Milwaukee Streetcar (Madison, Fond du Lac, Shorewood: sales, 2014, power lines)

[ARrocket]

A quick search tells me there hasn't been much discussion on this in awhile. I moved away from Milwaukee some years ago now, but like to check in every now and again (it will always be my home).

What are the latest opinions? I read recently that FTA approved a new route? What about the funding? Who's stronger now, the proponents or the opponents? What do you guys think?

The Milwaukee Streetcar website is very vague and outdated, especially when it comes to the timeline/next steps portion.

[FromMilwaukeeInSeattle]

The construction of the streetcar is uncertain. One day theres news on how it is going to built the, the next day there's news that there are huge hidden costs. I'm not sure if you have read this or not but here is an article on the streetcar.
St. Paul Avenue bridge rebuilt to handle future streetcar traffic - Milwaukee - Milwaukee Business Journal

There was news that they found that they would have to relocate some utilities for around $30,000,000. I can't find the article though. I feel like a lot of people are uninformed on the streetcar. A lot of people think that is just a trolley car. The news even showed an old trolley car with wheel to show what the streetcar looks like. The picture was wrong which confused a lot of people.

[ARrocket]

Thanks for the reply - I hadn't read that!

What's the logic behind claiming the utility companies are responsible for paying for the relocation?!

I also agree with the sole commenter on that article...even if it can't be built now (now meaning whenever this thing gets built), there should already be a full plan in place for a broader network.

IF it is going to be built, they better go big or go home!

[FromMilwaukeeInSeattle]

Originally Posted by ARrocket

Thanks for the reply - I hadn't read that!

What's the logic behind claiming the utility companies are responsible for paying for the relocation?!

I also agree with the sole commenter on that article...even if it can't be built now (now meaning whenever this thing gets built), there should already be a full plan in place for a broader network.

IF it is going to be built, they better go big or go home!

From what I have heard is that they have to move power old unused power lines and have to reroute a lot of them as well. I don't understand how they could have missed that in the planning of the streetcar.

I agree that we need a full plan if we are going to build a streetcar. I feel that the streetcar needs to spread into Shorewood and go down Oakland and also go east-west on Capitol. The streetcar would definitely have some use with people in Bay View, Third Ward, Marquette and UWM students, Downtown, and the innercity. If the streetcar does get built and is successful. I could see it extending into the inner ring suburbs, especially Shorewood. It also all depends on if Barrett is still in office for the next couple of years. He supports it and knows how it could work. Too bad he says a lot of good ideas that don't get done.

[ARrocket]

Originally Posted by FromMilwaukeeInSeattle

From what I have heard is that they have to move power old unused power lines and have to reroute a lot of them as well. I don't understand how they could have missed that in the planning of the streetcar.

I agree that we need a full plan if we are going to build a streetcar. I feel that the streetcar needs to spread into Shorewood and go down Oakland and also go east-west on Capitol. The streetcar would definitely have some use with people in Bay View, Third Ward, Marquette and UWM students, Downtown, and the innercity. If the streetcar does get built and is successful. I could see it extending into the inner ring suburbs, especially Shorewood. It also all depends on if Barrett is still in office for the next couple of years. He supports it and knows how it could work. Too bad he says a lot of good ideas that don't get done.

I like your idea for expansion, hopefully they do this well and don't waste the money (and thus further sour the naysayers).

Maybe along Oakland, along Fond du Lac, South 1st/KK, North, and National. It should be given its own lane of travel wherever possible (this will eliminate a lot of street parking, so it might be difficult to sell...but necessary IMO to make the streetcar a good alternative to driving).

[FromMilwaukeeInSeattle]

More news on the streetcar. It's quite depressing but maybe something will happen.
Milwaukee streetcar stopped in its tracks? | CBS 58 | Local News

[ARrocket]

Interesting article to keep in mind - I don't think zoning would be too much of an issue along most of the proposed route, but then again, I don't know anything about zoning in Milwaukee.

Don’t Forget the Zoning « The Transport Politic

[pman]

Seems like they'd be better off putting 150 million in reducing trip time to Chicago towards getting it down to an hour than the convention center. Anyway, related to the streetcar
Gary Grunau proposes 0.5% Milwaukee County sales tax for arena, venues, streetcar - Milwaukee Business Journal

[Jesse276]

Originally Posted by pman

Seems like they'd be better off putting 150 million in reducing trip time to Chicago towards getting it down to an hour than the convention center. Anyway, related to the streetcar
Gary Grunau proposes 0.5% Milwaukee County sales tax for arena, venues, streetcar - Milwaukee Business Journal

The feds offered 100% funding to upgrade the tracks from Madison, through Milwaukee, to Chicago. Also, they would have paid for 2 new trains to run on the line.

Governor Walker didn't think it would benefit Wisconsin by accepting the money. He also cut taxes last year and now presides over a deficit of $396 million... obviously numbers aren't his strong suit. Voters are looking for a change from the new math and cronyism he's brought along... we'll be giving someone else a chance to improve our state come November, so we'll see if Mary Burke can get the feds to kick in more money for our highways and high speed rail.

[pman]

Originally Posted by Jesse276

The feds offered 100% funding to upgrade the tracks from Madison, through Milwaukee, to Chicago. Also, they would have paid for 2 new trains to run on the line.

Governor Walker didn't think it would benefit Wisconsin by accepting the money. He also cut taxes last year and now presides over a deficit of $396 million... obviously numbers aren't his strong suit. Voters are looking for a change from the new math and cronyism he's brought along... we'll be giving someone else a chance to improve our state come November, so we'll see if Mary Burke can get the feds to kick in more money for our highways and high speed rail.

yes I do remember that debacle from the no bid contract for tilting equipment on a straight railroad to total cancellation of the project it seemed like an unmitigated disaster. still, IMO, getting travel times down (and frequency up) on the existing route between chicago and milwaukee would do more for the city than dumping $150 million in a convention center. perhaps it could be revived with incremental expansion and improvements.