Milwaukee County Transit System
 | |
| 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 (Wisconsin Ave) |
| Stations | Kinnicknnic Ave Garage, Fond du Lac Ave Garage, Fiebrantz Garage |
| Fleet | 416 buses |
| Daily ridership |
151,000 (2011 avg. weekday)[1] |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
| Operator | Milwaukee Transport Services, Inc. |
| Website | Milwaukee County Transit System |
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.[2] The Milwaukee Transport Services, Inc. is a quasi-governmental agency responsible for the management and operation of the Milwaukee County Transit System.[3] The county-run agency was formed in 1975 (under the direction of the "newly" created Milwaukee Transport Services, Inc.) after taking over the assets of the Milwaukee & Suburban Transport Company, a private operator.
Bus fleet
MCTS operates a fleet of over 400 New Flyer low floor buses. All buses are 40 feet (12 m) long.
Fleet numbers
Active
| Numbers | Builder | Model | Delivered | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4600-4639 | New Flyer | D40LF | 2002 | 4606, 4609, 4616, 4619, 4621, 4623, 4636 & 4638 still in revenue service & to be replaced by new buses in 2016. 4617, 4632 & 4633 used at freeway flyer Park & Ride Lots. |
| 4700-4750 | New Flyer | D40LF | 2003 | A number to be retired by new buses in 2016. |
| 4800-4829 | New Flyer | D40LF | 2004 | |
| 4900-4914 | New Flyer | D40LF | late 2004 | 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 | January 2006 | A future purchase for 23 buses (5009-5031) were canceled due to cuts. 5008 in storage |
| 5100-5189 | New Flyer | D40LFR | August 2010 | first to feature near-zero emissions |
| 5200-5234 | New Flyer | D40LFR | April 2011 | |
| 5300-5354 | New Flyer | D40LFR | March 2012 | |
| 5400-5454 | New Flyer | XD40 | July 2013 | 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 | Clean air buses |
| 5600-5627 | New Flyer | XD40 | October 2015 | Clean air buses with new interior features, such as an automatically opening electronic smart door at the back of the bus.[4] 2 were canceled due to increased costs. NO 5628 & 5629. 5601 & 5603 used for demonstrations in September. 5601 was first new bus in service on Route 19 on Friday, October 2, 2015.[5] |
| 5700-5729 | New Flyer | XD40 | 2016 | On Order |
Retired
| 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. |
| 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 (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). |
| 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[6] | 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.
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. |
| 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 | ? | Originally retired in 2014. 4302, 4304, 4305, 4320, 4329, 4348 returned to service in Jan. 2015. 4305 and 4320 still in revenue service as of April 4th, 2016 & to be re-retired & replaced by new buses in 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.
4418 was the only bus in MCTS' history in which a homicide took place on board.[7] |
| 4500-4519 | New Flyer | D30LF | 2002 | 2012 | 4515-4519 went to Sheboygan after 2012 |
| 3900-3911 | Gillig | Spirit | 1991 | 2001 | First used on light routes in 1991. MetroLink orange stripe added in 1992 and used primarily on feeder routes that connected to the Metrolink Route 1.
Very few systems had these mini-buses such as Dayton RTA, Monterey-Salinas, Colorado Springs and others. |
| 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 |
Relationship with New Flyer
MCTS has had a very long and exclusive relationship with New Flyer since 1996, as their buses have all been first and second generation D40LFs.[8][9] In Summer 2013 MCTS added 90 New Flyer Excelsiors to its lineup, thus continuing their partnership with NFI as their coach of choice.[10] 55 were delivered in Summer 2013 & the additional 35 in 2014. On October 6, 2014, a Release of Request for Proposal for 75 new buses by the Milwaukee Transport Services, Inc., (MTS), was issued. An award on this contract was issued in December 2014 to New Flyer. The order calls for 75 new buses to be delivered within a 3 year delivery span that begins in 2015 and ending in 2017. In December 2015, MCTS tested a New Flyer Xcelsior that ran on electrically charged batteries that can operate for 120 miles. MCTS is looking at this pilot study as part of a plan to add more non-diesel buses to future fleet orders.
Bus routes
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.
Fares
As of September 2013, 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. Free transfers are given within 1 hour of paying fare.[11]
In 2013, MCTS finalized plans for a transition from paper fare media (tickets, printed passes, and paper transfers) to a contactless smart card known as the M•CARD, with the project completion Leap Day 2016.[12] While exact fares will still be accepted in cash, the M•CARD allows passengers to add daily, weekly, and monthly passes, store a declining value, and receive transfers automatically.
M•CARD Timeline and Transition Milestones
September 29th, 2014: M•CARD passes (1, 7 or 31 day) launched at select sales outlets.
October 13th, 2014: M•CARD customers were able to purchase Stored Cash Value.
April 6th, 2015: MCTS begins issuing a one-time $2.00 charge fee for NEW! M•CARD purchase.
August 5th, 2015: M•CARD Online launched (Currently in Beta Testing).
November 16th, 2015: M•CARD customers could purchase a 1-Day Pass from the farebox.
Coming 2016: M•CARD Lite (a disposable limited use smartcard) will be available to social service agencies and non-profit organizations.
Beginning February 29th, 2016, the distribution of paper transfers and outlets that sale paper fare media will be discontinued! Transfers will only be available electronically (even for cash paying passengers), marking the beginning of an all M•CARD fare structure.[13]
The new fare system was funded predominantly by federal stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
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.
Other projects
Regional Transit Authority
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.[14]
See Also
References
- ↑ "About Us > FAQs". Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS). 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-05.
- ↑ 2013 Public Transportation Fact Book (pdf). American Public Transportation Association. October 2013. p. 8. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
- ↑ {http://www.ridemcts.com/about-us/who-is-mcts-}
- ↑ riedmcts.com/about-us/news/new-mcts-buses-hitting-the-road
- ↑ ridemcts.com/about-us/news/new-mcts-buses-hitting-the-road
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "End of the line for city bus No. 4418". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. July 20, 2013. Retrieved 2014-12-05.
- ↑ Press release from New Flyer (July 21, 2009)
- ↑ From New Flyer (November 5, 2009)
- ↑ "NEW FLYER AWARDED A CONTRACT FOR 90 40-FOOT XCELSIOR BUSES BY MILWAUKEE COUNTY TRANSIT" from New Flyer (February 7, 2013)
- ↑ "Transfers". Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS). 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-05.
- ↑ {http://www.ridemcts.com/about-us/news/mcts-announces-timeline-for-transition-away-from-paper-tickets-passes-and-transfers}
- ↑ "New Fare System". Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS). 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-05.
- ↑ Sandler, Larry; Stein, Jason (March 3, 2010). "Bill could have public paying again for buses". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
External links
- Milwaukee County Transit System
- Milwaukee Streetcar Project
- Southeast Wisconsin Transit System website
- Milwaukee's transit history
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