MKE Transit
"We can achieve enormous social, economic, and environmental benefits at almost no cost simply by subsidizing people and places, not parking and cars."
--The High Cost of Free Parking by Donald C. Shoup, p. 602.
"Having a real downtown, and, I would posit, having a sense of place at all, are not possible where the car reigns supreme."
--How Cities Work by Alex Marshall, p. 183.
"If you live in a city, you don't need to own a car."
--William Clay Ford Jr., CEO, Ford Motor Company Ltd.
Edited by John December
This is a summary of options for transit in and around the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area, with a focus on public transit systems1. Milwaukee has supported a wide range of transporation systems during its history. Streetcars, trains, trolleys, horses, buses, boats, and people walking have all played a role in transit, and this legacy remains in some areas of downtown. Today, Milwaukee's role as a major air, rail, highway, and water hub give you many choices in getting to and around Milwaukee.
| For Travel by ... | Use these Carriers | To Reach... | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Human
| Foot | Downtown, Lakefront, Shopping |
Milwaukee has some walkable places.
The RiverWalk extends along the Milwaukee River in the downtown area.
The walking path along the shore of Lake Michigan stretches from Bradford Beach to the mouth of the Milwaukee River. Other good walking areas: Brady Street, The Third Ward, and Wisconsin Avenue.
Unfortunately, these places are often a bit more difficult for walking because, in general, speed limits as well as the laws requiring automobiles to yield to pedestrians are not enforced.
Please note: as a pedestrian, use designated crosswalks, obey walk light signals, and don't suddenly move in front of cars. As a driver,
you must yield to pedestrians who have started walking in crosswalks--it is not optional.
You'll see these signs on Brady Street, but this law applies to every crosswalk in the State of Wisconsin, and the fine is $133. Seventeen pedestrians died in Milwaukee in 2004.
|
| Bicycle | Milwaukee and surrounding counties |
There is a very good system of county bicycle trails; look for the "Oak Leaf Trail." The city of Milwaukee also has designated bike trails. For maps and resources, check out MilwaukeeByBike.org.
| |
Auto
|
Your own zip car!. Now in
Milwaukee.
| Highways and city streets | Why own a two-ton piece of useless metal that is idle most of the time--while all of the time you are paying for insurance, opportunity costs, parking, and other sunk costs of owning a car? Instead, just pay for what you use--get your own zip car only when you need it--and be car free otherwise. |
| Automobiles, buses, trucks | Highways and city streets | The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has projects planned for southeastern Wisconsin, notably the reconstruction of the Marquette interchange. Taking care of the local streets is done by the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works and the County of Milwaukee Department of Public Works. | |
| Taxi: seach yellow pages for various companies. | points in the county and beyond | Taxicabs in the downtown area are plentiful. Out in the burbs, you'd probably have to call. Usually there is a line of cabs available on North Jefferson Street, just north of Wisconsin Avenue, next to the Pfister Hotel as well as on North Fifth Street, just south of Wisconsin Avenue, in front of the Hilton Hotel. | |
| Limo and van service to/from airports. | To Milwaukee's Mitchell / Chicago's O'Hare or Midway airports. | Van and limo includes door-to-door service from hotels, businesses, and many residences (see restrictions). Milwaukee County Transit Bus #80 also stops at the MKE airport. | |
| Bus
| Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) | anywhere in Milwaukee county and connections to Waukesha and Ozaukee counties | This is a very good (and award-winning2) bus system! The buses are frequent, reliable, safe, and convenient. There are services for special events--festival buses as well as special buses out to home games of the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Phone (414)344-6711. Has run a summer trolley service in the past. |
Badger Bus 
| Airport, Milwaukee to Madison | The Badger Bus offers reliable, frequent round trips every day between Madison and Milwaukee and points in between. Also connections to Milwaukee's Mitchell International Airport. The Badger Bus station is in downtown Milwaukee between Wisconsin and Michigan Avenues on the west side of James Lovell Street (the street formerly known as 7th). Phone (414)276-7490. | |
| Greyhound | US | Greyhound offers frequent service from Milwaukee south to Chicago, west to Madison, and north to Green Bay. Greyhound's station is now at the Amtrak station 433 W St Paul Ave. Phone (800)231-2222. | |
| Indian Trails
| Region | Service from Milwaukee north via Sheboygan and Manitowoc to Green Bay and the UP. Station at the Amtrak station, 433 W St Paul Ave. Phone (800)292-3831. | |
| Wisconsin Coach Lines | Service in Waukesha, Oconomowoc, Milwaukee, Mukwonago, Kenosha, Racine, to Milwaukee's Mitchell and Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports; also service to Gurnee, IL. | A regional bus company with connections in Milwaukee (downtown, UW-Milwaukee, Marquette Univ, MKE Airport), Waukesha, Racine, Kenosha, Oconomowoc, Delafield, Mukwonago; and Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports. Phone (877)3-AIRPORTS. | |
| megabus.com | From Milwaukee to Chicago with buses from Chicago on to Minneapolis/St Paul, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Toledo, Cleveland, and Detroit. | Bus from Milwaukee (Amtrak or the College Ave Park and Ride) to Chicago's Union Station. Ticket sales are online and by reservation only on Web site. | |
| Ozaukee Express | North to Ozaukee County | The Ozaukee County Express is operated by Milwaukee County Transit System. It provides service connecting Mitchell Street, Downtown Milwaukee, Cedarburg, Fredonia, Grafton, Mequon, Port Washington, and Saukville. Phone (414)344-6711. There is also an Ozaukee Taxi available in Grafton, Saukville, and Thiensville. Phone Ozaukee Shared-Ride Taxi (800)925-9590 and Ozaukee County Express (414)344-6711. | |
| Washington County Commuter Express | Northwest to Washington County | Public transportation service between Washington County Park and Ride parking lots and Milwaukee County areas, including Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Milwaukee, Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, Mayfair Mall, and Watertown Plank Road and Highway 100. Phone 1-888-675-WCCE (9223). | |
| Waukesha Metro Transit | In and around Waukesha city and county | You can transfer at the Brookfield Square Shopping Center between Milwaukee County Transit Service buses to Waukesha Metro Transit buses. Also Waukesha Metro Transit serves Goerkes Corners Transit Station for transfer to Wisconsin Coach Lines or the Badger Bus. Phone (262)524-3636. | |
| Belle Urban System (BUS) | In and around Racine County | Now with a new Racine Metro Transit Center near State Street and Memorial Drive. Phone (262)637-9000. BUS connects with Kenosha Transit at the University of Wisconsin--Parkside when school is in session. | |
| Kenosha transit | In and around Kenosha County. | You can connect in Kenosha via Metrarail to Chicago. Kenosha transit connects with Racine's Belle Urban System (BUS) at the University of Wisconsin--Parkside. Kenosha transit also connects with Wisconsin Coach Lines at the Metra Station in Kenosha. Phone (262)653-4287. | |
| Lamers Bus Lines | North to Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Appleton, Wausau | Operates a regular route bus from Wausau to Milwaukee and on to Chicago. Also charters. Phone (800)236-1240. | |
| Transportes Regiomontanos | Connections to Mexico | Phone (414)647-2627. | |
Train
| Amtrak | US and Canada | Amtrak's Milwaukee Station is downtown at 5th and St. Paul Streets (see photos). A station is also at Mitchell International Airport (South 6th St & Airport Spur Freeway). The Amtrak rail service connects Milwaukee south to Chicago and west to Minneapolis. Phone (800)872-7245. See the Hiawatha and Empire Builder schedules. |
| Planned commuter rail development from Kenosha and Racine to Milwaukee | Chicago commuter rail connections with southeastern Wisconsin and Milwaukee | There are plans to extend commuter rail from its present northern terminus in Kenosha, Wisconsin north to downtown Milwaukee. Stations might be in Milwaukee, Cudahy, South Milwaukee, Oak Creek, the Town of Caledonia, Racine, the Town of Somers, and Kenosha. | |
Boat
| Port of Milwaukee | Lake Michigan, St. Lawrence Seaway | Lake Michigan is immediately to the east of Milwaukee. You can use the Port of Milwaukee for shipping through the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway. Some Great Lakes cruise ships periodically stop in Milwaukee. |
| Lake Express LLC ferry service | Across Lake Michigan from Milwaukee, WI to Muskegon, MI | Lake Express is a high speed ferry service across Lake Michigan. The boat is a 58-meter long catamaran with four engines and nine megawatts of power. Traveling at up to 63 kilometers per hour, it crosses Lake Michigan in about 2.5 hours with up to 250 passengers and 46 automobiles as well as bicycles and motorcycles. The Milwaukee terminal is at 2330 S. Lincoln Memorial Drive, near the south end of the Hoan Bridge. Phone (866)914-1010. | |
| SS Badger Carferry | Across Lake Michigan from Manitowoc, WI to Ludington, MI | Manitowoc is about 128 km north of Milwaukee. Taking this ferry could save you time driving an auto to the northern part of the lower Peninsula of Michigan or other destinations. Phone (888)FERRY-4U. | |
Air
| Midwest Airlines | Direct flights US | Milwaukee's hometown airline features comfortable seating on its flights out of the MKE airport. Direct, non-stop flights to major US cities (example: 2 hours to New York City, 4 hours to Los Angeles). Phone (800)452-2022. |
| MKE Airport | US and world | Many airlines serve Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport, the largest airport in Wisconsin. | |
| MWC Airport | regional | The Lawrence J. Timmerman Airport is located on the northwest side of Milwaukee and serves the general aviation community. |
For Further Exploration
Transit Information
- Wisconsin Department of Transportation Travel Information: links to Wisconsin resources on travel by air, bike, foot, public transit, rail, road, truck, and water.
- Your Other Wheels: an official site describing transit systems in southeastern Wisconsin; promoted to consumers as part of advertisements including the 1-866-2-THEBUS phone number. Includes introductory information about how to use the bus.
- Milwaukee Parking information: Find out the rules are for parking an automobile in Milwaukee by using this information from the City of Milwaukee.
Transit Projects
- Milwaukee to Kenosha and Racine Transit Study: examining the extension of commuter rail from Kenosha up to Milwaukee.
- Milwaukee to Madison High Speed Rail: part of the proposed Midwest Regional Rail Initiative which would develop a 4,800 km passenger rail network, centered on Chicago, in nine states.
- Milwaukee Connector Downtown Transit Study: this project intended to explore ways to link activity areas and attractions by transit. This study came up with an electric bus system which was vetoed by the mayor and common council. Editorial comment: I think this project failed because it did not focus on the practical, down-to-earth, small-scale, incremental, modular, proven, and common-sense things that could be done to improve transit greatly in the Milwaukee area--items such as improving the pedestrian environment, reforming parking regulations, re-analyzing the transit system routes, using innovative and integrated (cashless) payment systems, and improving the security and visibility and usability of transit stops, routes, and vehicles. By focusing on expensive vehicles as the sole solution for transit, this study missed out on coming up with less glamorous but far more practical approaches, similar to what happened in Seattle with the failure of their monorail extension. Expensive, futuristic-looking vehicles do not make an excellent transit system.
- Transit Now: an organization to educate the community on transportation-related issues that impact Southeastern Wisconsin.
Urban Development
- Center for Urban Transportation Studies: an academic department at the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee which studies urban mass transit, management, land use, forecasting, futures, planning, ride sharing, port operation, rail operation, environment, and communities.
- Congress for New Urbanism: an urban design pattern that stresses walkability, mixed use developments, and the density that leads to urban efficiency and human interest. Critiqued for being overly nostalgic for the past or its reliance on gentrification, this movement nonetheless is a counterpoint to automobile-centric urban development theory and practice. The national convention for the Congress for New Urbanism was held in Milwaukee in 1999, and New Urbanist ideas have been influential in Milwaukee's downtown master plan. John Norquist, mayor of Milwaukee from 1988 to the end of 2003, is President and CEO of the Congress for New Urbanism. The CNU is headquartered in Chicago.
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Books about urban forms: A list of books related to making places more attuned to the needs of people. Topics include works in urban criticism, planning, architecture, cultural geography, and demographics.
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Links about transit and urban issues: A list of Web sites about human mobility, urban planning, and transportation issues. Includes organizations, public information, and advocacy sites that work to re-focus urban planning, architecture, and transportation policies and systems toward serving the needs of human beings
Footnotes
- I have used mass transit in New York, London, Mexico City, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Macau, Beijing, Stockholm, Vienna, Chicago, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Seattle, Minneapolis, San Francisco, San Jose, Toronto, Montreal, Boston, Washington DC, Detroit, Atlanta, Baltimore, New York State's Capital District, St. Louis, Wichita KS, Honolulu HI, Madison WI, Kenosha WI, Racine WI, Waukesha WI, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. I've not owned a car since 1989.
- The Milwaukee County Transit System was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award--the highest award a transit company can achieve--by the American Public Transit Association in 1987 and 1999.
Thanks to Street Signs USA for Traffic Sign Images.
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