New Milwaukee streetcar

[Adlington]

Translation: tram....

There is nothing particularly noteworthy in the technical specs: 3.4 km route, 18 stops, headway 15 minutes. As usual there were mixed reactions to the project:

Critics at the state and local level say the city is wasting money by returning to a transportation system that was discarded decades ago. Supporters believe it will be embraced by residents and workers and contribute to the downtown renaissance.

The interesting point is that the service will be free of charge for a year, and after that the fare is expected to be $1.00
The Hop Streetcar website

 

[Goldie]

Newer systems in the US - for instance, the Q-Line in Detroit, the Atlanta streetcar - seem to often be genuine tramways, rejecting the features of light rail systems even though those features typically result in a system that has higher capacity and shorter end to end journey times. It's difficult to see how many of the lines - including this one - might form part of a commute. I'm not close enough to understand the economics behind the decision to build to this kind of template, but it is an interesting one.

 

[Adlington]

rejecting the features of light rail systems even though those features typically result in a system that has higher capacity and shorter end to end journey times.

Do you mean fewer stops and longer trains?

 

[Shenandoah]

The new tram system is designed to make it easier for visitors and locals to get around the more interesting and important parts of the city more easily. The present route takes in the downtown shopping areas and many of the tourist and waterfront areas.
The free year is sponsored by a casino/hotel company; that is why their advert is on the front of trams. Even so $1 (todays rate around 75p) is peanuts for city travel.

 

[LeeLivery]

Is there a reason America keeps opening very short (~2mi long) tram networks?

 

[NewcastleOne]

Is there a reason America keeps opening very short (~2mi long) tram networks?

Yes but I won’t explain watch a 6 minute video by VOX ‘The real reason why streetcars are making a cameback’ It’s a good video

 

[LeeLivery]

Yes but I won’t explain watch a 6 minute video by VOX ‘The real reason why streetcars are making a cameback’ It’s a good video

Great, thank you, I'll watch.

 

[Busaholic]

Is there a reason America keeps opening very short (~2mi long) tram networks?

I believe they're sometimes thought of as being 'starter' routes, trying the concept out to see if it gains traction (pun unintended.)

 

[LeeLivery]

Yes but I won’t explain watch a 6 minute video by VOX ‘The real reason why streetcars are making a cameback’ It’s a good video

Funny enough, I realised I watched this last year. It's interesting.

I believe they're sometimes thought of as being 'starter' routes, trying the concept out to see if it gains traction (pun unintended.)

It seems like strange lobbying (as per) and trying to get development along the routes. I don't know how different their planning law is, but I don't understand how a route that goes nowhere spurres development. It's like if the Croydon tram was only built from New Addington to Fieldway and expecting development as a result. Just seems like a waste of time and money.

 

[Busaholic]

Funny enough, I realised I watched this last year. It's interesting.



It seems like strange lobbying (as per) and trying to get development along the routes. I don't know how different their planning law is, but I don't understand how a route that goes nowhere spurres development. It's like if the Croydon tram was only built from New Addington to Fieldway and expecting development as a result. Just seems like a waste of time and money.

I'm not knowledgeable about such things, but certainly in some states referenda are held to determine whether they should go ahead (apologies for bringing the 'r' word in!) The referendum is not just a vague 'yes' or 'no' either but will detail what taxes will have to rise to pay for it, usually sales taxes in the examples I've read about, but also some form of land tax in others? In this, if no other, regard the US resembles Switzerland.

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

It seems like strange lobbying (as per) and trying to get development along the routes. I don't know how different their planning law is, but I don't understand how a route that goes nowhere spurres development. It's like if the Croydon tram was only built from New Addington to Fieldway and expecting development as a result. Just seems like a waste of time and money.

Well building lines to the middle of nowhere seemed to work for the Met in NW London

 

[LeeLivery]

Well building lines to the middle of nowhere seemed to work for the Met in NW London

Yes and the Met goes right into the City of London. These trams don't go anywhere useful, hence my Fieldway - New Addington example.