U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) asked the U.S. Department of Transportation to strengthen oversight and accountability for local transit agencies after reports that Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) lost an estimated $4 million in revenue in 2024.
The revenue losses were attributed to bus fare evasion. Recent findings indicate MCTS riders didn’t pay fares more than 8 million times in 2025, approximately one third of all trips. MCTS received $57.24 million in federal transit funding in 2023.
“Federal funds are intended to strengthen and sustain public transportation, not to compensate for avoidable revenue shortfalls caused by lax fare enforcement,” Steil said. “Fare evasion not only pushes MCTS toward insolvency, but it is fundamentally unfair to the hardworking families who rely on public transportation, follow the rules, and pay their fares. I’m committed to ensuring taxpayer dollars are being used effectively.”
In a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Steil asked the US DOT to strengthen its oversight of local transit agencies’ financial management as part of the federal grant review process, establish clear, measurable accountability benchmarks for transit agencies nationwide, and enhance transit agencies’ transparency requirements.
“Transit riders across the country depend on reliable service, but they also deserve confidence that local leaders are managing resources responsibly,” he wrote. “Strong fiscal stewardship is essential not only to protect federal taxpayers but to ensure that federal transit funding is used effectively and as intended. The experience in Milwaukee County underscores how lapses in local management can diminish the impact of federal investment and highlights the need for stronger accountability measures nationwide.”