MILWAUKEE – Today, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley announced a new grant award that will improve the safety, efficiency, and travel times of buses while helping increase bus ridership. It will also fund traffic signal projects to improve travel times along two major County Trunk Highways (CTH).

The Milwaukee County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will receive nearly $13.9 million through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) in the 2026-2030 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Cycle.

“We need a modern transportation system that works for everyone in our community, from seniors, to workers, to business owners. That’s why I’m continuing to fight to bring federal dollars home and invest in public transit and County roadways,” said County Executive Crowley. “I want to thank our state, local and federal partners who recognize that investing in Wisconsin’s largest economic hub doesn’t just connect communities, it helps power the state and regional economy.”

MCTS Fleet Modernization

MCDOT will receive $12 million in funding to purchase new buses that integrate modern safety and efficiency features while reducing operating costs. Once deployed, the new buses will help MCTS maintain an average fleet age of 6 – 8 years, which will optimize maintenance costs and reliability for riders. 

The award will also help MCTS near its goal to equip the entire bus fleet with technology that reduces wait times for riders. MCDOT will receive $550K in funding to add traffic signal optimization technology to 77 MCTS buses at 30 intersections. The funds will supplement two other recent awards for traffic signal optimization projects. By 2030, once all projects are implemented, nearly 75% of MCTS’ fleet is anticipated to be traffic signal optimized for 139 intersections along major city of Milwaukee travel corridors.

County Trunk Highway (CTH) Traffic Signal Improvements

$1.2 million in funding will be used to reduce congestion along two major CTHs through projects to upgrade traffic signal equipment.

  • $706K will be available for traffic signal improvements at five intersections along S. 76th Street (CTH U) between W. Puetz Rd. and W. Highview Dr./W. Ballpark Dr. in the city of Franklin
  • $518K will be available for traffic signal improvements at three intersections of W. Hampton Avenue (CTH EE) between N. 124th Street and N. 107th Street in the city of Milwaukee

The projects will improve travel times and reduce delays. Similar projects have shown a reduction in delay and travel times of 10 percent, with some projects showing a reduction in delays of up to 44 percent and up to 25 percent reduction in travel times.

Public Outreach

$200K in funding would be directed to provide public outreach to demographic groups most likely to rely on public transit, including people living in disadvantaged neighborhoods; seniors who are seeking to age in place; veterans, non-drivers, and others who can’t afford to drive due to a disability; and students.

Accessibility initiatives, with an emphasis on education, would focus on making sure these target audiences and the general public have the most current information about how to ride the bus, use the system, and help improve traffic congestion and reduce the environmental impact from driving a car. 

About the CMAQ Program

The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program is a federally funded program administered by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to fund transportation projects that reduce emissions of criteria pollutants and help to improve air quality in areas identified as nonattainment or maintenance areas. It includes efforts to enhance public transit, bicycle/pedestrian facilities, ridesharing programs and facilities, and technologies that improve traffic flow and vehicle emissions.