Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) announced that security measures during the RNC will cause bus detours downtown throughout the duration of the RNC. While public transportation will be most impacted in downtown Milwaukee, riders should also expect delays across the system due to the overall increase in traffic expected at the event.
MCTS President Denise Wandke said, “We welcome delegates and visitors to the RNC and look forward to helping you make the most of Milwaukee County and have a wonderful experience during your visit. While we’re ready for this worldwide event, we ask everyone to allow more time in your travel plans and know that security measures could change service on short notice.”
MCTS detours could start as soon as July 11, when fencing around the security perimeter begins to go up. Throughout the length of the convention and the day after it ends, MCTS will serve only the existing bus stops located outside of the Vehicle Screening and Pedestrian Restricted Security Perimeter. For safety reasons, riders are asked to go to an existing bus stop as there are no temporary stops. Only those stops outside the detour zone will be served. Service is expected to return to normal once the fencing and any street closures end, sometime on Friday, July 19.
Detour Information
Fourteen public transit routes in downtown Milwaukee will be most impacted by the RNC. Affected routes include CONNECT 1, BlueLine, GreenLine, 12, 15, 18, 19, 30, 31, 33, 34, 57, 80 & 81. A majority of the impacted service will be rerouted to 12th, Walnut and Milwaukee Streets.
- CONNECT 1 & 30 (Wisconsin Ave East-West Routes): Will detour off of Wisconsin Avenue between 12th & Milwaukee.
- Please use the following bus stops during this time:
- Eastbound:
- Wisconsin & North 16th BRT Station (stop #9640)
- Wisconsin & Jefferson/Jackson (stop #66)
- Westbound:
- Wisconsin & Jefferson/Jackson (stop #4392)
- Wisconsin & North 16th BRT Station (stop #9641)
- BlueLine: Will detour off of regular routing between Wells and 12th and the eastern portion of the route.
- Please use the following bus stops during this time:
- Northbound:
- Highland & 12th Street (stop #2992)
- Southbound:
- 12th Street & State (stop #888)
- GreenLine: Will detour off of 6th/MLK between Pittsburgh and Water.
- Please use the following bus stops during this time:
- Northbound:
- 1st Street & Pittsburgh (stop #2602)
- Water & Pleasant (stop #1323)
- Southbound:
- Water & Pleasant (stop #1421)
- 1st Street & Pittsburgh (stop #8557)
- Route 12: Will detour off of regular routing between Wells and 12th and the eastern portion of the route.
- Please use the following bus stops during this time:
- Northbound:
- 12th Street & Wells (stop #890)
- Southbound:
- 12th Street & Wells (stop #890)
- Route 15: Will detour off of Water between Pittsburgh and Juneau.
- Please use the following bus stops during this time:
- Northbound:
- 1st Street & Pittsburgh (stop #2602)
- Juneau & 501 East (stop #1614)
- Southbound:
- Juneau & 500 East (stop #1645)
- 1st Street & Pittsburgh (stop #8557)
- Route 18: Will detour off of Water between Pittsburgh and Ogden.
- Please use the following bus stops during this time:
- Eastbound:
- South 1st & Pittsburgh (stop #2602)
- Broadway & Knapp (stop #1761)
- Westbound:
- Broadway & Knapp (stop #1761)
- South 1st & Pittsburgh (stop #8557)
- Route 19: Will detour off of MLK and 6th between Walnut/Pleasant and Pittsburgh.
- Please use the following bus stops during this time:
- Northbound:
- 6th Street & Bruce (stop #7218)
- MLK Drive & Reservoir (stop #1973)
- Southbound:
- MLK Drive & Reservoir (stop #1873)
- 6th Street & Virginia (stop #7129)
- Route 31: Will detour off of regular routing between Highland and 11th and the eastern portion of the route.
- Please use the following bus stops during this time:
- Eastbound:
- Highland & 12th Street (stop #2990)
- Westbound:
- Highland & 12th Street (stop #2992)
- Route 33: Will detour off of regular routing between Juneau and Milwaukee and the eastern portion of the route.
- Please use the following bus stops during this time:
- Eastbound:
- Vliet & 15th Street (stop #616)
- Prospect & State (stop #1705)
- Westbound:
- Prospect & State (stop #1705)
- Vliet & 15th Street (stop #750)
- Route 34: Will detour off of 6th Street between Brown and Clybourn.
- Please use the following bus stops during this time:
- Eastbound:
- 8th Street & North Ave (stop #8420)
- Westbound:
- 7th St & North Ave (stop #8348)
- Route 57: Will detour off of regular routing between Walnut and MLK and the eastern portion of the route.
- Please use the following bus stops during this time:
- Eastbound:
- Walnut & MLK Drive (stop #5644)
- Westbound:
- Walnut-Pleasant & MLK Drive (stop #5525)
- Route 80: Will detour off of 6th/Halyard between Florida and North.
- Please use the following bus stops during this time:
- Northbound:
- 6th Street & Bruce (stop #7128)
- 7th St & North Ave (stop #8348)
- Southbound:
- 8th Street & North Ave (stop #8420)
- 6th Street & Virginia (stop #7129)
- Route 81: Will detour off of 6th between McKinley and Canal.
- Please use the following bus stops during this time:
- Northbound:
- 6th Street & National (stop #7217)
- Walnut & 14th Street (stop #5531)
- Southbound:
- Walnut & 14th Street (stop #5637)
- 6th Street & National (stop #7131)
MCTS’s paratransit service, Transit Plus, will also see service disruptions during this time. Transit Plus vans will be able to enter the RNC’s Vehicle Screening Perimeter for scheduled drop offs. Paratransit riders should download the My Transit Manager app on their mobile phone to track their trip in real-time. Anyone visiting Milwaukee County for the RNC who is paratransit-eligible in their home community can request ADA visitor status by calling 414-343-1701 at least one day prior to arrival. Paratransit riders will be subject to the same security screenings as others, so plan for extra travel time when scheduling your ride.
“We’re ready and prepared. This is a great opportunity to show all that Milwaukee County has to offer and we are excited to give our awesome bus operators and public transit a chance to shine. But we want our riders to know that for safety reasons, it will take extra time to get to where you want to go,” said MCTS President and Managing Director Wandke.
For more information visit RideMCTS.com/RNC.