deer Park and Ride Lot to UW-Milwaukee will still be available for passengers via Route 68, which will be extended to serve UWM at the start of the 2025-26 school year.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: MCTS plans service reduction to address seven-figure budget deficit
The changes come amid a time great change for MCTS; the system is poised to welcome a new President and CEO Steve Fuentes this year, following the sudden resignation of former interim leader Julie Esch earlier this year.
Meanwhile, bus drivers and mechanics represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998 are continuing to negotiate a new contract with MCTS. The union voted to authorize a strike last month.
For more information on the route changes, riders can check the Umo app for updated routing and real-time information starting on August 24th.
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