At that point, the Wisconsin Gas & Electric Company, the operators at the time, pioneered a color-coded route designation system, which is believed to be the first in the world.
Ford V8 gasoline transit buses were introduced to supplement increased wartime-production service during World War II.
Bruner had been a transportation consultant in Indiana, and with personal assets of approximately $16,000 managed to acquire southeastern Wisconsin transit properties valued at $1,242,000.
On September 27, 1944, KMCL, with a $75,000 down-payment, an annual payment of $5,000 and a yearly land rental of $5,000, acquired for $300,000 the remaining Racine-Milwaukee line of 24 miles, which included in its appraised book value of $1,720,214 Transport Company cars 1111, 1113, 1118 and 1120, and duplex trains 1180–1181, 1182–1183, 1184-1185 plus line-car D-23.
These dealings brought about a $1 million stockholder lawsuit against KMCL and the Transport Company, which charged its officers and directors with profiteering by underbidding the purchases.
In December 1946, KMCL bought the 23-mile Milwaukee-Waukesha-Hales Corners rapid transit line for $325,000 ($37,500 down and $7,500 a year plus annual land rental of $18,600), with an additional agreement to pay trackage rights to the Transport Company for operations over Milwaukee streets.
The next day, all replacement bus service by Bruner's subsidiary company Milwaukee & Lake Shore Line was canceled following a 10.8-inch snowfall.
However, repeated attempts to abandon the Milwaukee-Waukesha-Hales Corner lines were denied, and Northland Greyhound acquired all KMCL stock on August 27, 1948.
The onset of increasing postwar automobile ownership led to continuing declines in bus service hours and profits.
A successful citywide referendum then permitted the city of Kenosha to acquire and operate public transit service.
[4] Additionally, fare collection was suspended in order for riders to enter and exit buses through the rear door.
The Kenosha Common Council has the ultimate responsibility for review and approval of certain matters, including the transit system's annual budget.