3. Update
• The Connector Study (ongoing)
• Public meetings in February 2009
• 60/40 split by Congress in March
2009
• $54.9M for Downtown Streetcar
• $36.6M for Bus Rapid Transit
• Development of route alignment
alternatives
• Preliminary route analysis
5. Defining Streetcar
• Fixed rail system – modern vehicles fit in
urban environments
• Stations/stops – every 1-3 blocks
• Frequent service – 7-10 minute minimum
frequency
• Operates in right traffic lane, preserving
majority of on-street parking
• Electric power source
• Higher vehicle capacity than bus
• Examples: Portland, Seattle, Tacoma
6. Riding the streetcar
• 1 million + annual Intermodal
Station users
• 77,500 daily downtown
employees
• 5,500,000 annual downtown
visitors
• 726,500 annual hotel stays
• 14,900 downtown residents
(and growing)
7. Starter System Goals
The main goals of the starter streetcar system are to:
• Circulate people around downtown and to adjacent neighborhoods.
• Improve transit utilization in the city of Milwaukee.
• Connect the Intermodal Station with the central business district, key
destinations and attractions.
• Enhance Milwaukee’s ParkOnce program by coordinating parking
facilities with a transit system that connects to activity generators.
• Promote transit oriented development along transit corridors and on
underutilized properties.
• Provide dense downtown residential areas with additional transit choices.
• Provide an easy-to-use streetcar system that is integrated with other
modes.
• Create a streetcar starter system that can expand to nearby
neighborhoods and destinations.
8. Streetcar objectives
The Milwaukee Streetcar system will be a world class, cost-effective
and environmentally-friendly transportation alternative that:
• Improves transit mobility to and between key residential, employment,
and activity centers
• Supports the goals of the Downtown Plan and Comprehensive
Neighborhood Plans
• Promotes economic development and creates predictability for future
growth
• Attracts ridership due to quality of service, enhanced signage, route
predictability and reduced travel times
• Is easily expandable as demand dictates and funds become available
• Integrates with existing and future transportation options
• Encourages pedestrian activity
9. Benefits of Streetcar
The Milwaukee Streetcar will benefit Milwaukee in the following ways:
• Provide an easy to use and efficient linkage between Milwaukee’s downtown
business district and nearby neighborhoods.
• Increase transit choices for Milwaukee residents, employees and visitors.
• Provide a direct transit connection between the Milwaukee Intermodal
Station and downtown.
• Link to the existing bus service in Milwaukee and other transit initiatives
such as the KRM Commuter Rail project and Midwest Regional Rail System.
• Support the goals of the Milwaukee Downtown Plan which include
“developing a downtown transit network to facilitate both internal circulation and
connections to adjacent neighborhoods.”
• Supports Milwaukee’s Park Once program by coordinating parking facilities
with a transit system that connects to activity generators.
• Provide a fixed transit system that promotes transit-oriented development
along its route.
16. Alternative Evaluation Criteria
• Public Involvement
• Ridership
• Capital Cost
• Operating Cost
• Economic Development Potential
• Travel Times/Operations Planning
• Parking, Traffic & Impacts
• Environmental Justice
• Expandability
17. Next Steps
• Public Meeting – October 8, 2009
• Coordination with Milwaukee County Transit – Ongoing
• Streetcar Technical Analysis – Oct 2009 – Dec 2009
• Locally Preferred Alternative Approval – Dec 2009/Jan 2010
• Engineering/Design Completed – Fall of 2011
• Construction Completed – Fall of 2013
• Goal – Operations Begin – Spring of 2014
18. Questions
For more information and to submit your comments, visit:
www.milwaukeeconnector.com
Or Contact:
Kris Martinsek
Phone: 414-769-0400
Email: krism1325@sbcglobal.net
