One Alderman’s Quest To Defund The Streetcar

Comments

1. mkeumkenews09 says:

   October 18, 2025 at 6:58 pm

   There are conservatives in Southeast Wisconsin who have complained about the streetcar since before it was approved and fought it tooth and nail. Does Scott receive “support” from some of these folks, thus pushing their agenda versus supporting the folks who live in Milwaukee and use the streetcar, constantly?

   There has been significant development within one block of the streetcar line, and even more significant development within two blocks of the streetcar line since it was announced to be going in.

   Trump and Duffy will not allow Milwaukee off the hook on the money if Milwaukee shuts it down. Even if they say they would, we all know they lie about everything, especially when it comes to money and punishing blue cities, in blue states, with non-white mayors. Trump can never, never be trusted.

   So, is Scott willing to let us know who his “constituents” are who are demanding the shutdown of the streetcar? He should get on board with expanding the streetcar – it would be positive for the city. If Scott had come to the No Kings protest today, he would have seen thousands of people using the streetcar.

   What was Terry Witkowski’s stand on the streetcar, and why does Scott have a different stance? Have the constituencies changed?

   And whatever happened to the idea to begin light rail between the city and the suburbs? When Mark Borkowski was one of the leaders fighting against the streetcar, he stated that we should start light rail, that the cost would be manageable since the rail right-of-ways already existed to several of the suburbs. Haven’t heard anything on that since the streetcar was approved. Interesting.

2. jsalmon1159 says:

   October 19, 2025 at 9:39 am

   The Hop is a fiscal disaster, Tom Barrett screwed the taxpayers of MKE.
   Spiker is right the Hop should be shut down, the big hang up is the $$$ owed to the federal government for shutting it down.
   Shut down the Hop!!!

3. CraigR says:

   October 19, 2025 at 2:47 pm

   Given how the streetcar is always a target of the right wing, I think he’s just pandering to that crowd. I thought he was more civic minded than that, but I guess not. Maybe he should follow Bob Donovan and move to Greenfield.

4. Trmott says:

   October 19, 2025 at 11:34 pm

   To anyone ….. Fill in the blanks, please. “There has been significant development within one block (and even more within two blocks} of the streetcar line” that would likely not have happened were there no streetcar, specifically: _________________________________________________________

   The evidence that such development was/is at least partially influenced by the streetcar line starting up includes the following _________________________.

   Thank you.

5. John December says:

   October 20, 2025 at 8:17 am

   I created a file examining the relationship between streetcars and development:
   https://johndecember.com/places/mke/streetcar/development.html

6. mkeumkenews09 says:

   October 20, 2025 at 9:56 am

   It’s wonderful to see this discussion. And thanks John December for the streetcar article.

   Regarding filling in the blanks, the first question is easy, the second not as much, since press releases and TV news stories are not easily accessible. Several developers did mention the streetcar line as a factor in their projects. Granted some folks might nitpick a couple of these projects, and those projects may have happened without the streetcar advantage, but we’ll never know about each of them for sure.

   However, a major portion of these developments were planned or executed during the Covid pandemic, which makes it even more impressive. So here is a beginning of a list at a glance:

   Foxtown Landing Taproom, Distillery, Restaurant
   MKE Dog Park
   333 Water apartment building
   300 N Broadway block – restaurant and retail redevelopment
   The Electric Apartments
   Huron building with the Tupelo Honey restaurant
   Ascent Tower
   Nova
   St. Rita’s Square Sr. Community
   Street Car Flats
   Milwaukee Athletic Club
   BMO Harris Office Building
   The Kinn Hotel
   Quadracci rehab
   The Couture
   Hilton Hotels on Jefferson
   Central Standard Crafthouse

   Other:
   7SEVENTY7 – NML had voiced support for the streetcar line during time they planned this
   Pfister – updated
   Hotel Metro – updated
   St. Kate Hotel – updated
   Significant Retail and Restaurant growth along the line

7. mkeumkenews09 says:

   October 20, 2025 at 10:09 am

   I forgot to mention that John December’s linked article goes deeper in the footnotes on additional projects and backstories.

   Please read it!

8. Trmott says:

   October 20, 2025 at 11:12 am

   Thanks for the effort and data seeking evidence of a connection between the streetcar and relevant development. As for the various studies about potential impacts in non-Milwaukee metropolitan settings, I don’t consider them particularly helpful. It’s Milwaukee’s geographic variables, roadways, and demographics and usage patterns we are dealing with here.

   I find it interesting and disappointing that we seem not to have a commentary in which those responsible for construction, expansion, upgrading/improvement of actual real property have been interviewed about their decisions and the role of the streetcar influencing their organizations’ commitments. If I were a researcher on this topic that would be my primary technique and focus …. a question and interview approach.

   As one who’s lived in metro/urban Chicago (frequent public transport user there) and metro/urban Milwaukee (living exactly next to the HOP tracks and station) I would never use either one of them as instructive about both cities transportation issues and opportunities. Difference worlds.

9. Franklin Furter says:

   October 20, 2025 at 2:02 pm

   I’m a proponent of mass transit and of The Hop. Suffice it to say that a lot has changed since The Hop was approved in 2015, and things have definitely not gone as planned.

   Those who are saying “I told you so” are those who were never for it, supported any roadblock that could be put in The Hop’s way, and cheered every headwind The Hop experienced.

   I regard this current conversation as a call to come together to answer the question, “What next?” Frankly, I hold a middle space between Spiker who seems to want to cut bait and Burgelis and others who throw out terms like “a strategy that pays off for the entire city, and “it’s about vision and hope.” Neither extreme is helpful in (1) being clear and (2) looking at current reality and considering next steps.

   COSTS:

    Good to have a more clarity on how the costs for The Hop are currently covered and a bit more about the potential costs of say, doing away with it.

    We need more clarity on this. Everyone agrees that money isn’t falling from trees these days.

   VALUE OF THE HOP:

    The Hop’s ultimate value has always been about its expansion, not on its current “starter system.” It was never meant to be simply an investment in the downtown economy. If the City were able to fund and build into Bronzeville, the South Side, East Side, and even west, the question of value would not be a question. Unfortunately, the landscape for expansion funding has changed significantly. (See below.) It is disingenuous to judge the starter system outside of its larger goals and purpose.

    It is easy to say that The Hop (and other streetcar systems) encourage development and raise property values/taxes. Easier said than demonstrated. Coincidence is NOT causality and, just because something is developed within 3 blocks of The Hop or someone “voices support” for it in no way means The Hop caused the development or was even a a significant consideration. It snakes through downtown to such an extent that its easy to argue the point without actually having to isolate The Hop as a significant factor. There are myriad other factors that determine where something is developed. (The only developers I recall to cite The Hop as a factor were those of 333 Water Street. And, I am convinced they did so at a press conference at the behest of city officials.)

   EXPANSION FUNDING:

    Since approval and significant funding through local TIFs and federal funding, much has changed.

    The Hop, for better or worse, became linked to the Couture development midway through that decade-long “process” as a replacement for old bus terminal on the site. A federal grant went unused for years after many Couture delays and a subsequent TIGER grant application was denied because MKE was not viewed as a reliable funding recipient. It was holding onto an unused years-old grant.

    “Wisconsin Act 12, signed into law in 2023, said Milwaukee cannot use “moneys raised by levying taxes for … developing, operating, or maintaining” the streetcar. It also says the city cannot use a tax incremental financing district for “direct or indirect expenses related to developing, constructing, or operating” the streetcar.” (WPR article by Evan Casey, 1/22/2025)

    Good luck getting any federal funding for this in at least the next 4 years.

   “EXPANSION” POSSIBILITIES:

    First, start charging fare.

    Second, market the heck out of sponsorships.

    Next, given where we are for now, agree that The Hop is what it is, downtown’s streetcar system. (At least for the foreseeable future.)

    Clarify Act 12 – Can someone tell me if Act 12 restricts tax and state revenue sharing in Milwaukee for “The Hop,” “urban rail systems,” or what? I can’t find this, but it is SUPER IMPORTANT in determining “What next?”

    Abandon, at least for the foreseeable future, expansion of “The Hop.”

    Consider available options that would be more fundable than what Act 12 allows that would leverage things like right-of-way and signal timing, all things that The Hop is supposed to do. I’m not imagining expanding from the current Hop termini along currently planned Hop expansion routes, but a valuable, sensible NEW expansion system that intersects The Hop at key points but is much cheaper and flexible.

   CHEAPER, EASIER, EASILY COMPATIBLE WITH THE HOP:

    A new system like this that intersects but is not The Hop or an expansion of it, is possible. MKE simply needs to reframe where it is and what is possible. What about much less expensive, Hop-intersecting routes, along Vel Phillips and 6th Street to the north; Wells Street east and west; Water Street and Prospect/Farwell Streets to the East Side; and 6th Street and 2nd Street/Plankinton to the south?

    For example, I’ve been reading about Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) systems elsewhere that allow vehicles to follow a route on a *virtual track* of sensors/markings on the roadway. Optical guidance means it approaches light rail, but is less expensive, and can also utilize vehicles with precision-docking capacity. No rails, but compatible with The Hop’s rail system at intersections and even at shared stops.

    Frankly, this seems to be more the current future of urban rapid transit.

10. Colin says:

    October 20, 2025 at 5:39 pm

    The hop needs further expansion and way more funding.
    Spiker needs to GO.
    Those in his district: PLEASE vote this clown out ASAP.