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Milwaukee Streetcar

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Type
  
Streetcar

Locale
  
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Line length
  
2.5 mi (4.0 km)

Status
  
Under construction

Operator(s)
  
City of Milwaukee

Website
  
www.milwaukeestreetcar.com

The Milwaukee Streetcar is a new modern streetcar line under construction in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. The 2.5-mile (4.0 km) line will connect the Milwaukee Intermodal Station to the proposed "Couture" high-rise and connect Downtown to the Lower East Side and Historic Third Ward neighborhoods. Construction of the line is expected to begin in April 2017. Work on utility relocation relating to the project began in 2016, as did construction of the maintenance facility for the line.

Contents

History

Milwaukee had a streetcar system in the late 19th century, and early 20th century. The city's last streetcar route was closed in 1959.

Route description

The first phase of the route has streetcars traveling from E. Ogden Ave. and N. Farwell Ave to N. Van Buren St./N. Jackson St. The streetcar will travel north on N. Van Buren St. and south on S. Jackson St. to E. Wells St. It will then connect with N. Broadway and N. Milwaukee St. It will operate south on N. Broadway and north on N. Milwaukee St. until E. St. Paul Ave. It will then operate on E. St. Paul Ave. in both directions between the Broadway/Milwaukee split to N. 4th St. at the Milwaukee Intermodal Station.

In October 2015, the project received a federal grant which will cover approximately half the cost of a spur to the lakefront. This spur to N. Lincoln Memorial Dr. will go via E. Michigan St. and E. Clybourn St.

The route's carhouse, its storage and maintenance facility, will be built on 4th Street, under the on-ramps to bridges across the Milwaukee River.

The City of Milwaukee has applied for a TIGER Grant to gain federal funds to fund 50% of the system's extension up 4th St. towards the new Wisconsin Entertainment and Sports Center and the Bronzeville neighborhood.

Funding and approval

The total cost to construct the streetcar is estimated to be $123.9 million. The project was approved by the Milwaukee Common Council on January 21, 2015, and upheld on February 10, 2015, by a vote of 10 to 5.

On April 6, 2015, the city invited bids for the supply of four streetcars, with the issuing of a request for proposals to interested manufacturers. In November 2015, the city awarded an $18.6-million contract to Brookville Equipment Corporation to build four streetcars for Milwaukee. In mid-April 2016, the city invited bids for the construction of the project's first phase, with a June 1 due date for proposals. At that time, it was estimated that construction could begin in late summer or early fall 2016 and be completed in 2018.

On August 19, 2016, Omaha contractor Kiewit Infrastructure was announced as the winning bidder for the contract to construct the line, and carhouse. In February 2017, it was announced that track construction is projected to begin in April 2017.

References

Milwaukee Streetcar Wikipedia