The fifth and final streetcar vehicle for the first phase of The Hop arrived in Milwaukee on September 7.
The modern, 67-foot long, 83,000-pound streetcar vehicle traveled from the plant in Brookville, Pennsylvania, through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois before arriving in Milwaukee.
“People who are in the heart of the city will see these cars moving around, and in the weeks ahead they will see them even more,” said Mayor Tom Barrett, who was on-site as the last streetcar rolled onto its tracks. “I think a lot of minds will be changed and they will embrace it.”
With the arrival of the Number 5 vehicle, the city’s new $128 million streetcar service is in the home stretch to begin service, estimated for November. The initial 2.5-mile route for The Hop runs through Downtown and the Historic Third Ward, linking the Milwaukee Intermodal Station with Burns Commons at the edge of the East Side. A lakefront loop is scheduled to open next year.
Construction of the streetcar project is funded with a $55 million federal grant. The $3.2 million annual operating budget will be covered by fares, advertising revenue, federal grants, and city parking fees.
With more streetcars on the road testing, the city has been heavily promoting its HopSmart public awareness program, with basic tips on how motorists, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians can all share our roadways.
- First crew of the Milwaukee Streetcar takes full-route daylight test drive
- Milwaukee Streetcar makes special appearance at Cathedral Square for Bastille Days
- The Hop marks major milestone for end of Streetcar construction with ceremonial last weld
- Safety tips released for motorists and pedestrians on sharing road with The Hop Streetcars
- The Hop to hold job fair for Streetcar positions
- Milwaukee’s first streetcar for The Hop completes successful maiden track test
- After half century Milwaukee is again home to a Streetcar
- Streetcar manufacturer delivering first vehicle to Milwaukee
- Streetcar route alters festival footprint for 2018 Bastille Days
- Milwaukee Streetcar reaches deal with Transit Workers Union
- City seeks proposals for marketing Milwaukee Streetcar
- The Hop: Potawatomi’s $10M Streetcar sponsorship includes free rides
- Mayor Barrett walks with Streetcar workers along Milwaukee’s transit future
- Photo Essay: Digging up Milwaukee’s Streetcar Past
- Video: 1922 Streetcar Rails from Route 10
- Milwaukee Notebook: Streetcar builds on a sometimes strange history
- Streetcar construction on target to meet minority employment and contracts
- Another 320 feet of track cemented along Streetcar route
- Photo Essay: Streetcar work moves through downtown
- Crews reshape roadway as first streetcar rails installed
- Milwaukee public gets first look at streetcar rail construction
- Photo Essay: Streetcar leaves footprint as rail welding begins
- Construction of rail lines to begin for Milwaukee Streetcar
- Streetcar extension to connect Bronzeville and Walker’s Point in future
- Virtual rail system could bridge Milwaukee’s transit network
Lee Matz
