Take A Virtual Ride on The Hop
Mayor shows off The Hop in advance of Friday's public opening.
After taking his first ride, Mayor Tom Barrett is pleased the streetcar is on time, on budget and easy to ride.
“I think it’s a good, smooth ride,” the mayor told the media as the vehicle pulled into the Cathedral Square station after running the length of the 2.1-mile-long route.
Barrett, just days away from cutting the ribbon on a project that has been in the works since he was in Congress in 1991, is bullish on the future of the system. “I think it’s a question of when, not a matter of if,” he said when asked about the prospects for expanding the system.
Barrett was joined on the trip by Department of City Development Commissioner Rocky Marcoux. Barrett and the commissioner pointed out a number of development projects underway along the route including the Street Car Lofts, BMO Tower, Milwaukee Athletic Club project and Joshua Jeffers‘ office building planned for N. Broadway. “We’ve had a significant amount of interest from the development community,” said Marcoux while pointing out that the city’s permitting office was immediately adjacent to a stop.
The mayor said the streetcar helps Milwaukee compete against cities like Minneapolis, Seattle and Denver as opposed to Wichita, Kansas and Fresno, California. He highlighted Wichita and Fresno as the other two largest cities in the country without a fixed route transit system that is planned or operating.
“Our challenge going forward is to create more family-sustaining jobs in the neighborhoods that are distressed, but we have to start with a strong heart,” Barrett told the media.
The Grand Hop-ening
The public will get its chance to hop aboard the approximately $100 million first phase of The Hop on Friday at 1 p.m. A ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for noon at Cathedral Square Park. Rides are free for the first year as a result of a $10 million Potawatomi Hotel & Casino sponsorship agreement and a federal grant.
After you take your ride, love it or hate it, you can join Urban Milwaukee at a party to celebrate its opening at 4 p.m. on Friday at Taylor’s.
If you think stories like this are important, become a member of Urban Milwaukee and help support real independent journalism. Plus you get some cool added benefits, all detailed here.
More about the Milwaukee Streetcar
For more project details, including the project timeline, financing, route and possible extensions, see our extensive past coverage.
- Milwaukee’s Three Streetcar Extensions Need Mayoral Direction - Jeramey Jannene - Nov 8th, 2023
- Transportation: Streetcar Extension Opens Sunday - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 28th, 2023
- Ride Along On Streetcar Extension Before It Opens - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 11th, 2023
- Lakefront Streetcar Extension Opens October 29 - Jeramey Jannene - Aug 22nd, 2023
- Streetcar Ridership Has Climbed For 27 Straight Months Year-Over-Year - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 28th, 2023
- Transportation: Harley-Davidson Is New Streetcar Sponsor - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 7th, 2023
- Committee Backs 4 Streetcar Extensions - Jeramey Jannene - Jun 28th, 2023
- Garbage Truck Crashes Into Streetcar - Jeramey Jannene - Mar 27th, 2023
- Eyes on Milwaukee: City Has $16 Million Plan For Downtown Plaza - Jeramey Jannene - Mar 10th, 2023
- Transportation: Feds Don’t Select Milwaukee For Streetcar Grant - Jeramey Jannene - Aug 11th, 2022
Read more about Milwaukee Streetcar here
Political Contributions Tracker
Displaying political contributions between people mentioned in this story. Learn more.
- December 23, 2020 - Tom Barrett received $500 from Rocky Marcoux
- December 22, 2018 - Tom Barrett received $500 from Rocky Marcoux
- December 29, 2017 - Tom Barrett received $500 from Rocky Marcoux
- March 1, 2017 - Tom Barrett received $400 from Rocky Marcoux
Transportation
-
MCTS Ending Giveaway of New Fare Cards
Jun 29th, 2023 by Graham Kilmer -
Switching To Electric Vehicles Would Save Milwaukee County Money
Jun 29th, 2023 by Graham Kilmer -
Water Street Could Become Pedestrian Haven in Third Ward
Jun 29th, 2023 by Jeramey Jannene