The Gateway to Milwaukee’s Position on the Milwaukee Streetcar
The following statement was sent to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Alderman Terry Witkowski on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Airport Gateway Business Association on January 20, 2015.
Milwaukee Streetcar.
The Gateway to Milwaukee, supported by the Airport Gateway Business Association as well as BIDs #40 and #50, seeks to promote an efficient, integrated transportation system in the Milwaukee area. A successful passenger and freight transportation network is critical to supporting our regional economy. As an advocate for business and economic growth, we understand the economic importance of transportation first hand as General Mitchell International Airport, Amtrak passenger rail, MCTS, the interstate highway system, the Port of Milwaukee including freight rail and all other transportation networks that converge within our business district. The successful performance of each mode has a direct link to our economic vitality. The integration of these modes is the next step in the evolution of transportation in Milwaukee.
Other world class American cities such as Minneapolis, St. Louis, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Denver, Atlanta, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Boston have rail transit connections between their airports and downtowns. It is more than coincidence that these areas are also succeeding economically and in their ability to attract talent and investment. We believe that Milwaukee can aspire to be a world class American city, and an enhanced transit connection to the airport is an important part of our ability to achieve that status.
Respectfully, please consider our thoughts and support when pursuing the Milwaukee Streetcar as it relates to an integrated multi-modal transportation system that includes the airport. We look forward to partnering with the City of Milwaukee in planning and developing future extensions within the region.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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In other countries where street cars are self sustaining, the company/department/organization responsible for the street car also owns a bit of real estate surrounding a couple of street car stops and/or there’s a small tax for businesses directly surrounding a street car stop.
If there were some sort of transportation hub in Milwaukee where several bus lines made transfers and a street car stop was also made, the retail and concession space alone could likely support the 1.8 million in annual subsidies the city will have to pay to support this moving forward. Add in a very small and modest tax to retailers surrounding the stops? You have a thriving street car system aching to be expanded.