Several Special MCTS Routes That Provide Service to Schools Ending in June
Routes 50, 85, 87, 88 and 89 will end operations at the conclusion of the current school year, which, for most affected schools, is in mid-June 2019.
MILWAUKEE (May 24, 2019) — The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) is announcing the elimination of several special bus routes that provide morning and afternoon service near local schools.
Routes 50, 85, 87, 88 and 89 will end operations at the conclusion of the current school year, which, for most affected schools, is in mid-June 2019.
These changes are being made in response to a $3 million reduction in the 2019 budget. These particular services were chosen for elimination because they carry relatively few riders and have a higher-than-average cost per rider. MCTS made significant administrative changes and cost-savings efforts prior to taking this action. Additionally, many of these schools are also served by regular routes that stop either directly at the school or within a quarter mile.
MCTS contacted school leaders earlier this Spring to notify them of the changes, provide recommended alternative route options, and offer personalized trip planning assistance to students and families.
“MCTS does not take decisions like this lightly,” said Kristina Hoffman, director of Marketing and Communications. “While we wish we could have buses running on every street, the reality is that we can only provide as much service as funding allows.”
MCTS continues to face serious fiscal challenges that have gone unresolved for more than a decade. The transit system’s 2020 budget is estimated to have a shortfall due to declining or stagnant funding and increasing costs. Despite these challenges, MCTS is committed to its mission of providing safe, reliable, and customer-focused transit service in Milwaukee County.
Click here for a list of alternate routes, where available. Riders can also use the Trip Planning feature of RideMCTS.com and the Ride MCTS app to help plan their trip.
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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