Schedule Changes Set For Milwaukee Bus Routes Before M-Card Phased Out

MILWAUKEE, WI — Schedule updates are in store for several bus routes around Milwaukee County in August before riders have to fully switch away from the M-Card to pay fares in October, officials are reminding ahead of the changes.

The schedule changes, which come from the feedback of riders and drivers, will affect routes 12, 14, 24, 30, 33, 51, 57, 80, RedLine and the CONNECT 1 BRT, according to a news release from MCTS. The changes go into effect on Aug. 27.

The new BRT line will see minor adjustments for a more real-time schedule, while the schedules for Routes 14, 24, 30, 33, 51, 80 and the RedLine will see adjustments based on rider and driver feedback. The Connect 1 BRT, plus Routes 12 and 57, will remain detoured because of road construction during the fall.

For several routes, MCTS is hoping to improve the frequency of service. Here is what transit officials said about those changes:

• "Route 33: Adjusted afternoon trip times leaving downtown Milwaukee to accommodate workers on weekdays.
• Route 51: Improved frequency of service to 26 minutes between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.
• Route 57: Improved frequency of service to every 28 minutes on Saturday morning.
• Route 80: Improved frequency of service to every 21 minutes between 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. to MATC Oak Creek and to every 21-25 minutes between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. to the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.
• RedLine: Improved frequency of service to every 12 minutes during the midday."

Previews of the new schedules went live on RideMCTS.com on Thursday while printed timetables will be placed on buses and racks and MCTS stations by Aug. 25.

The schedule changes come before the new MCTS fare system goes into effect. The M-Card system, launched in 2014, will be eliminated in favor of a WisGo card or the Umo app, which allows MCTS to cap fares.