Lilo Allen, one of the Bronzeville Collective MKE’s founders and owner of the handmade jewelry business Papyrus & Charms, hopes a streetcar extension into Bronzeville will bring new visitors into the area. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
When building a streetcar in Milwaukee was first being debated, Lilo Allen had concerns about what the cost would mean to the city and its taxpayers.
But now that the first section of The Hop has been built and is operating downtown, she wants to see a proposed extension into Bronzeville happen.
“We don’t have much city support that highlights a black community for a positive thing. So having the streetcar come through here is literally a visual highlight of all the progress that’s being made,” said Allen, one of the founders of Bronzeville Collective MKE and owner of Papyrus & Charms. The collective, and Allen’s handmade goods business within it, opened at 339 W. North Ave. in December.
Allen believes the proposed streetcar extension from downtown, north along King Drive to North Avenue, would bring more customers to Bronzeville businesses. It would provide easy access for tourists and visitors from other parts of the city to experience Bronzeville’s arts and culture. And, in addition to giving residents an easy way to travel downtown, the streetcar would slow auto traffic, creating safer, more pedestrian-friendly corridors.
The Hop, which opened in November, runs on a loop through downtown and the Historic Third Ward between the Milwaukee Intermodal Station, 433 W. St. Paul Ave., and Burns Commons, at East Ogden and North Prospect avenues.
Earlier this month, Mayor Tom Barrett announced plans to extend The Hop to Wisconsin Avenue by next summer, while adding two additional legs into Bronzeville and Walker’s Point.
‘It’s long overdue’
Feedback from residents and businesses gathered as part of a transit study, indicated strong support for the Bronzeville extension, said Deshea Agee, executive director of the Historic King Drive Business Improvement District No. 8.
It will help create an equitable economic development environment, he said. “And if we can connect the boundaries of our neighborhoods from the South Side to the North Side and downtown that will be good for bringing Milwaukee together.”
Ossie Kendrix, president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin, said he is optimistic the streetcar will attract residents who see opportunities to secure employment in the new entertainment district in and around the Fiserv Forum.
Natasha Jules, a co-owner of Jewels Caribbean restaurant, located just south of the intersection of North Avenue and King Drive, is enthusiastic about the streetcar coming to Bronzeville. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Natasha Jules, a co-owner of her family’s restaurant, Jewels Caribbean, 2230 N. King Drive, would like to see the extension continue beyond Bronzeville to Capitol Drive so Messmer High School students and residents could benefit.
“It’s long overdue and I’m looking forward to it,” Jules said.
The downtown streetcar loop is not yet fully functional, noted James Phelps, president of JCP Construction, 1849 N. King Drive. “It only becomes an asset to the city once it starts extending into the surrounding neighborhoods, where it becomes a viable form of transportation, moving people around the neighborhoods,” he said.
Critics raise alarms
Not everyone is happy with plans to expand The Hop.
In a May 6 statement, Ald. Bob Donovan and Ald. Mark A. Borkowski took Barrett to task, saying “the Mayor wants to expand a system that is not complete, that he cannot prove anyone rides, and that no one but him seems to want to pay for. Not one expansion, not two, but three. What madness is this?”
Ald. Nikiya Dodd said in a news release that Milwaukee should focus on fixing its roads. “To prioritize the expansion of the streetcar, rather than sticking to the task at hand and focusing our resources on the infrastructure repair backlog, sends a clear message that our residents’ voices are not being heard. “
And Ald. José G. Pérez said Latino neighborhoods must be included. “The City needs to commit to the planning and engineering work to bring the line into the Latino community,” he said in a news release. “‘Wait until next time’ is not a good enough answer.”
I came to Milwaukee, December 7, 2018—I was shocked to realize the small City of Milwaukee, and suburban Milwaukee County’s MCTD (Milwaukee County Transportation District) has 4-hour long bus routes.
During my time in Milwaukee, I have not had an opportunity to ride the “free” streetcar mainly because it does not serve businesses (retail & otherwise) which I need to get to—the area serviced by the already in service streetcar seems to be the overwhelmingly white-ethnic populated Dowtown and Eastside Milwaukee community areas … in other North American cities where I have worked, lived, and vacationed (Toronto, Ontario; Washington, D.C.; Chicago, IL; New Orleans, LA; and Denver, CO public transit is viable and well used manner transporting “We the People …” regardless of socioeconomic background, ethnicity, or race.
I completely agree! The “nay-sayers” of The Hop’s expansion seriously underestimate how economically, socially, and culturally/ethnically pivotal this is for a thriving Milwaukee. Yes, The Hop’s current infrastructure is a work in-progress, and the only way forward to strengthen it is to expand; why this is rocket science to those that oppose this is beyond me. Focusing efforts and funds on solely “repairing” our roads BEFORE expanding The Hop diminishes the importance of reducing traffic (which subsequently cuts-down on the cost and amount of future road repairs), preserving the environment, and bringing Milwaukee into the 21st Century.
We already have ultra-modern buses, but they are not run frequently enough. Thank County Executive Chris Abele for that. Can someone explain how a streetcar is better than a frequent bus? The rails, the overhead wires, and the raised concrete stations are all inconveniences. Traffic lights are adjusted for the efficiency of the monster-size trolley, causing cars and buses to wait longer at intersections. And the trolley won’t always be free of charge. Does the trolley run on solar power or on the same fossil fuels as the buses?
I love the excellent questions you’ve raised! Let me give it my best show: 1) The street car has better, more environmentally friendly emissions; 2) The capacity of The Hop carries more passengers, thus, far greater than one bus; 3) The Hop is far quieter than even the most newest bus (the noise pollution is literally at a 0 versus a bus); 4) Studies indicate that street cars attract more ridership than buses (although they really don’t know why at this point, so this does warrant further research. Perhaps it’s mind-set?); and 5) Studies also indicate streetcars promote urban development.
To your point, Larry Hoffman, streetcars are a major capital expense. Also, The Hop can at times clog traffic, which subsequently lends itself to ditch the car and use public transport instead. And further, touche on your point about how the NEW buses are a much better riding experience, but they still can’t equal the capacity nor comfort (as studies indicate on this point) than a streetcar.
It is time to improve Milwaukee’s infrastructure. We’re so far behind virtually all major US cities, which is why many businesses refuse to establish either a headquarters or a branch location because of the City’s lack of transportation options (and yes, streetcars and high-speed rail has been indicated NUMEROUS times as the reason why so many international/national companies will not set-up shop here). If you have the chance, study the fall-out that occurred with businesses that dropped Milwaukee and Madison as a viable location after Gov. Walker nixed the high-speed rail between Madison and Milwaukee. Companies like Rockwell Automation, Johnson Controls, Harley-Davidson, etc. LOST TONS OF CONTRACTS due to the nixing of this project.
Further, Milwaukee continues to decline in population, with one of the leading reasons being that residents are relocating to other cities with better, more numerous transport options to get to and from their jobs and school. As one person indicated in a post I recently read: “. . . multiple modes of transportation are best, with coordinated planning and investment to create effective, efficient & comfortable passenger experiences, from train to light rail, streetcars, buses, cars, and bike lanes.”
Bronzeville could do a lot for itself by simply re-adjusting the traffic lights on MLK to slow traffic. As it is now, the area is a 40 mph drive-by/pass-through zone. It is not even easy to cross the street. Nevertheless, it has a beautiful infrastructure and the potential to be a nice local Main Street if people took the time to look.