MCTS Announces Free Rides On CONNECT 1 BRT Line From June 4 To September 30

Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) has announced free rides will be provided on the soon-to-launch CONNECT 1 Bus Rapid Transit line due to an exclusive sponsorship with Umo Mobility. Everyone — from Milwaukeeans, Wisconsin Center trade show attendees, festivalgoers, Marquette students to MRMC patients, employees, visitors and more — can ride CONNECT 1 free from June 4 through September 30 as part of the sponsorship agreement.

“Umo Mobility powers MCTS’s new fare collection system, WisGo. Umo’s sponsorship encourages riders to try the state’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line and underscore’s Umo’s commitment to regional mobility,” according to a press release.

“MCTS and Umo services are aligned to grow regional connectivity. Waukesha Metro recently agreed to join the WisGo fare collection system, which is powered by Umo, and other regional transit agencies are considering it,” MCTS President and Interim Managing Director Denise Wandke said. “This sponsorship not only benefits our riders, but it also introduces the benefits of regional mobility to other transit agency riders across the state.”

Umo Mobility General Manager Bonnie Crawford said, “We’re proud to support the evolution of mobility across the state of Wisconsin with WisGo. Together, CONNECT and WisGo will provide the communities served by MCTS with an improved transportation experience that is made to fit the needs of all riders regardless of how they pay. We wanted to make it easy to try the new BRT service and introduce riders to the many benefits of WisGo. The summer sponsorship was the perfect way to do both.”

“MCTS chose the Umo platform because it allows for an equitable payment option called fare capping, supports 45 languages, and offers information about multiple modes of transit. Hop riders, Bublr bike renters, and pedestrians can plan their rides using the Umo mobile app,” the release stated. “MCTS CONNECT 1 is expected to increase overall transit ridership in the corridor. Ridership will be fueled by employers, tourism, learning institutions, and medical systems within the half-mile station area around the route. Another BRT route is currently under evaluation for the North-South Corridor along 27th Street in Milwaukee (mkenorthsouth.com).”