On January 29, 2012 there will be several changes to how us bus riders get around in Milwaukee.

Riders of Routes 11, 15, 18, 23 and 62 will have to make some adjustments to how they get around. New color coded express routes are being introduced as part of a complicated move by MCTS to stave off service cuts by replacing busy local service with new express bus routes funded with federal money.

Why is this happening?
In his 2011-2013 budget, Governor Scott Walker slashed the amount of money that the Milwaukee County Transit System gets each year from the State of Wisconsin. As a result of this cut and limitations on how communities can raise more money, the bus system was planning on cutting about 20% of service. This is why we were pushing for a Vehicle Registration Fee to fund transit; it would have raised enough money to keep the system intact and it does not require any approval from the State legislature or Governor.

Ultimately, County Executive Chris Abele applied for a Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) grant to fill the hole in MCTS’s budget. The catch: CMAQ funds can only be used for brand new service. CMAQ funds can not be used to keep current routes running. The solution? Create express routes out of the busiest routes in the system. Eliminate most or all of the current local service along the current routes 11, 15, 18 & 23 and use the money saved (or ‘freed up’) to keep the other routes running.

What is changing?
MCTS has released a special issue of BusLines with the maps of the new routes included. The route changes are as follows:

Route 11 Holton-Greenfield/Howell

• ELIMINATED
• Holton branch becomes part of Route 15
• Greenfield branch becomes part of a new Route 56
• Howell branch becomes part of the limited stop GreenLine MetroEXpress
• Service to Centennial Plaza (43rd/Lincoln) and the Bolivar-Pine-Layton loop is eliminated

Route 15 Oakland-Kinnickinnic

• RENAMED: 15 Holton-Kinnickinnic
• Current 15 service north of 1st/Pittsburgh becomes part of the limited stop GreenLine MetroEXpress
• Will operate via the current Holton branch of Rt. 11 to Bayshore
• Clement-Pennsylvania-15th Av branch becomes Route 52 (evening and night service is eliminated)
• All trips will operate via 5th Av-Columbia to Chicago/Drexel

Route 18 National-Greenfield

• ELIMINATED
• Service east of 70th/Greenfield becomes part of Route 23
• 124th via Greenfield branch becomes part of the new Route 56
• National branch becomes part of Rt. 54. Service on S. 92nd is eliminated

Route 23 Fond du Lac Avenue

• RENAMED: 23 Fond du Lac-National
• Mill via 64th branch becomes part of BlueLine MetroEXpress
• Service east of 2nd on Wisconsin is eliminated
• Takes on current Route 18 between Wisconsin and 70th/Greenfield

Route 62 Capitol Drive

• Service east of Humboldt becomes part of RedLine MetroEXpress
• Service west of 76th becomes part of RedLine MetroEXpress

Route 63 Silver Spring Drive

• RENAMED: 63 Silver Spring-Port Washington
• Takes on the part of the current Route 68 between Bayshore and Glencoe (Green Tree-Lake Drive-Brown Deer segment is eliminated)

Route 68 Port Washington Road

• ELIMINATED
• Current segment between Bayshore and Glencoe becomes part of Rt. 63
• Current segment between Bayshore and Capitol becomes part of Rt. 15
• Service on Port Washington between Keefe and Capitol is eliminated
• Service on the Green Tree-Lake Drive-Brown Deer loop is eliminated

New routes

• GreenLine MetroEXpress – Limited stop route comprised of the current Rt. 15 north of Pittsburgh and current Rt. 11 south of Pittsburgh with an extension to the Airport
• BlueLine MetroEXpress – Limited stop route comprised of the current Route 23 Mill Road – 64th Street and current Route 18 east of 70th
• RedLine MetroEXpress – Limited stop route comprised of the current Route 62
• Route 52 Clement-15th Avenue – Limited service route comprised of the current Route 15 Clement-Pennsylvania-15th Av branch. Set to operate seven days a week, mornings, mid-days and afternoons. Service after approximately 6:00pm is eliminated
• Route 56 Greenfield Avenue – Regular route running between 1st/Michell and 124th/Greenfield via 1st-Greenfield-43rd-Burnham-60th-Greenfield

Will this improve service?
It depends on where you are. These routes were designed with the purpose of saving money and riders had no ability to weigh in on the designs. Some residential areas will have no local bus service and bus riders will have to walk several blocks to catch a bus. On the other hand, the limited stop service may benefit commuters traveling from the central city to outlying areas by decreasing their travel time. Time will tell whether or not the MetroEXpress service is successful in shortening trip times, however bus riders should take note that the money funding this service is temporary and will expire in two years.

Getting dedicated funding for the transit system is as important now as ever
The CMAQ grants that funded his service are meant as start-up assistance for new routes. These particular grants run out in two years, at which point the County will be expected to fund the service. If we do not get the transit system off of the property tax, we face the loss of this service once this money runs out, or even the loss of other routes before that time due to rising fuel prices and declining home values in Milwaukee County.

This year, the Milwaukee Transit Riders Union will be renewing it’s push for dedicated funding wih more energy than before. As bus riders, it is essential that we be heard on policy and funding matters for the transit system. We need to be part of this, as we know the bus system, we ride the bus system and we are the most affected when services are cut.

On Saturday January 28, 2012 at 12:00pm we will be hitting the streets of Downtown Milwaukee to inform bus riders of the changes, listen to their concerns and pass out information. If you would like to join us, let us know.