Two bus routes were originally created as the "Green Bus" routes in 1923. Routes were originally assigned letters and had somewhat different names, "A" was Sherman-Wisconsin, "B" was Washington-Wisconsin, "C" was Prospect-Grand. On 8/14/32, route "C" was combined into route "A" forming the Prospect-Sherman route. And on 4/9/50, the routes were assigned numbers 30 and 31, and the premium fares were dropped.
1964 marked the introduction of the first "Freeway Flyer" routes, numbered in the 40's. All Freeway Flyer routes were suspended in January 2022 and then indefinitely discontinued, due to the covid-19 pandemic.
Some of the newly created bus routes numbered above 50 were extensions of streetcar routes. And when the main streetcar routes were converted to buses, those extension bus routes were consolidated into the main former streetcar routes, using the former streetcar route numbers.
After formation of the Milwaukee County Transit System, certain routes were introduced with route numbers below 10, mainly supplementing existing routes and serving special markets. Many of the newly created routes were "UBUS" routes, serving the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. There were also a few "IBUS" routes, serving various industrial areas.
A route restructuring in 2008 resulted in the discontinuance of service on Vliet, at the time route 11. Service was restored on Vliet in 2009, as route 33.
In 2012 and 2015 and 2019, several routes were restructured, included with some routes identified by color names. Those routes are listed with the most closely associated route numbers.
On 6/4/2023, the "Connect 1" Bus Rapid Transit line was introduced, primarily on Wisconsin Ave., succeeding the GoldLine route in 2015 which previously was route 10.
In recent years, routes 18, 20, 52, 58, 68 were discontinued and combined with other routes, later restored as separate routes.
Route 34 Hopkins-Congress, introduced 6/6/21, replaced branches of various routes which historically were streetcar routes.
Service on Brown Deer had existed as an extension by MCTS of the 60th St. route (formerly route 76) turning west, and a Brown Deer Shuttle route 276 which existed from 3/22/2015 to 1/5/2020. Route 88 Brown Deer was introduced 6/6/2021.
Route Route Route Number Name Discontinued 2 Wauwatosa Local 6/30/51 3 South Milwaukee 8/ 3/41 91 Kenosha 12/31/47 92 East Troy 8/14/39 92 Burlington 5/ 2/38 93 Watertown 6/30/51 94 Sheboygan 3/29/48
Route Route Streetcars Trolley- Motor Route Replacement Former Route
Number Name Discontinued Buses Buses Discontinued Route Route Renumbered
Introduced Introduced Number Number
(1) Metrolink Northwest New Bus 1991 2002 none
(2) Metrolink Southwest New Bus 1993 12/ 2/01 none
(3) Metrolink Bluemound New Bus 1997 1998 none
(4B)Burleigh-Bay View New Bus late 1980's 2009 none
(4H)35th-Forest Home New Bus late 1980's 2009 none
(5) Oklahoma UBUS New Bus 9/ 3/74 8/ /04 none
(6) Silver Spring UBUS New Bus 9/ 3/74 9/ 2/80 none
(6) Oak Creek IBUS New Bus 3/30/81 1993 none
(6) QuadGraphics West Allis New Bus 1995 2005 none
(6) New Berlin Industrial Park New Bus 2014 12/22/18 none
(8) Glendale IBUS New Bus 6/17/90 1993 none
(8) QuadGraphics Sussex New Bus 1995 6/27/10 none
(9) Northwest Shuttle New Bus late 1980's 1991 none
(9) Menomonee Falls-Butler New Bus 1994 2007 none
Route Route Streetcars Trolley- Motor Route Replacement Former Route
Number Name Discontinued Buses Buses Discontinued Route Route Renumbered
Introduced Introduced Number Number
(10) Wisconsin (Wells St.) 3/ 2/58 3/ 2/58 Now Connect 1 GoldLine 6/ 4/2023
(10) West Allis 3/ 2/58 3/ 2/58 12/ 2/01 none
(10) Downer 6/21/53 6/21/53 30
(11) State 11/26/50 11/26/50 1995 none
(11) Vliet 11/18/55 11/18/55 12/30/62 3/23/08 33
(11) Holton 6/27/38 11/20/38 6/14/63 1/29/12 15
(11) Howell 10/28/56 10/28/56 Now GreenLine
(11) Greenfield 10/ 3/48 2/20/49 6/20/65 1/29/12 56
11 Hampton New Bus 9/ 1/25 12 6/ 6/2021
12 Teutonia (12th) 11/18/51 11/18/51
(13) St. Paul-Michigan 5/21/41 9/14/41 1/30/62 3/ /04 none
(14) Holton 6/27/38 11/20/38 6/14/63 3/23/08 11
14 Humboldt New Bus 24 3/23/80
15 Holton 6/27/38 11/20/38 6/14/63
(15) Oakland 11/15/53 11/15/53 12/30/62 Now GreenLine
15 Kinnickinnic 11/15/53 11/15/53 12/30/62
(16) Vliet 11/18/55 11/18/55 12/30/62 11
(16) 6th St. 6/29/47 6/29/47 80
(17) Walnut-Lisbon 11/26/50 11/26/50 71
(17) Canal New Bus 2006 1/ 5/20 none
(18) Fond Du Lac 11/18/51 11/18/51 23
18 National 11/18/55 11/18/55 6/20/65 1/29/12 23 23 8/29/2021
18 National (West Allis) New Bus 1/ 8/29 1/29/12 54 54 8/29/2021
18 Greenfield (West Allis) 11/18/55 11/18/55 6/20/65 1/29/12 56 56 8/29/2021
19 M.L.King-13th St. 10/10/48 10/10/48 6/20/65
20 S. 20th St. 9/ 8/40 9/ 8/40 9/ 1/63 3/23/08 19 19 3/ 7/2021
21 North Ave. 11/ 8/36 11/ 8/36 12/30/62
22 Center St. 9/22/41 11/23/41 12/30/62
(23) Fond Du Lac 11/18/51 11/18/51 Now BlueLine
24 Forest Home (Mitchell) 10/ 6/37 10/ 6/37 6/14/63 14 6/ 4/2023
(27) 27th St. 10/17/54 10/17/54 Now PurpleLine
28 108th St. New Bus 9/ 2/79
Route Route Streetcars Trolley- Motor Route Replacement Former Route
Number Name Discontinued Buses Buses Discontinued Route Route Renumbered
Introduced Introduced Number Number
30 Downer/Maryland 6/21/53 6/21/53
30 Prospect Green Bus 5/ 2/23
30 Sherman Green Bus 6/ 7/23
31 State New Bus 71 12/ 2/35
31 Highland Green Bus 6/ 7/23
33 Vliet New Bus 2009
34 Hopkins 12/17/99 10/17/54 80 6/ 6/2021
34 Congress New Bus 1950's/60's 23 6/ 6/2021
35 35th St. 10/24/37 10/24/37 12/30/62
(39) Timmerman Flyer New Bus 1/31/83 2010 none
(39U)Timmerman UBUS New Bus 1994 1995 none
(40) College Flyer New Bus 12/ 1/75 1/ /22
(40) Holt-Morgan Flyer New Bus 48 9/10/79 1/ /22
40U Holt-College UBUS New Bus 1/19/76
(41U)Watertown Plank UBUS New Bus 9/ 5/78 late 1980's none
(42) North Shore Flyer New Bus 1/ 7/73 2002 none
(42U)6th-Port Washington UBUS New Bus 8/26/10 1/ 5/20 none
(43) Whitnall Flyer New Bus 4/14/64 1/ /22
(44) National Flyer New Bus 11/ 6/67 1/ /22
(44) Fair Park Flyer New Bus 38 12/ 5/83 1/ /22
44U Fair Park Whitnall UBUS New Bus 16 1/14/80
(45) Capitol Flyer New Bus 4/22/68 2000's none
(45) Watertown Plank Flyer New Bus 41 3/30/64 2010 79
(46) Loomis-Southridge Flyer New Bus 7/ 6/70 1/ /22
(47) S. 27th Street Flyer New Bus 5/17/71 2010 none
(48) Northland-Teutonia New Bus 8/14/72 2005 none
(48) South Shore Flyer New Bus late 1980's 1/ /22
(49) Brown Deer-Northridge New Bus 8/26/74 1/ /22
(49U)Brown Deer UBUS New Bus 1994 8/24/25 68
Route Route Streetcars Trolley- Motor Route Replacement Former Route
Number Name Discontinued Buses Buses Discontinued Route Route Renumbered
Introduced Introduced Number Number
(50) Morgan New Bus 1/31/66 6/ /19 none
51 Oklahoma New Bus 11/ 1/25
52 Clement New Bus 9/11/22 12/ 2/01 15 15 1/29/2012
53 Lincoln New Bus 3/25/33
54 Mitchell-Burnham New Bus 4/17/20
(55) North-Wauwatosa New Bus 8/13/24 7/ 1/51 57
55 Layton New Bus 3/23/80
(56) Fond Du Lac New Bus 11/12/28 11/18/51 23
56 Greenfield 10/ 3/48 2/20/49 6/20/65
56 S. 43rd St. New Bus 8/29/2021 8/24/25 74
57 Walnut-Appleton New Bus 4/11/26
58 Villard New Bus 9/ 1/25 12/ 2/01 80 80 6/ 6/2021
(59) North Milwaukee New Bus 10/14/27 11/18/51 12
(59) Mill Rd. New Bus 1/30/67 2009 none
59 Drexel New Bus 8/24/2025
60 S. 60th-W. Grange New Bus 5/ 4/30 64 8/29/2021
60 N. 60th New Bus 1/ 3/44 76 8/29/2021
(61) Hampton-35th St. New Bus 5/15/32 1/ 1/36 56
(61) Hampton-107th St. New Bus 9/ 4/62 2009 none
(61) Appleton-Keefe New Bus 1/18/15 1/ 5/19 22,57
(62) Capitol Dr. New Bus 7/ 1/29 Now RedLine
(63) Fox Point New Bus 3/16/31 12/30/62 15
63 Silver Spring Dr. New Bus 9/ 3/78
(63U)Silver Spring UBUS New Bus 1995 5/ /04 none
(65) West Allis New Bus 1/ 8/29 4/ 2/72 18,53
(65) West Allis 3/ 2/58 3/ 2/58 12/ 2/01 none
(66) South Milwaukee New Bus 3/16/31 2/21/82 15
66 Burleigh New Bus 2/16/28 60 8/29/2021
68 Port Washington New Bus 7/16/34 1/29/12 63 63 3/ 7/2021
(69) West Wisconsin New Bus 9/ 1/35 3/ 1/58 10
(70) Downer New Bus 8/20/33 8/16/35 62
(71) State St. New Bus 12/ 2/35 1995 31
(72) Harwood New Bus 12/ 2/35 2/23/47 71
(73) Keefe-Ardmore New Bus 8/16/37 3/23/80 24 now 10
73 Mill Rd. New Bus 8/24/2025
(74) East Locust New Bus 8/16/37 11/30/41 22
(74) Greendale New Bus 10/10/38 3/29/70 35
(74) S. 43rd St. New Bus 10/10/38 6/12/81 none
74 S. 43rd St. New Bus 8/24/2025
(75) Greenfield New Bus 6/ 3/39 4/ 2/72 18
76 S. 70th St.-S. 76th St. New Bus 1/ 3/44
76 N. 76th St. New Bus 3/16/31 67 8/29/2021
(77) Hawley New Bus 10/10/44 3/29/70 64
(78) N. 7th St. New Bus 10/10/48 4/19/53 68
(78) Brookfield Flyer New Bus 4/ 1/81 late 1980's none
(79) S. 16th/S. 20th New Bus 3/ 2/47 9/ 1/63 20
(79) Menomonee Falls Flyer New Bus 4/ 1/81 12/31/22
80 6th St. 6/29/47 6/29/47
(81) Howell-Layton New Bus 3/30/47 10/28/56 11
(81) Lake Dr.-Packard New Bus 10/12/64 9/ 6/77 none
81 Amazon-Oak Creek New Bus 10/11/2020
(82) Stevenson-Adler New Bus 7/ 1/51 3/28/86 65
82 13th St. – Howell New Bus 8/24/2025
(83) S. 27th St. New Bus 11/18/51 10/17/54 27
(83) Sholes Loop New Bus 9/ 4/68 6/ 8/84 none
(83) Wilson Park New Bus 6/12/88 1988 none
(84) S. 1st St. New Bus 12/30/54 4/ 1/79 none
(84) Frank L. Wright New Bus 8/29/83 6/ /04 none
(85) Whitman-West New Bus 9/ 3/68 6/ /19 none
(86) Nathan Hale West New Bus 9/ 7/65 6/ /04 none
(87) Nathan Hale East New Bus 9/ 7/65 6/ /19 none
(88) Cudahy New Bus 9/ 2/69 6/ /19 none
88 Brown Deer New Bus 6/ 6/2021
(89) St. Francis New Bus 9/ 2/69 6/ /19 none
92 S. 84th St.-92nd St. New Bus 3/16/31 67 8/29/2021
Route Route Streetcars Trolley- Motor Route Replacement Former Route
Number Name Discontinued Buses Buses Discontinued Route Route Renumbered
Introduced Introduced Number Number
(101) Silver Mill-Park Place New Bus 1992 3/ /04 23
(102) West Loop Shuttle New Bus 1992 3/ /04 23
(103) East Loop Shuttle New Bus 1992 1992 none
(103) Granville Woods Shuttle New Bus 1995 1997 none
(104) Brown Deer Shuttle New Bus 1991 2002 none
(105) Granville Shuttle New Bus 1991 1997 104
(106) Falls Industrial Park New Bus 1997 7/ 1/05 none
(121) Franklin Shuttle New Bus 1993 1994 none
(137) House of Correction New Bus 3/28/99 3/ /20
(143) Ozaukee County Express New Bus 2000 12/31/22 Ozaukee Co.
(176) Cedarburg Express New Bus 1/ /01 2001 none
(218) New Berlin Industrial Park New Bus 2000 1/ /04 Waukesha
(219) Oak Creek Shuttle New Bus 1997 1/ 5/20 none
(223) Park Place-Bradley Woods New Bus 3/28/11 1/ 5/20 none
(227) Franklin Shuttle New Bus 1997 2003 none
(258) Glendale Industrial Park New Bus 3/28/99 12/ 2/01 27
(263) Silver Spring Corporate New Bus 2000 12/ 2/01 none
(276) Brown Deer Shuttle New Bus 3/22/15 1/ 5/20 none
(279) Menomonee Falls Industrial New Bus 2014 8/27/16 none
(280) Oak Creek Shuttle New Bus 1993 1994 none
(280) South Milwaukee-Oak Creek New Bus 3/28/99 2000 none
Exact dates are generally available only until 1986, when the May-June issue of Motor Coach Age provided the most recent history available of the Milwaukee County Transit System. Years of subsequent changes are compiled from a mostly complete collection of MCTS route maps.