Milwaukee gets around on one countywide bus network, plus a separate streetcar downtown that doesn’t cost a thing. There are no fare gates — you tap on board, and the same tap works on local buses, the express CONNECT 1 line, and the airport bus alike.
The basics
MCTS (Milwaukee County Transit System) runs almost all of the county’s fixed-route buses — well over 50 routes blanketing Milwaukee and its suburbs. The flagship is CONNECT 1, Wisconsin’s first bus rapid transit line: battery-electric buses run in dedicated lanes along Wisconsin Avenue and Bluemound Road, linking downtown to Marquette University, Wauwatosa, and the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center through 34 stations.
Downtown, a second system takes over: The Hop, Milwaukee’s streetcar, loops through downtown and the Historic Third Ward on its M-Line, with the L-Line and F-Line extending the network further. It’s a different operator from MCTS, and — notably — it’s completely free.
How to pay
MCTS uses WisGo, built on the Umo fare platform, with three ways to pay:
- Tap a contactless bank card or your phone (Apple Pay / Google Pay) on the reader as you board. It charges the regular fare and automatically tracks your fare capping — as long as you keep using the same card or phone.
- Use the Umo app to pay by phone: load money or a card, then hold your QR code up to the reader when you board.
- Get a WisGo card ($2) at retail locations around the county or online, load it with cash or a card, and tap it the same way.
- Pay cash on board — exact change only, and cash fares don’t include fare capping or a free transfer, so you’ll pay again on every bus.
The Hop costs nothing — just board and ride, no tapping required.
Fares
| Per ride | Daily cap | Weekly cap | Monthly cap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult (12–64) | $2.75 | $8.25 | $33 | $99 |
| Reduced (65+, ages 6–11, qualifying disability) | $1.25 | $4 | $16.50 | $49.50 |
| Kids 5 & under | Free | — | — | — |
Tap-based fares (Umo, WisGo, or contactless) automatically include a free transfer for 90 minutes and fare capping — once you’ve tapped enough times in a day, week, or month to hit the cap, the rest of that period is free. You don’t need to buy a pass in advance; just keep using the same payment method and the system does the math. Capping and transfers only work with tap payment — cash fares don’t get either.
Getting from the airport
From Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE), the easiest way downtown is the MCTS GreenLine bus.
- Where to catch it: the baggage-claim roadway island outside Exit 2.
- Cost: the regular $2.75 fare — same as any other MCTS ride.
- Time: about 30 minutes to downtown (Water & Wisconsin) during the day; a little faster, around 26–27 minutes, in the early morning and evening.
- Frequency: roughly every 15 minutes through the day.
Route 80 also runs from the airport (Ticketing curb, near the American/United entrance) to downtown and on to MATC, as a second option if the GreenLine doesn’t line up with your schedule.
If you’re connecting onward toward Chicago or the Twin Cities, Amtrak’s Hiawatha and Borealis trains stop right at the airport, at a rail station reached from the terminal by a free shuttle — handy for continuing your trip, less so for a quick hop downtown.
Apps to download
- Umo — the official app for paying your fare by phone, with fare capping built in.
- Transit — real-time bus arrivals and clear step-by-step directions across MCTS and the Hop.
- Google Maps or Apple Maps — solid for planning, with live MCTS data built in.
When it runs
MCTS buses run from the early morning into the night, with CONNECT 1 the most frequent line — about every 10 minutes on weekdays during peak and midday hours, 15 minutes at weekend peak times, and 20–30 minutes off-peak. The Hop runs Monday–Friday 5am–midnight, Saturday 7am–midnight, and Sunday 7am–10pm, with streetcars arriving every 15–20 minutes. There’s no all-night network, so plan ahead if you’re out past midnight.
Accessibility
Every MCTS bus is a low-floor, accessible bus with a ramp and kneeling function for easier boarding. MCTS offers free Travel Training to help riders learn the system, and the Aira app gives blind and low-vision riders free, on-demand wayfinding help. Riders who can’t use the fixed-route system due to a disability can use Transit Plus, MCTS’s door-to-door ADA paratransit service.
Etiquette & local quirks
- Tap every time you board — including transfers — to get credit toward your fare cap.
- The Hop is free, so there’s nothing to tap there; just get on.
- MCTS buses serve Milwaukee’s big summer festivals, including Summerfest at Henry Maier Festival Park — expect extra crowds and sometimes extra service on festival days.
- Keep an eye out for Public Safety Officers on buses — they’re there to remind riders to pay and to help keep the ride calm, not to police the stop.
Good to know
- Fare enforcement is low-key. MCTS staff and Public Safety Officers will remind you to pay and may ask to see proof of payment, but the emphasis is on reminders, not fines.
- Cash riders don’t get free transfers. If you expect to connect between buses, tap a card, phone, or WisGo card instead of paying cash — it’s the difference between one fare and several.
- Two separate systems, two separate rules. MCTS fares don’t apply to the Hop and vice versa — but since the Hop is free, that only matters one direction.