FTA Administrator Calls on Milwaukee Transit Systems to Address Rampant Fare Evasion and Provide Security Spending and Safety Plans

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Administrator Marc Molinaro today sent letters to Milwaukee transportation officials calling for immediate action to address rampant fare evasion on the city's bus and rail transit systems that is costing taxpayers millions annually in lost revenue. FTA is also asking officials to provide transparency on what resources they are allocating toward improving public safety as commuters express increasing fears of using Milwaukee-area transit services.

"Each time a rider steps onto a bus without paying, it erodes the public's trust in the system, discourages responsible riders, and normalizes disorder," said Federal Transit Administrator Marc Molinaro. "These aren't isolated annoyances. They're signals of a system abandoned by its leaders."

Additional Information:

In letters to John Rodgers, Interim Director, Milwaukee County Department of Transportation, and James Vineau, System Manager for the Milwaukee Streetcar System, Administrator Molinaro calls for transparency.

To hold these agencies accountable, Administrator Molinaro is requiring the MCTS and City of Milwaukee to submit by December 22 written reports that:

• Identify what actions and plans are being taken to reduce crime and fare evasion on their systems, including trends and previous actions.
  
• Summarize all sources of funds to improve passenger and worker security, including fiscal year 2025 budgeted and fiscal year 2026 planned allocations, and comparison to prior years, and information about funds from other Federal agencies, including any Department of Homeland Security funds.

The letters are the latest in a series that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) have sent to transit systems urging them to address safety and fare evasion and to focus on reducing crime in order to make commuting safe for Americans and their families.

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