MCTS pilot for driver relief stalls in favor of expanded security patrols; committee approves reallocation of $35,000

Milwaukee County Transit administration told the finance committee on Tuesday it will not implement the transportation network company (TNC) driver-relief pilot as originally directed in the 2025 adopted budget and instead recommended repurposing $35,000 to boost public-safety officer coverage.

Kevin Pumphrey, chief operating officer for Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS), told the committee that an initial $35,000 allocation for a TNC pilot that would have tested Uber, Lyft or similar services could not be stretched far enough to provide a meaningful pilot and that the union did not consent to a private TNC model. "We never got the union on board," Pumphrey said, and one of the county—s two existing vans was sidelined by an accident, limiting operational capacity.

MCTS presented data showing many release points and long relief waits. Pumphrey said, "operator security incidents, they're more likely going to happen on the bus than they are at a relief point," and described a revised plan to use the $35,000 to fund overtime for public-safety officers (PSOs) and targeted patrols that MCTS said would have broader system coverage than the limited TNC pilot.

Union leaders and operators urged continuation of the van-based relief program sold to the board in the 2025 budget cycle. Donnell Shorter, former ATU 998 president, described operators standing for long periods at relief points and said one operator had been "knocked off her feet and unconscious." Multiple ATU representatives and working drivers testified in support of driver-relief vans, noting that relief waits can exceed 20-30 minutes and that operators are unpaid while waiting to be relieved.

Julie Ash, interim president and managing director of MCTS, said the reallocation of the $35,000 would create overtime-funded PSO hours to provide wider coverage and faster security response across the system through the end of the year. MCTS also said the two vans currently on property will continue to be used, though new vans ordered through Fleet were delayed by supply-chain issues.

Committee action: Finance approved the administration—s amended proposal to redirect the $35,000 to public-safety overtime and related PSO expenses. On the motion to adopt the amended resolution, the committee recorded 5 ayes and 1 no. (Supervisor Taylor cast the lone no vote.)

What remains unresolved: Union leaders told the committee the van relief service had demonstrable operator benefits and urged continued support; MCTS said a longer-term, sustainably funded program would require more than the one-time $35,000 allocation and that the new vans ordered in the 2025 budget have not yet been delivered due to manufacturing and supply-chain timing. The union and MCTS also disagreed over the best near-term use of funds; union representatives said the $35,000 should remain dedicated to driver relief while MCTS argued it would provide greater systemwide effect as targeted PSO overtime.

Next steps: MCTS will continue using existing vans where practical, is pursuing operational alternatives, and will present additional budget-related updates and potential pilot options during the 2026 budget cycle. Supervisors asked MCTS to provide clearer timelines for the new vans and additional reporting on how any reallocated funds are spent.