MCTS Announces Public Meetings for System Redesign

MCTS bus on W. Wisconsin Avenue. Photo taken Thursday, June 4, 2026 by Graham Kilmer.

In the coming months, Milwaukee County residents will have an opportunity to see concepts for a completely redesigned Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS).

MCTS has scheduled five public meetings in September and October to preview concepts for a redesigned bus network and gather feedback. Planning consultants will also hold 20 public meetings across the community to collect feedback. A full list of meetings is available on a webpage for the project, which is being called MCTS Forward.

Earlier this year, MCTS contracted with Jarrett Walker + Associates (JWA) to complete a redesign of the bus network that would be financially sustainable in the long term and even allow MCTS to scale up service in the future, provided additional revenue is secured.

The redesign project was motivated in part by the transit system’s financial reality. A structural budget deficit, largely caused by frozen state mass transit aid that has not kept pace with inflation, left the system with a $9.3 million budget deficit in 2026. The gap in 2027 is projected at $15.7 million. To close the gap in 2027 and stabilize the system’s budget for at least three years, MCTS leaders are planning to implement a 25% service cut in next year’s budget.

The system redesign will incorporate the 25% service cut. It will also hew to one of two conceptual models for the system’s ultimate design: a coverage-focused design or a ridership-focused system. A coverage system would emphasize the geographic reach of bus routes, but would limit bus frequency and cause longer wait times between buses. A ridership system would prioritize high-frequency bus service with shorter travel times and shorter wait times, but at the expense of geographic coverage. Because the system has a limited, finite budget for bus operations, it will not be able to fully prioritize both.

“MCTS affects everyone in southeast Wisconsin, whether it means less congestion on their daily commute or a reliable connection to work, which is why we want to hear from everyone in Milwaukee County,” MCTS President and CEO Steve Fuentes said in a statement. “Whether you ride the bus, drive a car, own a business or work for MCTS, the future of public transportation will impact all who share Milwaukee County roads. Your input will help us build a bus network that is stable, financially sustainable and scalable so we can continue to serve the county.”

The redesign project began in the spring and is expected to take 12 to 18 months to complete. The input gathered through surveys at upcoming public meetings will be shared with elected officials and the public before the end of this year, according to MCTS.

MCTS Forward Public Meetings

• MCTS Forward Open House
  Thursday, Sept. 24, 4-6 p.m. 
  Cudahy Family Library, 3500 Library Drive, Cudahy
• MCTS Forward and Transit Plus Paratransit Open House
  Wednesday, Sept. 30, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
  Independence First, 540 S. 1st St., Milwaukee
• MCTS Forward Open House
  Thursday, Oct. 1, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. 
  Wauwatosa Public Library, 7635 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa
• MCTS Forward Open House
  Friday, Oct. 9, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
  Milwaukee Public Library, 2727 W. Fond du Lac Ave., Milwaukee
• MCTS Forward Open House
  Tuesday, Oct. 13, 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
  United Community Center, 1028 S. 9th St., Milwaukee
  Meeting will be accessible for Spanish speakers