The Sound Alternative to the Milwaukee Streetcar
Statement from Alderman Joe Davis, Sr.
Today, we celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who gave his life for social justice. It is in this spirit that I follow up with the previous press statement released on Friday, January 16, 2015 regarding my “Reasonable Alternative to the Downtown Streetcar.”
I have now included my vision in that statement in a video presentation. My vision is a rational and reasonable approach that lays out how the remaining federal funds for transit that the City of Milwaukee proposed to allocate for the Downtown Streetcar can be used instead for an alternative project that would be beneficial for the city and the population the funding was originally intended for.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Joe Davis, Sr.
Deadly joyride takes another young Milwaukeean
Nov 24th, 2015 by Joe Davis, Sr.Statement of Alderman Joe Davis, Sr.--November 24, 2015
Let’s settle police and fire labor contracts first
Oct 30th, 2015 by Joe Davis, Sr.Statement from Alderman Joe Davis, Sr. October 30, 2015
Milwaukee’s poverty rate is unacceptable
Sep 17th, 2015 by Joe Davis, Sr.Statement of Alderman Joe Davis, Sr. September 17, 2015
“This will cost a minimal of taxpayers, less than the streetcar, in fact”
FALSE!
Stop the lies Joe. Hopefully everyone can see through them; if not, read informed commentary here:
http://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/the-reasonable-alternative-to-the-downtown-streetcar/
“Rail is the #2 reason business locate…”
It would be nice if you’d share a source for your claim, since those decisions are generally kept secret even in the most high-profile location discussions. Even if it is on the list, it’s not for the reasons you cite. A new, modern, manufacturing business dependent upon raw materials at the scale of rail transportation is going to be more concerned about those raw materials than the workers’ transportation. The rail siding with the boxcars is not the same as the rail station with a walkway to the plant and in fact, the two do not coexist without a significant investment.
Good job dumbass, glad you brought this up after it’s been years into planning and development with thousands of dollars (I really don’t know how much) already invested into it.
Your idea is great. However, the rails are in place. Trolley wires are not necessary. Please reread my email sent yesterday.
What was up with that symphony score as background music?!
The intent behind the idea to bring rail transportation to the areas he discussed is good. The reality of using the current funds for it is impractical. Those funds can be used for one specific purpose, the downtown streetcar project. This isn’t a debate point, it’s just simple fact. Only an act of Congress can change the allocation of those funds and we all know how much gets done in Congress these days.
Nice dramatic Ken Burns-esque musical overture, Davis, but your video is half-baked.
“Rail is the #2 reason on why manufacturing companies decide to move into an area…”
Actually, the figure quoted is from a recent study that shows that transit is the 2nd most important reason businesses expand/relocate to metropolitan regions in the US.
Milwaukee, being the largest and most densely-populated city in the US without any fixed transit system is WAY behind.
The basic idea is beautiful and I agree 100% that it makes a great corridor for rapid transit which would serve Milwaukee and the inner city well. This corridor could tie in well with buses, and the streetcar system and provide quick, cheap and useful access to downtown, much like the CTA trains in Chicago.
Streetcars, on the other hand are as the name suggests, meant to function on streets and would fulfill an important part of the transportation needs of Milwaukee for all people.
The huge stumbling block with the 30th street rail corridor is that it is not public, it is owned by Soo Line railroad. The tracks that exist are dedicated to freight and you never want to mix freight and passenger traffic. The corridor can support multiple lines for passenger but they have to have separate tracks and facilities. It can be done but approval has to come from the owners of the corridor. Rent has to be paid, and agreements have to be made. I believe that many of these agreements have to happen on a federal level. This will cost more than you think and will be more expensive than the streetcar but I agree it is worthwhile and should be added to the table as a SEPARATE PROJECT.
God Bless You Joe for bringing this to the table and I hope you fight to bring it to reality because it would be an important link. It should have been brought to the table years ago in addition to the other components of a public transportation plan.But please, don’t confuse people by saying this should be built as a streetcar line. It makes no sense.