Waukesha transit to cut weekly service hours by about one-third from pre-COVID levels; Metrolift demand rises

Transit staff reported that a set of service changes implemented June 15 and further reductions planned for August will reduce total weekly service hours in Waukesha from just under 900 pre-COVID to just over 600—a reduction of roughly one-third and the lowest weekly-hour total since 1990.

Staff said the longer-term goal was to improve ridership efficiency rather than simply cut service; rides per hour have increased from about 6.5 in 2022 to nearly 9.5 now, an improvement of roughly 45 percent. The change in operations will also reduce the size of the fixed fleet over time: staff said the agency plans to acquire three buses for 2028 and remove six from the fleet in a multi-year right-sizing that could save more than $4 million in fleet replacement costs.

Staff also reported strong growth in Metrolift on-demand service; based on trends, the agency expects to provide about 15,000 rides in 2026, which would be the highest since 2012. To meet demand, staff said they will request an additional Metrolift vehicle.

Why it matters: reductions in fixed-route hours mean reduced frequency or coverage for riders in some neighborhoods, while improved efficiency and fleet reductions are intended to align long-term costs with demand.