Southern Wisconsin Times

Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) has urged Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to waive a federal grant requirement that mandates Milwaukee's streetcar, known as "the Hop," to begin service on October 31. Steil argues that the current plan to operate the streetcar on a non-viable route starting October 29 is a waste of taxpayer money and calls for immediate action to save thousands of dollars.

In a letter addressed to Secretary Buttigieg, Steil explains that the unusual operation of the streetcar on the new "L-Line" through a closed construction site exclusively on Sundays during the winter is necessary to fulfill the grant requirement. However, Steil believes that this requirement should be waived in order to reduce government waste and protect the interests of Milwaukee taxpayers.

"The Hop," a $128 million streetcar transportation project largely funded by federal grant dollars, has faced financial viability concerns since its opening in November 2018. With the average daily ridership plummeting by 74.5% since its peak in 2018, questions about the demand for the service have further raised doubts about the project's sustainability.

Steil argues that the federal requirement to operate the streetcar into a construction site, which is unlikely to attract significant ridership, exacerbates these concerns. He highlights that Sundays in Milwaukee's central business district are traditionally low-traffic days, and the winter months see lower daily ridership overall. Despite these factors, local officials are preparing to operate the L-Line on winter Sundays, even though it is not ready to provide meaningful service to passengers.

According to the Federal Transportation Agency (FTA), it costs Milwaukee $351 per hour of operation, with a cost of $5,265 for a 15-hour day. Steil believes that it does not make sense to compel Milwaukee officials to operate a non-viable route and further burden taxpayers. He requests the appropriate steps be taken to waive the service date requirement.

In his letter, Steil emphasizes the importance of reducing government waste and states, "We have an obligation to the people we serve to reduce government waste. I am calling for your immediate action to save Milwaukee taxpayers thousands of dollars."

This plea from Congressman Steil to waiving the federal grant requirement aims to protect the interests of Milwaukee taxpayers and ensure the efficient use of their resources. By advocating for a more sensible approach to the operation of "the Hop," Steil aims to address the financial concerns surrounding the streetcar project and protect the interests of the people he represents.

To learn more, click on this link: https://steil.house.gov/media/press-releases/steil-advocates-to-save-milwaukee-taxpayers-thousands-of-dollars