View source for Waukesha Metro Transit

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox bus transit
| name            = Waukesha Metro Transit
| logo            = Waukesha Metro Transit logo.png
| logo_size       =
| image           = Waukesha June 2023 126 (Waukesha Metro Transit bus).jpg
| image_caption   = A Waukesha Metro Transit bus in front of the transit center
| company_slogan  = 
| parent          = 
| founded         = 1981
| defunct         =
| headquarters    = 2311 Badger Drive
| locale          = Waukesha, WI 
| service_area    = 
| service_type    = [[bus service]], [[paratransit]]
| alliance        = 
| routes          = 
| destinations    = 
| stops           = 
| hubs            =
| stations        = 
| lounge          = 
| fleet           = 45<ref name="fta2022" />
| annual ridership= 464,344 (2022)<ref name="fta2022" />
| fuel_type       = 
| operator        = *City of Waukesha (intra-county)
*[[Wisconsin Coach Lines]] (express)
| ceo             =  
| website         = [http://www.waukeshametro.org/ waukeshametro.org]
}}
'''Waukesha Metro Transit''' is a public transit agency operating in the city of [[Waukesha, Wisconsin|Waukesha]] and throughout [[Waukesha County]]. Founded in 1981, the system directly operates ten bus routes, contracts three commuter routes to [[Wisconsin Coach Lines]], and partially funds two routes of [[Milwaukee County Transit System]] which extend into Waukesha County.

Waukesha Metro is also one of five transit agencies that are part of the [[Southeast Wisconsin Transit System]].

==History==
{{Expand section|date=April 2023}}
Following the approval of a referendum in 1980, Waukesha Metro Transit started operating in 1981, returning bus service to the city for the first time since 1977.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Patt |date=September 1, 1981 |title=Bus service gets off to a modest start |work=[[The Milwaukee Journal]]}}</ref> [[Paratransit]] service, under the name Metrolift, began in 1982 under contract with Dairyland Buses Inc.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Martino |first=Sam |date=March 1, 1982 |title=Bus service for disabled seeks riders |work=[[The Milwaukee Journal]]}}</ref>

In 2023, Waukesha Metro began adding support for [[Milwaukee County Transit System]]'s fare system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wanek-Libman |first=Mischa |date=March 30, 2023 |title=MCTS set to launch WisGO April 1 |url=https://www.masstransitmag.com/technology/fare-collection/article/53046537/mcts-set-to-launch-wisgo-april-1 |access-date=April 1, 2023 |website=Mass Transit}}</ref>

==Services==
{| class="wikitable" 
|- style="text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan="3" | Waukesha Metro Transit
|-
! No. !! Route !! Notes
|-
| '''1''' || Waukesha/Froedtert || Downtown Transit Center to Milwaukee Regional Medical Center; transfers with [[Milwaukee County Transit System]] Connect 1 
|-
| '''2''' || Arcadian || Downtown Transit Center to Woodmans;2/3 Weekends
|-
| '''3''' || Moreland || Downtown Transit Center to Target;2/3 Weekends
|-
| '''4''' || Grand || Downtown Transit Center to Wal-Mart
|-
| '''5''' || Prairie || Downtown Transit Center to the Shoppes at Fox River
|-
| '''6''' || St. Paul || Downtown Transit Center to Badger Dr Via Kohls
|-
| '''7''' || Madison/Cambridge || Downtown Transit Center to Cambridge; 7/8 Weeknights and Weekends
|-
| '''8''' || Summit || Downtown Transit Center to [[University of Wisconsin–Waukesha]]; 7/8 Weeknights and Weekends 
|-
| '''9''' || Northview || Downtown Transit Center to [[Waukesha County Technical College]]
|-
| '''15''' || Racine || Downtown Transit Center to Meijer and South High School
|-
! colspan="3" | Waukesha County Transit (operated by [[Wisconsin Coach Lines]])
|-
! No. !! Route !! Notes
|-
| '''901''' || Waukesha/Milwaukee Express || Terminates at [[University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee]]
|-
| '''904''' || [[Oconomowoc]]/Milwaukee Express || Via [[Hartland, Wisconsin|Hartland]] terminating on Wisconsin Ave at Cass St 
|-
| '''905''' || Delafield/Milwaukee Express || Via [[Delafield, Wisconsin|Delafield]] terminating on Wisconsin Ave at Cass St 
|-
| colspan="3" | '''Note:''' These route descriptions are derived from the System Map<ref name=guide>[https://cms8.revize.com/revize/waukesha/Document_Center/Government/Transit/Routes/Waukesha%20System%20Map%20Dec%202022.pdf Waukesha Metro Transit System Map]</ref> and timetables.<ref name=routes>[https://www.waukesha-wi.gov/government/departments/routes-schedules.php Waukesha Metro Transit Routes & Schedules]</ref>
|-
|}

==Downtown Transit Center==
The Downtown Transit Center is located in downtown Waukesha at 212 East Saint Paul Ave. The center replaced the former transfer center, which was crowded on a road between the Fox River and the back end of buildings along West Main St. It serves as the central transfer point for 12 routes of the system's routes. It opened in October 2004 and provides an indoor waiting area, restrooms, 13 covered bus bays, a drivers’ lounge, and a customer service area. The Downtown Transit Center also includes a two-floor parking ramp for 460 vehicles. The opening was originally planned for late summer of 2004, but this was delayed due to [[WisDOT]] complaints that adjacent streets would be converted from one-way to two way in order to improve access and safety. These improvements eventually were allowed, and the center opened under the $16 million budget. The City of Waukesha implemented security upgrades to the Downtown Transit Center in 2017 and 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sewrpc.org/SEWRPCFiles/Transportation/Files/transit-waukesha-area/capr-336-chapter-2-draft.pdf |title=Existing Transit Services and Travel Patterns for Waukesha Metro Transit and Waukesha County Transit }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://indexarticles.com/reference/milwaukee-journal-sentinel-the/debate-over-traffic-patterns-to-delay-transit-center-opening/ |title=Debate over traffic patterns to delay transit center opening |date=June 30, 2021 }}</ref>

==Ridership==

In an October 2022 newsletter, the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission reported that Waukesha Metro Transit "performs very well", but recommends possible straightening of some routes if ridership doesn't return to pre-pandemic levels.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 18, 2022 |title=Waukesha Area Transit Development Plan: Newsletter October 2022 |url=https://www.sewrpc.org/SEWRPCFiles/Transportation/Files/transit-waukesha-area/Outreach/WaukeshaTDPNewsletter.pdf |access-date=March 13, 2023 |website=Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center; width:520px; margin:auto;"
|-
! colspan=3 | Waukesha Metro Transit ridership over time<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/transit-agency-profiles/city-waukesha|title=Waukesha Metro Transit NTD Agency Profile|access-date=November 6, 2024}}</ref>
|-
! style="width:50px"| !! style="width:100px"| Ridership !! style="width:100px"| Change over previous year
|-
!2013
|1,206,354 || n/a
|-
!2014
|1,145,463 || {{decrease}}{{0}}5.05%
|-
!2015
|1,116,971 || {{decrease}}{{0}}2.49%
|-
!2016
|1,061,902 || {{decrease}}{{0}}4.93%
|-
!2017
|1,023,938 || {{decrease}}{{0}}3.58%
|-
!2018
|996,662 || {{decrease}}{{0}}2.66%
|-
!2019
|920,281 || {{decrease}}{{0}}7.66%
|-
!2020
|484,552  || {{decrease}}{{0}}47.35%
|-
!2021
|435,479  || {{decrease}}{{0}}10.13%
|-
!2022<ref name="fta2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/transit_agency_profile_doc/2022/50096.pdf|title=2022 Annual Agency Profile}}</ref>
|464,344  || {{increase}}{{0}}6.63%
|-
!2023
|466,611 || {{increase}}{{0}}0.49%
|-
|}

==See also==
* [[List of bus transit systems in the United States]]
* [[Milwaukee County Transit System]]
* [[Washington County Commuter Express]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.waukeshametro.org  Official website]
{{clr}}
{{Southeast Wisconsin Transit System}}
{{Wisconsin public transit}}

[[Category:Bus transportation in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Intermodal transportation authorities in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Transportation in Waukesha County, Wisconsin]]