THE STATE OF MILWAUKEE: As a city, Milwaukee stands at the crossroads, where shifting policies, economic pressures, and community efforts are shaping the future of the city’s neighborhoods, businesses, and public services. This feature reviews one of those interconnected and evolving challenges affecting local residents today. Following Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s State of the City 2025 Address on March 3, this article is part of a series that explores everything from policing and public safety to healthcare, education, housing, business, infrastructure, and environmental changes. It also highlights the tension between progress and persistent disparities, focusing on policy decisions, economic realities, and how they impact daily life for Milwaukee residents.
As rush hour grips the city’s main arteries each morning and evening, Milwaukee residents find themselves debating whether the current push for expanded bike lanes and improved public transit is enough to reduce congestion.
Like many major urban areas, Milwaukee faces a series of traffic challenges. It has an aging infrastructure, increased reliance on personal vehicles, and inconsistent transit use. Amid these issues, city and county officials, commuters, and local businesses wrestle with one big question: Are bike lanes and public transit the solution, or do they only scratch the surface of Milwaukee’s traffic woes?
A CITY ON THE MOVE
Milwaukee has long been a hub of industry, culture, and commerce. Over the last few decades, population shifts, suburban growth, and economic changes have reshaped commuting patterns. Drivers in certain parts of the city report spending significantly more time on the road now than they did a decade ago.
While Milwaukee is not as large as Chicago or New York, local experts say the traffic congestion trends here mirror those of bigger cities but on a smaller scale.
State highway and municipal road expansions have not kept pace with increased usage. Many people cite the morning crawl along major routes like I-94 and I-43 as evidence of a system straining under the weight of more cars than ever.
Transportation planners, however, argue that building more roads often provides only a temporary fix. Instead, they point to alternative modes of travel — especially biking and public transit — as essential to easing congestion in the long run.
GROWTH OF BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE
In the past few years, Milwaukee has taken steps to expand its bike infrastructure. New bike lanes have appeared throughout downtown and in nearby neighborhoods, and signage encourages vehicles to share the road with riders.
According to city data, the number of bike commuters, though still relatively modest, has been growing steadily. Supporters of the bike lane expansion note several potential benefits.
First, dedicated lanes can make cycling safer, thereby encouraging more people to consider it a realistic commuting option. Second, every commuter who opts for two wheels instead of four helps reduce traffic volume, at least marginally. Additionally, city officials hope that increased bike ridership can improve air quality and promote healthier lifestyles among residents.
However, critics argue that Milwaukee’s climate and urban design do not lend themselves to large-scale bike commuting. Snowy winters can dissuade casual cyclists, while longer commutes from the suburbs may be impractical by bike. Some also complain that the new bike lanes reduce parking and vehicle lanes, which they believe may exacerbate congestion in areas where traffic is already heavy.
PUBLIC TRANSIT’S ROLE
The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) remains the backbone of public transportation in the region. Buses transport thousands of riders daily, providing service to downtown, colleges, hospitals, and key commercial corridors. Ridership declined during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, but MCTS data suggests it has rebounded. Yet, the system faces budgetary challenges that could threaten its long-term sustainability.
City and county officials have explored ways to maintain — and even expand — public transit options. The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) now operates along a key route, offering faster and more frequent service than traditional buses.
Designed with dedicated lanes and signal priority at intersections, BRT aims to save commuters time while reducing traffic bottlenecks. Its relatively successful rollout has led to calls for additional routes in other parts of the city.
Despite these efforts, critics point out that limited operating hours on some routes can discourage potential riders, particularly those with evening or overnight work shifts. Suburban commuters may also find limited coverage, making bus rides too time-consuming or logistically complex.
As a result, those with access to personal vehicles often choose to drive, adding to the congestion on highways and arterial streets. Downtown Milwaukee’s streetcar system, The Hop, is another piece of the city’s public transit landscape. Launched in 2018, The Hop primarily services key downtown attractions, connecting neighborhoods near the lakefront with business hubs.
While the streetcar was introduced to much fanfare, and not a small amount of controversy, its long-term impact on traffic is still being assessed. The question remains whether the streetcar meaningfully reduces car traffic or simply serves a niche group of downtown residents and tourists. Expansion plans have been proposed, though funding for these expansions is uncertain.
BALANCING ALTERNATIVE MODES
As Milwaukee invests in bike lanes, bus lines, and the streetcar, transportation planners emphasize the importance of a multimodal approach. Instead of relying on any single mode to solve congestion, the city’s official stance is that an integrated network is most effective.
That network might include traditional buses, BRT, bike lanes, pedestrian-friendly streets, and even ride-sharing or carpool incentives. Yet, the city’s topography, weather, and legacy road design pose challenges. Some neighborhoods are designed around car travel, with commercial centers far removed from residential areas.
Wider streets often encourage higher speeds, making biking or walking feel unsafe without proper infrastructure. And while bus routes cover much of Milwaukee’s core, suburban counties may lack comparable service. All of these factors make it less likely for a single, uniform solution to address the city’s congestion issues.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
Alongside traffic concerns, environmental implications loom large. Every year, tailpipe emissions contribute to Milwaukee’s air quality challenges. When more residents rely on cars, greenhouse gas emissions climb. City leaders say promoting bikes and public transit is part of a broader strategy to reduce the region’s carbon footprint.
At the same time, public health advocates note that traffic congestion and pollution can negatively impact community health. Encouraging walking or biking could improve overall fitness, while decreased reliance on personal vehicles might lead to lower pollution levels. However, that vision hinges on a significant cultural shift away from automobile dependency, which has deep roots in Milwaukee’s history as an industrial hub.
BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES RESPONDS
Local employers have taken varied positions on Milwaukee’s traffic situation. Some downtown businesses support robust transit, believing that easier commutes will attract more customers and employees. They argue that dedicated bike lanes and reliable bus service can reduce the stress of finding parking and navigating traffic jams, making the city more appealing. However, certain suburban companies rely on employees who live outside Milwaukee County, and those workers may have limited transit options.
In public forums and neighborhood meetings, residents frequently express mixed opinions. Some applaud the city’s push for cleaner, healthier travel options. Others feel that scarce resources should be directed toward road maintenance or new highway lanes to alleviate bottlenecks.
In neighborhoods where public transit routes face cutbacks due to budget constraints, people are understandably frustrated. Without regular bus service, some residents have no choice but to drive or rely on costly ridesharing services. This tension between improving routes for some areas while scaling back in others underscores the complexity of transit planning.
WINTER BLUES
One of the most common arguments against bike lane expansion is Milwaukee’s harsh winter climate. When roads are icy and temperatures plummet, the allure of cycling to work or taking a bus can diminish significantly. Although public transit continues to run in winter months, inclement weather can delay buses and cause schedule disruptions. Snow removal in bike lanes is another concern, as these corridors can become impassable if not cleared promptly.
However, cities in cold climates such as Minneapolis and Montreal have invested heavily in winter bike infrastructure, demonstrating that weather alone may not be a definitive barrier. With proper maintenance and thoughtful planning, cold-weather biking can remain feasible for those who are equipped and determined.
LOOKING TO OTHER CITIES
Milwaukee’s leaders have studied how cities nationwide are tackling traffic congestion. For instance, Portland, Oregon, is often cited as a success story in promoting bicycle culture, with extensive bike lanes, bike-sharing programs, and robust public transit.
Meanwhile, Minneapolis has earned praise for its infrastructure that supports winter biking. Some believe those models can guide Milwaukee in adopting best practices, to ensure solutions are practical and sustainable.
Some potential paths forward include the incremental expansion of bike lanes. Rather than suddenly increasing bike lanes citywide, advocates suggest carefully choosing corridors with high potential ridership. This approach could demonstrate success before expanding further.
More frequent buses, extended hours, and additional routes in underserved areas could bolster public transit ridership. Supporters argue that consistency is key to attracting daily riders. Transitioning buses to electric could reduce operating costs over time and curb emissions, though initial investments would be substantial.
Some larger cities have explored charging fees for driving in high-traffic areas. While controversial, such measures can nudge commuters to use alternative modes. Encouraging ride-sharing among workers could alleviate congestion without requiring massive new infrastructure.
WHERE MILWAUKEE STANDS NOW
The debate over bike lanes and public transit in Milwaukee is not just about travel time, it reflects deeper questions about the city’s growth and economic future. Efficient transportation can bolster local businesses, attract new residents, and foster a higher quality of life.
By investing in diversified modes of transit, Milwaukee aims to balance the needs of drivers, cyclists, and public transit users. Persistent congestion risks stalling the city’s progress. As local leaders weigh the costs and benefits, funding remains the largest hurdle.
The question remains whether current efforts to meaningfully reduce traffic will have an impact, or will Milwaukee need bolder steps to solve its congestion issues. Regardless, local officials maintain that doing nothing is not an option if the region dependant on Milwaukee’s infrastructure is to maintain economic growth.
© Photo
Randy Kostichka and Lena Platonova (via Shutterstock)
