Milwaukee is about a month away from starting their 2.5mi downtown street car loop. While a trolley seems like a neat idea, the research before hand clearly showed this is going to be a bust and cost us money, not make money. But the mayor just had to have his toy. This is built in a city that has literally closed multiple fire depts, and considered more than once in recent years to reduce the police force. A city that ranked in 2017 as the FBI's 3rd most dangerous city. Milwaukee is broke. Our PD is bare bones. Crime is rampant. Multiple car jackings, car thefts, high speed chases daily. At LEAST one murder nightly, weekends is not uncommon for 3 or 4 a night. FD and Paramedic response times doubled. But we have a trolley! I can't deny it is neat, and I will ride the full loop at least once. But I would rather more cops vs. a "neat" trolley

The trolley is called "The Hop". A play on words eluding to jumping from one side to the other, and Milwaukee's famous brewing history. The loop circles downtown proper, so use for commuters is pretty much out. The only use I can see is bar hopping. The first year is free to EVERYONE, thanks to a donation from Potawatomi Hotel and Casino. They project 600,000 people a year will ride this thing, but independent studies show that will likely only be the first year, due to the year's worth of free rides. Most think it's a waste of money, and will cost us money to upkeep, but I guess only time will tell. At least 2 expansion loops are already planned.....

The electric trolley the Liberty Streetcar, from Brookville Equipment Corporation, Brookville PA. Considered a single "car" but it has 2 "bendy" joints. They are about 67' long, and 8'8" wide. They will travel from 25-30mph. It can carry up to 150 people. Locomotion is obviously electric, via overhead wires.

https://thehopmke.com/
https://www.brookv...rp.com/default.asp