Now Boarding: MCTS Introduces Contactless Payments
Use Your Credit or Debit Card, Phone, or Smartwatch to Ride – It's That Easy
Milwaukee (April 6, 2026) – Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) is making it easier than ever to ride the bus with the launch of a new contactless payment option that allows riders to pay their fare using a credit card, debit card, smartphone, or smartwatch.
Riders can simply tap their contactless payment method on the bus validator and go. This new feature makes it easy for visitors, tourists, or those without WisGo accounts to take the bus.
There are now many ways to pay for a bus ride:
- WisGo Card (full fare, reduced fare, CVP, UPass)
- Umo App (full fare, reduced fare, CVP, UPass)
- Contactless for full fare only (including Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover credit cards or debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, smartwatches and smartphones)
- Cash
“Adding more payment options to MCTS’ WisGo system represents a significant step forward in modernizing Milwaukee County’s transit system and enhancing the overall rider experience,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “By offering contactless payment for riders, we are creating a more accessible, efficient, and dynamic transportation network not only for Milwaukee County, but also for our WisGo public transit agency partners in Appleton, Beloit, Oshkosh, Racine, and Waukesha, who will have the opportunity to enhance their systems by introducing this modern payment option. Efforts like this will allow MCTS to meet the needs of our community today and into the future.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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