Milwaukee County Transit System

County Officials Disregard Trump’s Climate Policy

Policymakers reaffirm commitment to carbon-neutrality regardless of federal changes.

New Grocery Store Opening in Former Sentry

Alderman announces new owner for store in Silver Spring neighborhood.

Crowley Focuses on ‘Building Bridges’ in 2026 State of the County

The county executive promotes major infrastructure projects, policy successes in annual address.

Crowley Hires New Budget Director

He taps Nick Sinram, MPS budget director, to manage county's $1.4 billion budget.

Bus Fare Evasion Declining

Change comes after MCTS reverses policy: drivers now told they should mention fares.

Public Meeting Scheduled as W. National Avenue Reconstruction Project to Start

Street Closures for 58th Shamrock Club of Wisconsin St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 14

Downtown businesses, property owners and residents should be prepared for the following street closures

Supervisors Alarmed About Transit’s Future

County board members grasp for options as financial future grows darker for MCTS.

Crowley Seeks to Replace McGovern Senior Center

Administration pushes to close senior center in McGovern Park, find new location.

MCTS Will Redesign Bus Network

Facing continuing budget deficits, transit system plans another redesign of service network.

Kosciuszko Community Center Gets Federal Funding Boost

County announces federal appropriation for South Side community center.

County Executive David Crowley Announces Federal Funding for New Buses, Park Improvements

MCTS Announces Spring Service Cuts

Second phase of 2026 budget cuts in bus service will be implemented March 8.

‘Lipstick on a Pig,’ Board Passes Health Contract After Process Failure

Supervisors say they had little choice but to approve a flawed health insurance agreement.

Who Screwed Up the County Health Care Contract?

Lots of blame on the county employee who was fired. But there's more to the story.

MCTS Awards Three High School Seniors With 2026 Rosa Parks Tribute Scholarships

City Copies County Budgeting Rule

Under proposal departments must warn Common Council of upcoming deficit.

‘Red Flags’ Abound in Suspicious $450 Million County Health Contract

Board members blindsided by massive contract. Attorneys warn of 'catastrophic risk.'

27th Street Bridge Closes Next Week

Bridge will be closed and reconstructed as part of Interstate 94 widening project.

US Transportation Dept Drops ICE Cooperation Requirement

Attempt to tie transportation funding to ICE cooperation falls apart in federal court.

MCTS Launches New Fare Evasion, Security System

Aiming to reduce number of free riders, increase transit system revenue.

Transit Company Exploits Workers, Costs Taxpayers

French company operating county's paratransit system also provides poor service.

MCTS Hires Outsider As New Deputy Director

After years of abrupt departures, top positions are MCTS are once again filled.

MCTS Announces New Initiatives to Increase Safety for Bus Riders and Operators

Streetcar Operators Finalize First Union Contract

No pushback against union from TransDev, The Hop's private operator.

Winners of 42nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Contests Announced, Will Be Celebrated at Free Citywide Celebration

Free event on Monday, January 19, to honor student contest winners and community leader Andre Lee Ellis

Bus Rides Free For New Years Eve

All buses free from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. A handful will run until 4 a.m.

2025 Wrap: County Executive David Crowley Reflects on 2025 Accomplishments

Transit Plus Riders Join WisGo in 2026

Paratransit Riders Invited to Attend Open House Events in January

Bus Fares Go Up Thursday

Base fares and payment caps going up in 2026 amid MCTS budget crisis.

County Executive David Crowley Signs Legislation Approving MCTS Service Plan That Maintains Public Transit Services for Workers, Students, and the Community

Board Passes 2026 Reductions in Bus Service

MCTS cutting budget by $9.3 million. But new plan avoids ending entire routes.

Major Bridge Closure Will Last Until Spring

And will be followed by a parallel closure.

Milwaukee County Board Votes to Invest $5 Million to Protect Transit Service

County Names New Director of Transportation

Crowley taps budget director to lead transportation department in the wake of the transit budget scandal.

MCTS Budget Picture Keeps Getting Worse

MCTS preparing for more cuts in coming years.

County Executive Crowley Selects Joe Lamers as Director of Milwaukee County Department of Transportation

Lamers brings nearly 20 years of experience in local government administration to this role

27th Street Bridge Will Close For A Year

I-94 project will cause key local road’s longterm closure.

MCTS Avoids Full Route Cuts Under New Plan

MCTS will not eliminate any routes entirely in 2026, but will cut service on 16 routes.

Developers Still Pursuing Car-Lite Apartments

Complex was first proposed in 2022.

Would You Like to Donate to County Government?

County working on plan to create public donation portal.

What’s In the 44 Footnotes Added to Milwaukee’s Budget?

Record number of footnotes reveal what council members are thinking. And who's the new prolific author?

Wisconsin Is Experiencing a Surge in Wheel Taxes

Without other options, local governments increasingly turn to the option for funding.

Crowley Signs $1.3 Billion Budget Without Vetoes

Amended budget restores some funding, but likely hikes future budget deficits.

Board Adopts 2026 Budget, Reduces Size of MCTS Cut

Supervisors manage to restore some cuts, but transit and human services are hard hit in 2026 budget.

Supervisor Sequanna Taylor Highlights Key Co-Sponsorships in 2026 Milwaukee County Budget

Supervisors Use Parliamentary Moves To Save MCTS

But proposal might only make budget deficit larger in 2027.

Supervisors Trying To Reverse Crowley’s Budget Cuts

Procedural move would provide board with revenue to craft amendment.

Will County Hike Wheel Tax to Fund Buses?

Facing deep transit cuts, some supervisors consider raising 'extremely unpopular tax.'

County Can’t Afford Disaster Recovery

County officials were already cutting the 2026 budget when feds denied disaster aid.

Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson Hosts 4th Annual Sherman Park Harvest Fest and County Budget Booth

Community Event with “Wicked” Fun Activities and Connections to County Services and Information

Supervisor Pushes Fare Evasion Plan, Tangles With Sheriff

Supervisor proposes funding come from with Sheriff's Office.

Rep. Steil Wants to Ban Free Bus Rides

Republican Congressman targets MCTS with bill banning 'universal fare free.' MCTS says it has no such policy.

Bus Cuts Leave Some Riders Stranded

Blind transit riders losing access to work, seeing quality of life diminished.

Milwaukee County Budget Mostly Avoids Big Cuts, But Difficult Budgets Are Back

Recent state budget actions helped, but transit, capital projects still face structural headwinds.

Report Says Bad Times Just Beginning For Milwaukee County

A report by the Wisconsin Policy Forum says budget cuts in 2026 likely to continue in successive years.

MCTS Plans 15% Service Cut

Budget issues yield more frequency reductions, elimination of same-day paratransit service.

Emails Reveal MCTS Officials Concealed Budget Deficit From Comptroller, County Board

MCTS planned to keep elected officials in the dark about its finances.

Supervisors O’Connor, Gómez-Tom, Bielinski, and Martinez – County Residents Should Not Be Asked to Pay More, Get Less

Recommended Budget needs some work. Supervisors call for public input on non-negotiables in the 2026 Budget.

6 Bus Routes That Could Disappear in 2026

MCTS planning route cuts and modifications as it faces large annual operating deficits.

Crowley’s Budget Proposal Includes Service Cuts and Big Infrastructure Spending

Recommended budget pares back spending in certain areas, increases taxes to close $46.7 million deficit.

MCTS Reaches New Labor Agreement With Union

Three-year agreement avoids union-authorized strike.

MCTS Announces New Three-Year Agreement With ATU Local 998

Corporate Mergers Cost Taxpayers

Security company mergers leave county with nowhere to turn.

Rep. Steil Calls For Greater Federal Oversight of MCTS

Congressman points to fare evasion, but hasn't contacted county officials.

MCTS Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month With Bus Wrap

New Hispanic Heritage bus went into service Monday.

Sup. Wassermann Drops Christmas Bus Plan

After receiving opposition to his plan to suspend bus service on the holiday.

See Inside a Wisconsin Air National Guard Mission Before Weekend Open House

Open house being held Saturday and Sunday allows public to 'pet a jet.'

Wasserman Withdraws Resolution Cutting Christmas Day Bus Service

Cites riders’ stories, urges State to provide tools to adequately fund public transit

Wasserman Resolution Calls for Giving Mcts Workers Christmas Day Off

Proposal to align service with low ridership could save MCTS over $100,000

Bus System Fare Evasion Plan Gets Chilly Reception

'It doesn't seem like anybody is coming to save the bus.'

MCTS Wins Grants For New Buses

$8 million in federal-state funds will also pay for traffic signal optimization projects on two key streets.

How A Milwaukee Mom Met The Man Who Killed Her Son

Debra Gillispie has spent two decades advocating to end gun violence, uplifting survivors’ stories.

MCTS Releases Fare Evasion Prevention Plan

Nearly 50% of Connect 1 riders aren't paying the fare, according to transit system.

MCTS Didn’t Report Deficit to County Board For Two Months

Crowley administration denies it was informed. Transit system now plans cuts.

MCTS to Make Major Changes, Cuts in Bus Service

How many of the system's 46 routes will have service hours or route altered?

MCTS Labor Negotiations Extended

Current contract extended, creating more time to negotiate new deal. Union voted down recent offer.

MCTS Electric Buses Still Have Battery Problems

MCTS dealing with another battery recall for its electric buses.

Board Backs Plan to Target Bus Riders Who Don’t Pay

MCTS asked to develop policies to reduce fare evasion without causing conflicts.

County Gets Serious About Buying New Buses

New budget structure aims to avoid delays, as need for 150 new buses looms.

Data Shows Impact of Milwaukee’s Traffic Calming Projects

Huge reductions in speeding for some projects, less impact for others.

City of Milwaukee Health Department Urges Caution During Extreme Heat Watch

Transit Union Rejects MCTS Contract Proposal

MCTS offers one-year contract. Two sides differ on security, overtime provisions.

MCTS Budget Deficit Bigger Than Previously Reported

Planned service cuts will only get the deficit to $10.9 million.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley Announces $21 Million Federal Grant for PurpleLine Transit Corridor Improvements

MCTS Hires Outsider As New Leader

Beleaguered transit system just saw its third director in three years depart.

Steve Fuentes Named New MCTS President And CEO

Grocery Store Opens in Former Walgreens

Southside building now home to Supermercado La Hacienda.

Who Will Lead MCTS?

Have recent resignations affected the search for a new CEO?

MCTS Won’t Solve Budget Woes By Making Service Worse

Proposed service cuts are symptom of larger problem for county bus system.

Transit Union Gives Leader Strike Authority

MCTS is facing a budget deficit, political blowback and, now, labor unrest.

MCTS Will Fix Budget With Federal Funds

Which means it will hit fiscal cliff in 2026. Transit officials grilled about budget hole.

Budget Deficit Fallout Grows, Head of MCTS Resigns

Transit system CEO is second official to resign since surprise deficit announcement.

Transit Union Will Call Strike Vote

Union blindsided by budget deficit while negotiating next three-year contract.

Due To Deficit, MCTS Considering Hiring Freeze

But that could make it more difficult to deliver scheduled service of buses.

Facing Transit Deficit, Supervisors Target Free Riders

Big problem with cheaters. MCTS data suggests one in four riders evade payment.

County Transportation Director Resigns

Donna Brown-Martin resigns after shocking MCTS budget deficit revealed.

After Shocking Budget Shortfall, County Orders Up MCTS Audit

County executive, board and comptroller all caught off guard by $11 million deficit.

Milwaukee Officials Urge Caution During Extreme Heat Warning