MCTS News

MCTS Special Hotline to End 2/12/2012

Effective Sunday, Febrary 12, 2012 the special hotline in place to help customers navigate the service changes that started on Sunday, January 29, 2012 will come to an end. The last day to call the hotline for help with the new service changes will be Saturday, Febrary 11, 2012. Thank you for everyone's patience during this transition and we are glad to see the number of calls have diminished as people are settling into the new travel patterns.

Accessible Route Descriptions for New and Changing Routes Effective January 29, 2012

In the links below you will find text versions of new and changing routing in PDF files which are accessable in Adobe Acrobat to screen readers like Window-Eyes and JAWS. To view more information, including lists of stops for these routes, you can click here.

Note: Those using Windows XP and Acrobat version 10 will need to press "Ctrl + K" in Acrobat and under general options, uncheck protected mode in order for a screen reader to see the text.

New MetroEXpress Routes: GreenLine, BlueLine and RedLine

New Local Routes: Route 52 and Route 56

Local Routes with Changes: Routes 15, 23, 54, 62 and 63

Edición especial de Bus Lines en Español

Cambios de servicio en Milwaukee County Transit System (Sistema de Tránsito del Condado de Milwaukee, MCTS) para 2012

Nos complace informar a nuestros usuarios que introduciremos un nuevo servicio de autobuses, el MetroEXpress, y que en 2012 podremos conservar la mayor parte de los niveles actuales del servicio de autobuses. Debido a retos presupuestarios, nos fue difícil prepararnos para el próximo año y mantener intacto el servicio de autobuses del MCTS. Estamos agradecidos con el Ejecutivo del Condado de Milwaukee, con el Consejo Municipal de Milwaukee y con nuestros usuarios, cuya dedicación al tránsito tuvo un efecto positivo en la obtención de recursos financieros para las rutas expresas. La incorporación de tres rutas del MetroEXpress nos permitirá mantener la mayor parte del servicio al reducir los gastos de otras rutas. En este boletín especial se explican los próximos cambios, lo que le ayudará a efectuar la transición.

haga clic aquí para edición especial de Bus Lines en Español

MCTS Introduces New MetroEXpress Bus Service

Milwaukee, WI - On Sunday, January 29, 2012 the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) will introduce MetroEXpress bus service. The new express routes include RedLine - Capitol Drive, BlueLine - Fond du Lac-National and GreenLine - Bayshore-Airport.

$19.1 million in Federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) grants allowed MCTS to stave off drastic service cuts the system was facing due to a 10 percent reduction in state funds for 2012 and 2013. The funds can only be used on new bus service to improve air quality by positively impacting auto congestion. This approach will improve the system with three new routes and allow us to maintain the majority of service by reducing expenses with other routes.

The fare for MetroEXpress routes will follow the same structure as regular routes. Adult fare is $2.25 and half fare is $1.10. All passes including the weekly pass, monthly pass, U-PASS, Commuter Value Pass and Freedom Pass will be accepted as full fare on all MetroEXpress routes.

The RedLine provides service to multiple major destinations including MidTown Shopping Center, Riverworks Center and UWM. It will operate on Capitol Drive between 124^th Street and UWM.

• Service will operate roughly 4:30 am to 12:30 am, seven days a week.

• Frequency – Weekday: 15-20 minutes, Saturday: 25-30 minutes and Sunday: 25-30 minutes.

The BlueLine will provide limited stop bus service from the Park Place business district on the county’s northwest side, and will travel through downtown Milwaukee to the south side along National Avenue to S. 70^th Street and Greenfield Avenue in West Allis near MATC’s west campus. Major destinations served include MidTown Shopping Center, Veterans Administration Center and two MATC campuses.

• Service will operate roughly 4:30 am to 2:00 am, seven days a week.

• Frequency –Weekday: 15-30 minutes, Saturday: 30-45 minutes and Sunday: 30-45 minutes.

The GreenLine service operates between Bayshore Town Center and Mitchell International Airport. The route travels via Silver Spring Drive, Marlborough Drive, Oakland Avenue, Brady Street, Water Street, 1^st Street, Kinnickinnic Avenue and Howell Avenue. Service will connect the Bayshore/Whitefish Bay area to UWM, Milwaukee’s east side, Walker’s Point and south side by General Mitchell International Airport.

• Service will operate roughly 4:30 am to 2:00 am, seven days a week.

• Frequency – Weekday: 10-15 minutes, Saturday: 20-25 minutes and Sunday: 25-30 minutes.

Service Update During Snow 1/20/2012

As of 4:05 pm some buses are running behind schedule due to the winter weather conditions and we anticipate that this will worsen during the rush hour commute. Please check back for updates as we will continue to update passengers as the snow progresses. Thank you for your patience and for riding with us.

The Milwaukee County Transit System makes every attempt possible to keep buses running on time during extreme cold and/or snowy weather. However, winter can affect traffic conditions, so it's important to remember basic tips regarding riding the bus in the cold and snow to ensure you are comfortable this season:

Dress warmly. Wear multiple layers and ensure that your head and hands are covered.
When there is a winter storm, listen to the radio, watch local news programs and/or visit this website for information in case of bus delays.
Service delays are common during severe winter weather, especially during morning and evening rush hours. Plan accordingly and whenever possible, avoid traveling during peak rush hours.
If you live by a bus stop, please shovel your sidewalk and help make it easier for everyone to get on board safely.
Please keep your feet and bags off the seats so as many people as possible may be seated.
Don't forget to to fold strollers, so they are out of the way too.
If standing, please move as far back as possible to accommodate more passengers.
When you exit the bus, be sure you move directly away from the door and do not walk alongside the bus.

New Year’s Eve with Miller Lite Free Rides

Include the Milwaukee County Transit System when you’re making plans for the big night out, and have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve! Miller Lite Free Rides and MCTS are providing a safe ride home.

Thanks to MillerCoors, Free Rides begin at 8 pm on Saturday, December 31, 2011, and last until the end of regular service. Check schedule times carefully and plan ahead so you know your return routing and times.

Thirteen main routes, serving many popular entertainment venues, will stay in operation past the end of regular schedules with half-hour service until 4 am.

See the map below for details of the extended routes.

MCTS Supports 14th Annual Stuff The Bus Event

The 14th Annual Stuff the Bus food drive takes place Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at the Pick 'n Save store located at 11111 W. Greenfield Avenue.

MCTS is proud to partner again with 99.1 WMYX, Pick ‘n Save and Feeding America for this important community event. On the day before Thanksgiving, we’ll fill bus after bus with food and bring it to Feeding America. Your donations will help Feeding America put food on the table for 330,000 people in eastern Wisconsin who would otherwise go hungry this holiday season. The one day marathon food drive begins at 5 am and wraps up at 6 pm.

Donations at Stuff the Bus have been very generous in the past, with over 2 million pounds of food collected in 13 years. Seven buses were stuffed with food at the 2010 event. This year we hope to collect 200,000 pounds of food for Feeding America.

Please bring your nonperishable food items and Stuff the Bus! The most needed items include canned fruits and vegetables, canned soups, rice, beans, tuna, cereal, peanut butter, and jelly. Frozen turkeys and hams will be accepted, but please hand these items directly to a volunteer so that they can be handled properly.

It’s also possible to make monetary donations at this event. For every $1 donated, Feeding America can provide five meals to a hungry person or family.

Please come down and help us Stuff the Bus!

You can also make an online contribution to Stuff the Bus at www.onlineharvest.org/WMYX_2011

For more information visit

http://www.feedingamericawi.org/events/stuff-bus-2011

http://wmyx.radiotown.com/stb/index.html

MCTS Announces Steady Increase in Bike Rack Usage

Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) has seen a roughly 100% increase in bike rack usage in 2011 compared to 2010. In August 2011 alone, MCTS reached a monthly high with a total of bikes on board of 13,920. (Please note: under recording is estimated to be up to 15%.)

By the end of 2011 it is anticipated that bike boardings will be near 100,000, doubling the 2010 total of 47,995. As of September 30, the total bike rack usage for 2011 was 68,541, compared to 33,615 last year.

Everyone deserves the opportunity of public transportation, an affordable and convenient alternative to driving. According to company spokesperson, Jacqueline Janz, “By expanding the area around our bus stops to biking distance, it now increases MCTS’s service area to a higher percentage of county residents.” MCTS bus stops are within walking distance for 85 percent of county residents, and 99 percent of county residents are within biking distance.

Since launching Bikes on Buses on all fixed route service in August of 2009, MCTS has seen a steady increase in riders that take advantage of bringing their bike along for the ride. Due to the mild weather this fall, we expect usage for October and possibly November to remain high.

In 2011, the most popular routes for bike boardings so far are Route 15 (Oakland-Kinnickinnic) with 9,252 boardings; Route 10 (Humboldt-Wisconsin) with 4,726 boardings; and Route 18 (National Avenue) with 4,185 boardings.

With Bikes on Buses, MCTS is able to give customers a public transportation option that promotes a more sustainable and healthier lifestyle. Bike racks make it even easier for MCTS passengers to leave their car at home for their workday commute, head out to explore Milwaukee County Parks and bike trails, or enjoy a bike ride on their lunch break.

Information on Changes for Voters in 2012

As a convenience for our riders, we’ve put together a guide to assist those who may not have a driver’s license to prepare for the new Voter Photo ID Law. In 2011, the State passed a new law that will require all individuals to have photo identification to vote starting in 2012. To read about the changes and also find resources on how to prepare for the new voting requirements, please review this information carefully.

1. What Will Change in 2012:

· Photo identification (ID) will be required before receiving a ballot in 2012 and all other elections.

· Under the new law, you must live in the same place for 28 straight days before an election.
(It used to be 10 days)

· Voters will have to sign their name in the poll book.

2. Do you have an Acceptable Form of Identification (ID)?
You will need a form of ID such as, a valid driver’s license or Department of Transportation (DOT) ID card, U.S. passport or military ID. For a complete list of possible IDs that can be used to vote, call 1-866-VOTE-WIS or visit: http://gab.wi.gov/

3. How to get a FREE ID Card
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is providing FREE Wisconsin ID cards for voting through the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). For more information on how to get a FREE ID call (608) 266-2353 or visit: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/drivers/apply/idcard.htm (You must be 18 years of age on the date of the next election and will need to tell them you want a FREE ID Card for voting.)

DMV Service Centers in Milwaukee County:
Most locations are within two blocks of the bus routes (*indicates a walking distance more than 2 blocks)

· Central Milwaukee: 2701 Chase Avenue, Milwaukee (Bus Routes: 51*, 54, 80*)

· Downtown Milwaukee: 819 N 6^th Street, Milwaukee
(Bus Routes: 10, 12, 14, 23, 30, 31, 33, 40, 43, 46, 48, 49, 79, 80, 137, 143)

· Northeast Milwaukee: 6073 N. Teutonia Avenue, Milwaukee (Bus Route: 12)

· Northwest Milwaukee: 7301 W. Mill Road, Milwaukee (Bus Route: 23)

· South Milwaukee: 1835 College Avenue, South Milwaukee (Bus Route: 15)

· Southwest Milwaukee: 5500 W. Grange Avenue, Greendale (Bus Route: 64)

VERY IMPORTANT: In order to obtain a WI photo ID to vote, you will most likely need a certified birth certificate.

4. How to get a Certified US Birth Certificate:
To receive a certified (verified) copy of a birth certificate, you must present proper identification in person OR you can have one mailed to you. Please allow plenty of time to gather all information prior to applying. Information on how to get a certified birth certificate can be found at:

· Milwaukee County:

Call 414-278-4002 or visit: http://county.milwaukee.gov/VtialRecordsSystem9855.htm

In Person: Milwaukee County Clerk, Courthouse, 901 N 9^th Street, Rm 105, Milwaukee, WI

Bus Routes: 10, 12, 14, 23, 30, 31, 33*, 40, 43, 46, 48, 49, 79, 80*, 137, 143*

Most locations are within two blocks of the bus routes (*indicates a walking distance more than 2 blocks)

· Online Ordering Service for Milwaukee County:
http://www.vitalchek.com/milwaukee-county-express-vital-records.aspx?click_id=607704908510593026

· State of WI:

Call (608) 266-1371 or visit: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/vitalrecords/birth.htm

5. Elderly and Voters with Disabilities
Information can be found by calling 1-866-VOTE-WIS or online at:
http://gab.wi.gov/sites/default/files/publication/137/voting_for_the_elderly_and_people_with_disabiliti_17793.pdf

6. College Students
Information for University or College Student proof of ID can be found by calling 1-866-VOTE-WIS or online at:
http://gab.wi.gov/sites/default/files/publication/137/university_or_college_ids_pdf_12594.pdf

7. Homeless Individuals
Homeless voters will need proof of residency and a photo ID under the new law. Information can be found by calling 1-866-VOTE-WIS or by visiting:
http://gab.wi.gov/sites/default/files/publication/137/voting_for_the_homeless_pdf_53321.pdf

8. If you Moved Recently or are Voting for the First Time
If you are voting for the first time ever or for the first time in a new residence that you will have lived in for AT LEAST 28 straight days before the election, you will also need to provide proof of residency. Acceptable forms of residency may include, but are not limited to, a current and valid DOT issued driver’s license or ID card, a photo ID card issued by an employer, utility bill or bank statement. For a complete list of acceptable forms of proof of residency call 1-866-VOTE-WIS or visit: http://gab.wi.gov/elections-voting/voters/registration-voting

9. On Election Day

· Bring your current, valid photo ID.

· If you need to register as a new voter or as a voter with a new residence, you will also need to bring an acceptable
form of proof of residency.

· Be prepared to sign the poll book.

For any questions, including polling locations, call 1-866-VOTE-WIS or visit: http://gab.wi.gov/

2012 MCTS System Changes

(Last updated: January 5, 2012)

MCTS is busy preparing information so you will know how to plan your transit trips starting on Sunday, January 29, 2012. The information below should help you understand the system changes. Check back here as we will add information when it becomes available. Additionally, look for a special issue of Bus Lines below and on board buses which has detailed information on the changes.

Special issue of Bus Lines including color maps and details on all 2012 changes

Preview the new 2012 system map here

Frequently Asked Questions About the Upcoming Route Changes

Maps of new MetroEXpress Bus Service and Associated Route Changes:

New MetroEXpress Routes

Lists of Bus Stops for new MetroEXpress Routes and Associated Route Changes:

GreenLine (Bayshore - Airport)

BlueLine (Fond du Lac - National)

RedLine (Capitol Drive)

Rt 15 (Holton - Kinnickinnic)

Rt 23 (Fond du Lac - National)

Rt 52 (Clement - 15th Avenue)

Rt 54 (Mitchell - Burnham)

Rt 56 (Greenfield Avenue)

Rt 62 (Capitol Drive)

Rt 63 (Silver Spring - Port Washington)

Wisconsin Avenue Routes to Detour During Long Term Construction Effective 10/3/2011

Effective Monday, October 3, 2011, Routes 10, 12, 14, 23, 30, 31, 40, 43, 44, 46, 48, 49, 79, 90, 137 and 143 will be detoured off of Wisconsin Avenue between 2^nd Street and Broadway Street due to construction on the Wisconsin Avenue Bridge. Routes traveling both eastbound and westbound will be detoured . To reduce congestion, routes will be taking two different detours with Routes 12, 14, 23, 31, 40, 43, 46, 48 and 137 traveling via Michigan Street and Routes 10, 30, 44, 49, 79, 90 and 143 traveling via Wells Street and Kilbourn Avenue. Please see maps and routing details below:

Routes 10, 30, 44, 49, 79, 90 and 143* (143 will be affected westbound only) will detour via Wells Street and Kilbourn Avenue.

Eastbound: East on Wisconsin Avenue to Plankinton Avenue, north on Plankinton Avenue to Wells Street, east on Wells Street to Broadway Street, south on Broadway Street to Wisconsin Avenue to regular routing.

Click on map to view larger version.

Westbound: West on Wisconsin Avenue to Water Street, north on Water Street to Kilbourn Street, west on Kilbourn Street to 2^nd Street, south on 2^nd Street to Wisconsin Avenue to regular routing.
Click on map to view larger version.

Routes 12, 14, 23, 31, 40, 43, 46, 48 and 137 will detour via Michigan Street.

Eastbound: East on Wisconsin Avenue to 2^nd Street, south on 2^nd Street to Michigan Street, east on Michigan Street to Broadway Street, north on Broadway Street to Wisconsin Avenue to regular routing.
Click on map to view larger version.

Westbound: West on Wisconsin Avenue to Broadway Street, south on Broadway Street to Michigan Street, west on Michigan Street to Plankinton Avenue, north on Plankinton Avenue to Wisconsin Avenue to regular routing.
Click on map to view larger version.

Using Social Media? Connect with MCTS!

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/RideMCTS

Riders get up to date info on service changes, bus alerts during bad weather, major detour information, festival service and other news. You can also stay in touch with MCTS and tell us about your ride.

Students get the full benefit of your U-PASS! Find out about important exam schedule changes and special events.

Be in the know - receive updates about MCTS service, events and more!

How to Commend Your MCTS Operator

Each month, the Milwaukee County Transit System receives dozens of messages from riders who appreciate their bus driver. Customer service is important, so we want to recognize drivers who go above and beyond. Maybe you had a nice experience with an MCTS bus operator which you think the company should know about?

Whether its holding the bus for a late customer, giving directions to an unfamiliar place or providing extra assistance to a passenger in need, you can report such positive actions to our Customer Service Department. Commendations will go on the employees record and they will be eligible for a customer service award.
Passengers can give commendations through the following methods:

RideMCTS.com Commendations Form
By calling the Customer Comments Line at 414-937-3218, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
By tweeting @RideMCTS

Please have the following information available:

Route
Day/Date
Time
Direction
Location
Description of the good deed

Additional information, such as the four-digit bus number, description of the driver (gender, etc.), or operator name is also helpful.

Thousands Help Milwaukee County Transit System Design a Bus

Milwaukee, WI - - An estimated 4,000 people helped the Milwaukee County Transit System with its newly designed fully wrapped bus. This unique and vibrant bus design was created by thousands of citizen’s signatures.

“We have talked to many people who really like the bus, so in celebrating 150 Years of Public Transportation we wanted a way to show this,” said Jacqueline Janz, MCTS Marketing Director. “To have the community be actively involved in this project means a lot to MCTS. Watching it take shape this summer as we went to numerous community events was a thrill.”

Because the community supported this project, MCTS thought a great way to give back to the community was during the 13th Annual 99.1 The Mix’s Stuff the Bus to benefit Feeding America at Pick N Save in West Allis, 11111 W. Greenfield Avenue on Wednesday, November 24. .MCTS employees collected food for the event ahead of time, so this bus arrived at the event already full with food donations and ready to transfer more donations to Feeding America. Over 212,000 pounds of food was raised at the event, bringing the 13 year total to 2,071,317 pounds!

“We Heart the Bus” full wrap vehicle is a uniquely designed bus celebrating the community of transit riders in Milwaukee and sponsored by Clear Channel Outdoor, Northwestern Mutual, Miller Lite and Milwaukee Career College.

The bus will be in operation for approximately one year. During that time it will serve as an ambassador for MCTS at events throughout the County, as well as remain in service on regular MCTS routes.