The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) launched a new bus route that connects residents with jobs at Amazon’s new fulfillment center in Oak Creek.
Route 81 (Amazon-Oak Creek) starts service on October 11, operating seven days a week between the intersections of N. 35th Street & W. Fond du Lac Avenue in Milwaukee and S. 13th Street & W. Ryan Road in Oak Creek. Buses will have stops on portions of W. Fond du Lac Avenue, N. 17th Street, W. Walnut Street, N. and S. 6th Street.
“This new MCTS bus route is an example of how Milwaukee County is investing in equity and seeking to bridge the gap in racial disparities across the board,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “We know that lack of transportation is often a barrier for our residents, but with this new route, residents now have access to an exciting employment opportunity that would have otherwise been out of reach. Making the necessary investments to ensure our residents can access opportunities is a key part of moving our County forward to achieve racial equity.”
In addition to operating along those busy corridors, Route 81 also connects with 16 existing MCTS bus routes. This means passengers who use Routes 12, 14, 19, 21, 22, 30, 31, 33, 35, 56, 57, 60, 80, GoldLine, BlueLine and PurpleLine can transfer to Route 81 from neighborhoods all across the County.
“The opening of Amazon’s new facility – and the 1,500 jobs that come with it – marks an important milestone for business growth in our community,” said Oak Creek Mayor Dan Bukiewicz. “Amazon is now Oak Creek’s largest employer and we’re pleased that folks all across Milwaukee County now have access to these new jobs thanks to Route 81 and the entire MCTS transit network.”
MCTS worked closely with officials from Amazon and the City of Oak Creek to make sure the route’s schedule synchronizes with employee shift times at the facility. Specific schedule information and bus stop locations will be posted on RideMCTS.com and the Ride MCTS app in the coming weeks.
“We are excited to launch our newest facility and to bring more than 1,500 full-time jobs to Oak Creek,” said Cody Voegerl, Director of Operations at Amazon’s Oak Creek fulfillment center. “We commend Milwaukee County for investing in public transit to connect their residents to job opportunities, not just at Amazon, but throughout the county.”
MCTS continues to innovate the way that people across southeast Wisconsin get to work, school, medical appointments, and anywhere else they need to go. With a fleet of 370 clean-diesel buses and a dedicated team of 1,100 drivers, mechanics, and administrative staff, MCTS provides nearly 29 million rides each year — connecting the area community with essential transit services.
© Photo
Lee Matz
