MCTS Service Changes Go Into Effect January 2nd

Three Freeway Flyer Routes Eliminated, Saturday Service Reduced on 13 Routes

Beginning Sunday, January 2, Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) service changes approved in the 2011 Milwaukee County Budget will go into effect. While three Freeway Flyer routes will be eliminated, two routes will be adjusted to serve other park-ride lots. Additionally, frequency on some Saturday bus routes will change.

Changes are as follows:

· Route 79 (Menomonee Falls Flyer) will now make a stop at Watertown Plank Park-Ride Lot.

· Route 46 (Southridge-Loomis) will be on detour due to construction, so it will stop at the Holt Park-Ride Lot for limited select trips. Roughly half the trips will serve Southridge-Loomis-Holt while the other will serve just Southridge and Loomis. At this point, this change is not permanent and will be reviewed once the construction is completed.

· Three Routes will be eliminated: Route 39 (Timmerman Flyer), 45 (Watertown Plank Flyer), and 47 (S. 27th St. Flyer).

The following alternate routing is suggested to passengers affected by the change. There are also other routes in the area that may suit a rider’s travel needs better:

· Route 39: Routes 12, 23, 57 or 80

· Route 45: Routes 10, 31, 44 or 79 (new stop added at Watertown Plank Park-Ride Lot)

· Route 47: Routes 11, 15, 19, 46 (new stop added to Holt Park-Ride Lot during construction detour), or 80

Additionally, beginning Saturday, January 8, 2011, Saturday service on 13 routes will be reduced to Sunday level of service. Those routes are 10, 11, 12, 14, 31, 33, 35, 51, 53, 54, 57, 67 and 80.

“While it is difficult to reduce service frequency and eliminate flyer routes, these changes will help to maintain the mainline system which is so vital to the community,” stated Anita Gulotta-Connelly, MCTS Managing Director. “We have done our best to minimize the impact to our passengers.”

For more information passengers can call the 24-hour automated BusLine at 414-344-6711 or visit RideMCTS.com.

The Milwaukee County Transit System is a vital service to the community, connecting 40 million riders each year with jobs, schools, shopping, healthcare and recreation in Milwaukee County. In 2010, MCTS celebrates 150 years of public transportation in Milwaukee.