Bus Service Between Downer and Downtown Could Return
Service along former GoldLine route could be restored in 2024.
The battery electric bus that provided the first passenger service along the east-west bus rapid transit line known as Connect 1. Photo by Graham Kilmer.
Bus service along Downer Avenue between Downtown and UW-Milwaukee could return in spring 2024, due in large part to the advocacy of East Side residents.
The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) is evaluating alternating running Route 3o between UW-Milwaukee along Downer Avenue and Maryland Avenue, according to Sup. Sheldon Wasserman.
“We are starting to work on spring 2024 changes and one of the things we’ve been hearing about is how to better serve Downer residents,” a spokesperson for MCTS told Urban Milwaukee. “We are evaluating the ridership and schedule data to see what works best for Downer as well as all Route 30 riders and will be ready to announce a final plan in early 2024.”
For many years, MCTS operated the GoldLine along Downer Avenue, connecting the Upper East Side to Downtown and Wauwatosa. When MCTS launched the new bus rapid transit service called Connect 1, the route was eliminated.
The segment of the former GoldLine running between Downtown and Wauwatosa was replaced by Connect 1, but the section between downtown and the East Side was not.
Former Goldine riders have had to walk four blocks west of N. Downer Avenue to take Route 30 from N. Maryland Avenue, or take Route 21 from N. Downer Ave. and transfer to Route 30.
Area residents and business owners have been advocating for the restoration of service along the former Goldine route on Downer Avenue. In August, Wasserman held a public meeting with MCTS officials and constituents to discuss the disappearance of the GoldLine and potential solutions.
“Thank you to everyone who contacted my office on this issue. MCTS heard our concerns loud and clear,” Wasserman said in his weekly constituent newsletter. “Your activism made all the difference.”
Wasserman singled out the efforts of “all-star constituent” Moira Fitzgerald, who Wasserman said organized with his office to advocate for bus service along Downer Avenue.
Fitzgerald lives on Downer Avenue and was a frequent GoldLine rider. She told Urban Milwaukee that the bus rapid transit service “should be an enhancement, not a tradeoff” for transit riders. Fitzgerald was also joined by The Downer Business Improvement District and Milwaukee Downtown, Business Improvement District #21, both of which sent letters urging the restoration of direct bus service between Downer Avenue and Downtown.
“Beginning in March of 2024, Route 30 will be modified to service both Downer Avenue and Maryland Avenue. Buses will now alternate between Downer and Maryland, similar to the split Route 30 of many years ago,” Wasserman said. “This will result in additional time between buses on Maryland Avenue, but it will importantly also expand direct service to more neighborhoods.”
MCTS will roll out its next schedule changes in December this year. But officials will announce changes related to Downer Avenue and the former GoldLine service in 2024, according to Wasserman and MCTS.
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Can we also bring back the Downer Ave. pizzaria “Via Downer” – named in honor of route 30? Its name was a nod to the destination boards on the Downer branch buses – as well as Latin for “Downer Way”.
Of the current Downer Ave. options, the walk to/from Maryland is OK – if the weather is nice and if you’re not carrying packages. The transfer to/from route 21 (at North/Prospect or North/Farwell) is confusing due to stop placement, and unsafe due to traffic.
I wish the change could be made before this winter.
It is so good to hear others complain of the GoldLine elimination. From the moment this “new, improved Connect 1” was suggested, I attended several meetings voicing my concerns about the elimination of the GoldLine. I quit attending meetings when I realized it was a waste of my time because MCTS had its mind made up this new route would go through no matter what the public thought. It’s not just Downer Ave residents who are negatively affected by this “improived” service. I no longer live on the former GoldLinr route, but have friends who do. It used to be a 2.5 block walk to the nearest GoldLine bus stop. Now, the choices are 5 blocks to the east or 6 blocks to the west. What about this winter when walking is difficult, especially uphill?
I started working from home about a year ago when I realized MCTS was no longer reliable and cares nothing about passengers. Some bus stops are on dangerous intersections. I still have the Umo pass, but find myself paying folks more to take me places because I am afraid to cross some extremely busy intersections where drivers don’t know what a red light means. And despite all the hoopla given it, if reporters would actually interview folks dependent on public ransit, chances are they would find the Connect 1 is far from perfect. Those dependent on public transit would like to see it ewliminated, the GoldLine brought back, and more frequent stops on routes serving the southside, like Route 92.