Parking & Commuting

A Convenient Commute

With downtown’s centrality in the region, getting to work is a straight shot from every direction. Nearly 76% of all downtown employees live less than 10 miles from the central business district. Of the workers that do commute on a daily basis, downtown Milwaukee offers more than 34,000 parking spots among surface lots and structures, and more than 8,000 on-street metered spaces.

Plus, with rideshare programs and freeway flyer service, employees with larger distances have convenient options too. New and exciting public transportation options, such as the Milwaukee Streetcar, are also on the horizon.

Milwaukee County Transit System – Freeway Flyer Service

Milwaukee County Transit System operates a system of Freeway Flyer routes providing express service between the suburbs and downtown Milwaukee. Most Flyer routes serve one or more Park-Ride lots where you can park for free. Flyers run Monday through Friday during rush hours only. Travel times between the lots and Downtown are about the same as driving. Most Flyers stop downtown about every three blocks on Wisconsin Avenue between North Cass Street and North 10th Street.

Milwaukee County Transit System – Local Routes

The Milwaukee County Transit System is a vital service to the community, connecting 45 million riders each year with jobs, schools, shopping, healthcare and recreation in Milwaukee County. The service area entails 241 square miles, which is accomplished through 52 routes. Enhancements such as bike racks and 125 new clean diesel buses have also been added. All Milwaukee County Transit System buses are wheelchair accessible.

CommuteWise

Enter your origin and your destination and immediately check for carpool matches, so you can begin saving on your commute.

Long Distance Intercity Bus Service

The following private companies provide bus service to downtown from Ozaukee, Waukesha, Washington, Racine and Kenosha counties.

• Coach USA
• Lamers
• Ozaukee County Express
• Waukesha Metro Transit/Wisconsin Coach Lines
• Washington County Commuter Express
• Transit Express

LUKE Meters

More than half of downtown Milwaukee’s on-street parking spots are monitored/controlled by multi-space parking meters called LUKE meters. Coined after their cameo in the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke, LUKE meters are the high-tech solution to paying for parking when you’re short on change or need to add time to a meter, but aren’t in its vicinity.

LUKE meters accept Visa and MasterCard credit/debit cards and coins, plus they can talk to other LUKEs in the area. Meaning payment for a parking space can be made at any LUKE meter as long as the appropriate space number is entered. Additionally, LUKE dispenses a receipt that includes the time when the meter expires and the space number.

MKE Park

MKE Park offers you a way to pay for parking directly from your smartphone, making your parking experience simple, easy and convenient! 

For download and registration information, click here.