Contact: Brendan Conway
(414) 937-3250

MCTS Adds New Route, New Way to Pay & Wristband Policy

Milwaukee, WI – Get to Summerfest June 27-July 1 and July 3-8 with MCTS! The MCTS Downtown Shuttle, Freeway Flyer or Local Routes take you to Henry Maier Festival Park. This year, MCTS introduces three big changes to make your trip to the Big Gig faster and easier.

Riders on MCTS Summerfest Freeway Flyers will now pay when they get to the Summerfest grounds. In the past, riders paid on the bus, which was often slow.
MCTS introduces a new wristband policy for the Summerfest Freeway Flyers. Riders will be given a wristband after paying their fare. The wristband is needed to get on the bus for trips back to Park-Ride lots.
After a 15-year hiatus, MCTS will again provide Freeway Flyers service to Summerfest from the Park-Ride lot near Bayshore Town Center.

New Way to Pay

Riders at the 10 Park-Ride lots in Milwaukee and Ozaukee counties that MCTS serves for Summerfest will simply board the bus when it arrives and then pay for their trip as they walk into Summerfest. This new payment process will mean an end to the long lines and slow boarding from past years as people tried to stuff crumpled bills into the farebox on the bus. This change will allow buses to get to and from Summerfest quicker. It is only in place for Freeway Flyer rides and does not impact regular routes or the Summerfest Downtown Shuttle. People on those routes will still pay when they board the bus.

After getting off the bus, riders of Summerfest Freeway Flyers will be directed to ticket booths staffed with MCTS employees. At that point, riders will pay for the round-trip fare and receive a wristband that gets them back on the bus at the end of the night. Riders can pay for their trip with cash, credit card, the MCTS M•CARD, or Pre>Fare – the MCTS Digital Ticket. When leaving Summerfest, if a rider does not have a wristband, they must purchase one for the return trip at the ticket booth, by paying the full fare.

Bayshore to Summerfest is Back

For the first time in 15-years, MCTS will provide Freeway Flyer service from the Silver Spring Drive Park-Ride lot near Bayshore Town Center. People will be able to park in the Park-Ride lot and on the third level of the Bayshore parking structure. The Glendale Convention and Visitors Bureau will provide restroom facilities and some limited live entertainment at the Silver Spring Park-Ride lot during Summerfest.

Freeway Flyer Info

All Summerfest Freeway Flyers will provide service on weekdays, approximately every 30 minutes from 11:30 am to 5:00 pm, and approximately every 15 minutes from 5:00 pm to 12:30 am. On Saturdays and Sundays, service is roughly every 15-20 minutes. Times may be impacted by construction and peak traffic periods.

Here are the Park-Ride lots where you can catch a Freeway Flyer to Summerfest.

  • Brown Deer East Brown Deer Rd., west of I-43
  • Bayshore/Silver Spring Port Washington Rd., east of I-43
  • College College Ave., at I-94 (both north and south lots)
  • Holt Holt Ave., west of I-94
  • Loomis Loomis Rd., south of Coldspring Rd.
  • State Fair Park* I-94, S. 76th and W. Kearney Streets
  • Watertown Plank Road Watertown Plank Rd., west of U.S. Hwy 45.
  • Whitnall/Hales Corners I-43, east of S. 108th St.
  • Target/Home Depot Hwy 60, west of I-43 in Grafton

Round Trip Freeway Flyer Fare

Regular Discounted

  • M•CARD Ride $5.00 $3.00
  • Cash/Credit Ride $7.00 $3.00
  • Pre>Fare $6.00 $3.00
  • 1, 7 or 31 – Day Pass Additional $2.50 Additional $0.80
  • Valid Transfer – Tap card Additional $2.50 Additional $0.80

DISCOUNTED: Children (ages 6 – 11), seniors (65 and over) and persons with disabilities with proper ID. Children 5 and under ride free when accompanied by an adult.

Downtown Shuttle Service

During Summerfest, the Downtown Shuttle takes you directly to the Mid Gate of the festival grounds.

The Downtown Shuttle runs approximately every 15 to 20 minutes and makes stops along both sides of Wisconsin Avenue (see map), between James Lovell Street and N. Jackson Street, at all bus stops marked with the Summerfest smile logo. Shuttle service runs from 11:30 am to 12:30 am daily.

Shuttle Fare

Regular Discounted

  • M•CARD Ride $2.50 $1.25
  • Cash Ride $3.00 $1.50
  • Ride MCTS App 24-Hour Pass FREE FREE
  • 1, 7 or 31 – Day Pass FREE FREE

    DISCOUNTED: Children (ages 6 – 11), seniors (65 and over) and persons with disabilities with proper ID. Children 5 and under ride free when accompanied by an adult.

    Local Routes

For Summerfest fans not coming from Downtown or a Park-Ride lot, Routes 14, 15, GreenLine and GoldLine all drop you off within walking distance of the Summerfest Grounds. Plan your trip at RideMCTS.com or by using the Ride MCTS app.

Regular fares apply for local routes.

Summerfest Bag Policy

All Summerfest passengers are encouraged to plan ahead and leave their backpack or large bag at home. Cinch bags or small purses with a maximum size 9”x10”x12” will be allowed.

For more information on fares, routes and service to Summerfest, visit RideMCTS.com/Summerfest.

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