Transportation
Streetcar Extension Opens Sunday
And at least one GOP congressman is already trying to stop it.
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And at least one GOP congressman is already trying to stop it. Back to the full article.
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Categories: Transportation
/i love the hop and take it as often as i can. however, it has never really made sense to me as rapid transportation as a subway and el. the hop, especially now that the extension is delayed because of couture building, feels elitist and snobby. i guess it has always been thought of as an attraction and not really going anyplace for most of the city.
I agree with (1) tornado75.
I take it if/when it coincides with my needs.
Otherwise it’s just a leisurely, frivolous recreational/touring vehicle
with nice big windows.
The Hop has accomplished much in demonstrating its potential during the past five years despite significant and relentless political opposition and general misunderstanding of the role and advantages of streetcars. I discuss the accomplishments of The Hop, which I break into six main areas, with the second area consisting of five parts: https://johndecember.com/places/mke/streetcar/threeyearsoftransit.html#experiencedaccomplishments
The $1.7 billion of development that has occurred so far along the route of the HOP is reason enough for its existence. Think of how much more property taxes the city gets.
To validate claims of development spurred by the Hop,
would require 1st checking the pace of development along the route
1, 3, 5, and 10 years prior, compared to the pace at the start of service
& to date. Then do the same for 1, 2, 3,-or more- streets parallel to the route.
Then check 10-year transit rider statistics for downtown in general.
(Despite the distance of platforms from nearby bus routes,
the zigzag path of the Hop sometimes makes it an attractive
‘happenstantial’ connector or alternate route.)
Check other factors for development such as US urban economies’ health in general, our demographics, infrastructure capacity, tax incentives, development curves of nearby entertainment venues, convention facilities, lodging, parking and more. Then you will have a better picture of how much credit to give to the Hop.
And last but not least compare the Hop’s construction, equipment and infrastructure relocation costs – total – to those of expanding bus service
to the same passenger-carrying capacity.
The truth’s puzzle here has many pieces!
You may find that the Hop is just a sweeter, pricier entrée
on an already substantial menu.
I rode it today to help keep those numbers up (though didn’t go through the doors on any L-Line / Johnson Controls stops, so net new effect is nil.
Thanks for including more background in this actual journalism than WISN 12 did about Bryan Steil’s manufactured opposition — they ended with his quote as the last thing anyone would read.
Get the Northern extension built already. Ridership will increase with equity.