21-02-2025
Milwaukee's streetcar keeps breaking down, here's why
Riders of Milwaukee's streetcar are experiencing numerous shutdowns as its electrical switches repeatedly fail due to exposure to snow and salt, according to city officials.
During recent snow storms, when salt is applied to the streetcar to melt the snow, it can result in water pooling in the electrical switch. This pooling can cause the circuit to short out, confirmed Department of Public Works spokesperson Tiffany Shepherd.
When each shutdown happens, officials have to inspect and clean out the switches before resuming service, which can create service disruptions for the L-line, the route spanning from downtown to the Historic Third Ward.
To make more permanent repairs, the city hopes to replace the switches when the weather is warmer. Replacement switches will cost around $100,000 per switch, Shepherd said in an email.
Milwaukee's streetcar The Hop is a fixed-transit network stretching across a 2.1-mile route that runs in a loop through eastern downtown to the edge of the Historic Third Ward. Another 4-mile lakefront line through the Couture high-rise building started last year.
These breakdowns come while Milwaukee's streetcar is facing an series of challenges as city officials work to rehire a manager after a former streetcar manager was forced to resign last fall, city records show.
France-based transportation company Transdev operates the streetcar system. City officials submitted a letter last October to the company stating it had a "loss of confidence in Transdev's ability to operate the Milwaukee Streetcar System safely and provide the required service."
For more information, you can visit its website at
RELATED: Ridership of Milwaukee's streetcar, The Hop, dropped nearly 30% during the RNC
RELATED: Ridership of Milwaukee's streetcar, The Hop, dropped nearly 30% during the RNC
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee's The Hop breaks down after electrical switches short
