MCTS Introduces New MetroEXpress Bus Service and Associated Route Changes

On Sunday, January 18, 2014 the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) is pleased to begin three new bus routes, including two new MetroEXpress routes, in addition to a few route modifications. These changes will provide more transit options and more efficient service. Other seasonal schedule changes will also go into effect at this time. More than $17 million in Federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) grants assisted MCTS to be able to add some of this service.

New MetroEXpress Service

GoldLine (Wisconsin – UWM) – The GoldLine is a new limited stop service that operates between UWM and Brookfield  Square.

•       Service –  Seven days a week from 5:30 AM to 2 AM

•       Daytime Frequency – Approximately every 12 to 16 minutes on weekdays; 17 to 20 minutes on Saturdays; and 22 to 27 minutes on Sundays

PurpleLine (27th Street) – PurpleLine is a new limited stop service that operates between Green Bay Avenue & Hampton Avenue and 27^th Street & Sycamore Avenue. Route 27 (27th Street) local bus service will remain.

•       Service  – Seven days a week from 5 AM to 1 AM

•       Daytime Frequency – The combined frequency of the PurpleLine and Route 27 at shared bus stops will be 9 to 11 minutes on weekdays; 13 to 15 minutes on Saturdays; and 15 to 17 minutes on Sundays

New Local Routes

Route 61 (Appleton – Keefe) – New Route 61 operates between 35th Street & Capitol Drive and Appleton Avenue & County Line Road. Route 61 will also travel to the Germantown Industrial Park (weekday shift times only). Also, this route replaces Route 30 service on Keefe Avenue.

• This route is made possible because of a settlement agreement between representatives from the Milwaukee Inner-City Congregation Allied for Hope and Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin with the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The new route will connect more residents to jobs and also improve mobility by providing new transit alternatives during the four year reconstruction of the Zoo Interchange.
• Service – Seven days a week from 5:30 AM to 12:30 AM
• Daytime Frequency – Approximately every 27 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays; and 35 minutes on Sundays

Associated Changes to Other Routes

Route 30 and 30X (Sherman – Wisconsin) Local & Express – Route 30X is a new limited stop service that operates between Sherman & Florist to UWM. Route 30 will operate along all the same segments as existing Route 30 with the exception of Keefe Avenue (will be served by new Route 61) and Downer Avenue (will be served by the GoldLine (Wisconsin – UWM MetroEXpress).

•  Service – Route 30 will continue to operate seven days a week from 5 AM to 2 AM. Route 30X will operate 6 AM to 9 PM on weekdays and Saturdays and 11 AM to 8 PM on Sundays
•  Daytime Frequency – The combined frequency of service of both Route 30 and 30X at shared bus stops will be every 10 to 11 minutes on weekdays and every 12 to 15 minutes on weekends

Route 14 (Humboldt – Forest Home) – Route 14 replaces Route 10 service between Downtown Milwaukee and Bayshore Town Center.

• Replaces Segments – Route 10 service on Astor Street, Humboldt Boulevard, Wilson Street, Santa Monica Boulevard, Silver Spring Drive and Port Washington Road.
• Service – Seven days a week from 5:30 AM to 1:00 AM
• Daytime Frequency – Approximately every 15 to 25 minutes on weekdays and 25 to 32 minutes on weekends

Route 10 (Humboldt-Wisconsin) – This service is being transferred to the GoldLine and Route 14. Thus, Route 10 name will no longer be used.

Transferred Segments

• To GoldLine MetroEXpress – along Bluemound Road and Wisconsin Avenue between Brookfield Square and Downtown Milwaukee.
• To Route 14 – on Astor Street, Humboldt Boulevard, Wilson Street, Santa Monica Boulevard, Silver Spring Drive and Port Washington Road between Downtown Milwaukee and Bayshore Town Center.

Seasonal Schedule Change

Schedules change up to four times a year to accommodate regular seasonal adjustments. The following routes are changing on January 18: GreenLine (Bayshore – Airport), BlueLine (Fond du Lac- National), RedLine (Capitol Drive), 6 (New Berlin Industrial Park),  14 (Forest Home), 23 (Fond du Lac-National), 27 (27^th Street), 30 (Sherman-Wisconsin), 31 (State-Highland), 35 (35^th Steet), 40 (College – Ryan Flyer),  43 (Hales Corners Flyer), 44 (National Flyer), 44U (Fair Park- Hales Corner UBUS), 46 (Loomis – Southridge Flyer) , 48 (South Shore Flyer), 50 (Morgan Avenue), 53 (Lincoln Avenue), 54 (Mitchell – Burnham), 57 (Walnut – N 92^nd), 62 (Capitol Drive), 63 (Silver Spring- Port Washington), 64 (S. 60^th Street), 67 (N 76^th – S 70^th), 76 (N. 60^th – S. 70^th) and 223 (Park Place – Bradley Woods Shuttle).

Passenger Information

MCTS will provide customers with details of the upcoming changes in the following methods:

• A special issue of Bus Lines is on board buses. It contains detailed information.
• RideMCTS.com news section has detailed posted information. Online schedules will be available January 8, 2015.
• Temporary bus stop signs will be posted in December if a bus stop is changing.
• All permanent bus stop sign changes will start changing on January 17 and will continue until all signs are replaced.
• Information Line 414-344-6711 – automated schedule information should be available after the first week in January. Assistance available if you have difficulty with the automated information.
• Display boards of maps will be placed at several major transfer corners.
• Printed schedules will be placed on buses in information racks and sent to libraries and other locations by January 14, 2015.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.