SMART Bus Transit System:

Transit in Milwaukee County

and the Region

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

Milwaukee County Transit System

The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS)
provides a network of local transit services focusing on
Downtown Milwaukee.
The local transit network provides good access to transit for
90% of the total county population.
The grid system provides for transfer opportunities.

Freeway Flyers and Ubuses provide Park-Ride Lot

express services to Downtown and UW-Milwaukee.
The local transit network lacks an express bus
component.
SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

More Competitive Travel Times

Although county-wide coverage is good, there is a need for
faster travel times -- a need for express buses.
The SMART bus will have travel times more competitive with
the automobile.
Faster travel times are achieved through:

fare payment at shelters/stations,

frequent service,
increased stop spacing (3 to 4 blocks spacing),
priority travel lanes
bus signal priority with GPS technology.

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

SMART Bus Plan

Objectives
Serve areas of high demand for transit
Provide infrastructure to support new developments
Focus on Jobs and job-training opportunities (schools,
universities, etc.)
Provide an express bus option in North-South and
East-West Corridors to strengthen regional
connections
Provide a premium service option to expand the
ridership base
Satisfy Environmental Justice Lawsuit

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

High
Capacity
60-foot
Vehicles
for Peak
Period
Loads
Modern Vehicles

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

Modern Vehicles

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

Modern Vehicles

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

Modern
Interiors

Off Vehicle Fare Collection

Opportunities
SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

Convenient Shelters/Stops

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

Convenient Shelters/Stops

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

Priority BRT Lanes

Arterial Running BRT
Dedicated Bus Only Lanes
on some streets
Priority Lanes allowing for
mixed traffic use on other
streets to preserve parking
where demand is heaviest.

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

U.S. BRT Operations

Bus Rapid Transit Plans are being developed
across the Country.
BRT is already operating in:

Boston
- Cleveland
Kansas City
- Las Vegas
Miami
- Minneapolis
Santa Monica, CA

- Eugene, OR
- Los Angeles
- Oakland, CA

BRT is under development in:

Albany, NY
Hartford
Denver

- Atlanta
- Indianapolis

- Chicago
- Orlando

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

Pilot Project
Two Routes -- Green Line and
Blue Line.
Serving areas of existing high
demand for transit:
Wisconsin Avenue Corridor
Farwell/Prospect Corridor
27th Street Corridor

Strengthening the region and

regional connections for
Milwaukee County Residents:
North-South Express
East-West Express
SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

SMART - Blue Line

Serves Jobs and students:
Regional Medical Center
Marquette University
Downtown Milwaukee
Columbia/St. Marys
UW-Milwaukee

Serves areas of high demand:

Wisconsin Avenue Corridor
Eastside of Milwaukee.

Strengthens connections:
Connects Wauwatosa to Downtown
Connects UWM to Reg Medical Center

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

Blue Line

10 miles long (about 40 stops/stations)

On bus travel time reduced by 25% -- saves over 11
minutes when traveling from Regional Medical Center to
UWM compared to existing bus service.

Provides East-West express for central city

residents seeking employment in suburbs.
Over 11,000 weekday riders currently.

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

SMART -Green Line

Serves Neighborhoods, Regional
Medical Facilities, Offices and
Commercial Developments:
Bayshore Towne Center
St. Lukes Medical Center
Southgate Market Place
Northwestern Mutual (Oak Creek)

Serves areas of high demand for

transit:
27th street currently has 12,000 weekday
passengers

Stronger regional connections:

Provides a framework for connecting
Glendale, Milwaukee, Franklin and
Oak Creek.

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

Green Line
17 miles in length (about 65
stops/stations)
Provides a non-transfer trip from Central
City to Bayshore Towne Center
employment and shopping opportunities.
Expands Service to Northwestern Mutual
Office Complex in Oak Creek.
Service every 6 to 10 minutes during most
times.

Provides North-South express for

central city residents seeking
employment in nearby suburbs.
Consistent with Settlement of
Environmental Justice Lawsuit.
SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

SMART -Expansion
The Silver Line is a Potential Future
Expansion of the SMART Bus System
Serves the heart of the near north and near
southsides
Mid-Towne Center
Downtown Milwaukee
Mitchell Park & Domes
Veterans Administration and Medical Center
Miller Park and State Fair Park

Serves areas of high demand for transit:

Fond du Lac and National Avenues have
approximately 12,000 weekday riders.

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

Cooperation with
Other Local
Municipalities
SMART Bus System pilot project

Reserved Lanes

routes serve Milwaukee, Glendale, Oak

Creek, Franklin and Wauwatosa
City-County Cooperation will be essential
Local municipalities control most streets,
intersections, parking, travel lanes, etc.
Signal Priority Control would have to be
programmed by local municipalities.
Transit Priority bus lanes would have to be
established by local municipalities.

Shelter Permits are issued by Cities in which

the shelters will be located.
SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

SMART -Operations
Improving average vehicle speed could reduce transit travel
times by 25%.
Ridership estimated at 23,000 boardings per weekday
Other BRT systems have experienced increases in ridership of 20% or
more, which could add another 4,000 to 5,000 new rides each weekday.

The SMART Bus System is an expansion of services; costs

may be covered by:
Ridership gains will provide additional farebox revenues.
Federal funding for fixed guideway investments may apply to
dedicated/priority lanes.
Adjustments to existing routes that reduce costs
Access to capital funds for maintenance costs
Access to right-of-ways may offset portion of local match

A detailed study will refine cost and revenue estimates.

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

SMART -Funding
17 years ago, over $241 Million in Federal Funds were
allocated for transit improvements in Milwaukee
County.
Over the years these funds have helped to pay for
several projects that did not improve transit
Marquette Interchange in City of Milwaukee
Sixth Street Bridge Replacement in City of Milwaukee
Removal of the Park East Freeway in Downtown Milwaukee

$91.5 Million of $241 remain

These funds can be used for capital projects such as new bus purchases
and BRT stations/stops.
An intergovernmental agreement saves these funds for transit
improvements supported by the Connector Study Group.

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

SMART -Budget
The Pilot Project Budget is estimated at $70 Million
(not the entire $91.5 Million).
$59.5 Million of the Pilot Project Budget would be Federal monies
(drawing upon the available $91.5 Million).
$10.5 Million in local funds is the required match for the $70 Million
project.

Pilot Project consists of Blue and Green SMART Bus Routes

which would be operated with new vehicles, improved
stops/stations, priority lanes, etc.
27 Miles of BRT alignment
40 60-foot hybrid diesel electric buses

Total

$30 Million
$40 Million

$70 Million

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

Milwaukee
County
BRT
Network
SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

BRT
Network
with
Regional
Freeway
Flyers
SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

A Regional
Approach to
Providing
Transit to Jobs,
Schools, and
Residences
SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

Regional Approach
BRT improves transit within Milwaukee County.
Freeway Flyers (regional buses) improves
transportation region-wide
You can live anywhere in Milwaukee County and travel
to jobs, schools, physicians, etc., throughout the
region via transit.
Residents of neighboring counties have improved transit
access to destinations anywhere in Milwaukee County.

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

Alternative:
City of Milwaukee
Streetcar System
Net reduction in state and federal
operating assistance to the Milwaukee
County Transit System of up to $3 million
per year.
Loss of additional funds to upgrade and
improve bus transit system

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

Cuts under $3 million loss

Complete Routes:
Rt. 43 (Whitnall Flyer)
Rt. 45 (Watertown Plank Road Flyer)
Rt. 47 (S. 27th St. Flyer)
Rt. 48 (Southshore Flyer)
Rt. 59 (Mill Road)
Rt. 219 (Oak Creek Shuttle)
Rt. 28 (108th St.)
Rt.64 (S. 60th Street)
Rt. 68 (Port Washington)
SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

Cuts under $3 m loss (cont)

Partial Service Cuts:
Rt. 27 - Eliminate service to Glendale
Industrial Park
Rt. 40 - Eliminate service to the Ryan Rd. Lot
Rt. 49 - Eliminate service to the Green Bay
& Brown Deer Lot
Rt. 19 - Eliminate service south of Layton on
both branches
Rt. 35 - Eliminate service south of Howard
SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

Think rail, use buses

SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit

Vision for Future of Transit

Start pilot of BRT system
Expand BRT throughout county, region
Enhance transit by integrating Regional
Freeway Flyers with BRT
Consolidate transit into Metro System
Find alternative funding source to aid
transit throughout the region
SMART - Suburban & Milwaukee Advanced Rapid Transit