Shocking development… I know :roll:
MILWAUKEE — Some Milwaukee aldermen are raising the prospect of suspending streetcar service, known as ‘The Hop,’ citing a lack of funding to keep it running, the Milwaukee Business Journal reports.
TMJ4’s news partner reports that aldermen Scott Spiker and Michael Murphy said at a city budget hearing Friday that funds are running out in the city’s parking fund, which pays for the free streetcar service. Several forms of parking enforcement have already been suspended amid the pandemic, which has led to the shortfall of funding.
But Milwaukee Department of Public Works Commissioner Jeff Polenske tells the BizJournal that suspending the Hop would violate the City of Milwaukee’s agreement with the federal government. The city is obligated to continue running the service because federal dollars were used to build the service, running across the city’s downtown and lower east side.
Polenske says he brought the issue up with the Federal Transit Administration. The BizJournal reports that FTA officials told him that the obligation to continue the service remains in place amid the pandemic.
That’s what liberals do…waste money on boondoggles.
Silence from local libs on this debacle.
Shameful.
Another liberal shot to hell.
Should be another liberal idea shot to hell.
Though there are cases that should happen in the statement above.
Let’s Follow the Logic™. Pandemic leads to far less parking revenue, so the Hop is a bad idea.
Let’s try it with something else. Pandemic causes drop in gas tax revenue, so road maintenance is a bad idea.
Funny that you mention logic and then illogicaly try to linking parking revenue with a system completely unrelated to parking revenue. And back it up with a system that is related.
Want to try again, with some Logic this time? Or are you going to make some droll comment on my capitalization? I did it to give you an out…
No, Jason, we’re just supposed to chuckle that the Hop is a dumb idea! You know, because it’s a form of public transportation that isn’t supported by the ultra-conservative road-builders who fund many WisGOP state-level elected officials.
What is REALLY a scream is that Tommy Choo-Choo signed a deal with the Feds whereby MKE is absolutely, positively, required to run that stupid train-set OR give back a bunch of Fed dollars.
Brilliant move, Tommy Choo-Choo!! Your monument to yourself is going to cost the City (choose one of the following):
–another 100 cops
–150 social workers
–65 garbage collectors/snow-plow drivers
–35 plow trucks
–some of the above
–all of the above.
Turn in your test by 12/31/20. Thanks for playing!!
“Free” rides were supposed to end a year ago. Read this story from last year to understand just what an f’n mess this thing is:
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2019/06/26/milwaukee-streetcar-rides-hop-remain-free-come-november/1571322001/
Highlights:
“Based on ridership in other cities, they knew that there would be a significant drop if they started charging fares, [Dave Windsor, DPW streetcar system manager] said. “
Nose Hit, Sherlock. Everybody knew it, including your lying boss.
“The Hop’s operating cost is about $4.3 million a year, Windsor said.”
The above statement was made after just 8 moths of actual operation. The original estimate was $3.6 mill/yr.
“Funding sources for next year [2020] include the sponsorship of the Forest County Potawatomi Community, federal dollars and anticipated $250,000 to $500,000 from smart kiosks installed on platforms along the route.”
The kiosks (read: ad revenue), like the fare boxes, have yet to be installed.
And this from 2017:
“Ghassan Korban, commissioner of the city’s Department of Public Works, said he hopes the name “The Hop” will become part of the local vernacular. Korban said the name was created by 2-Story, a local marketing and advertising firm. Korban called it a “fun, whimsical, catchy name,” that signifies motion.
“Hop on. Hop off,” he said.”
More like jerk off.
Name it “The Hop”! That will be $500,000 please, with a $45,000 annual fee to renew the licensing…