Latest news with #TheHop
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Milwaukee's streetcar, The Hop, involved in minor accident
Milwaukee's streetcar was involved in what appeared to be a minor accident on June 16. The streetcar known as The Hop was stopped on North Milwaukee Street and near East Kilbourn Avenue with two other vehicles appearing to be involved in a minor nearly head-on collision. At least three responding emergency vehicles, including an ambulance and a fire truck were on scene at about 3 p.m. on June 16. A spokesperson for the Milwaukee Fire Department said one person was transported to the hospital due to the accident. The accident appeared to cause scratches on the Hop, while the two other vehicles had partially smashed front ends. The city's Department of Public Works was aware the streetcar was stopped and involved in some sort of accident with at least two other vehicles, said Tiffany Shepherd, a department spokesperson. She did not have further details immediately. Over 500,000 passengers rode The Hop in 2024. The train has faced scrutiny for its derailments and ridership in the past. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee's streetcar, The Hop, involved in minor accident
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Milwaukee's streetcar will expand service again for Summerfest 2025
Milwaukee's streetcar, The Hop, will again run both of its lines merged together with service to the lakefront during Summerfest, the agency announced June 10. The Festivals Line will replace the streetcar's existing operations from June 15 through July 5 with service starting at 5 a.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. on weekends with extended service until 1 a.m. during each of the nine Summerfest nights. Northbound vehicles will deviate from the traditional M-Line route to include the loop east on Michigan Street, through the Couture Transit Concourse and back west on Clybourn Street before returning toward Burns Commons. While southbound vehicles from Burns Commons will travel along the M-Line route. On the Festivals Line, passengers boarding at the Intermodal Station will reach the lakefront in 12 minutes, and traveling to the festival grounds from Burns Commons will take about 36 minutes, according to the release. The Festivals Line was introduced last year, and was extended until the end of the summer, before Milwaukee Common Council decided to end the route. Unlike last summer, the Festivals Line will not run throughout the entire summer, confirmed spokesperson Mark Rosenberg. 'Summerfest is one of Milwaukee's busiest times, and that extends to The Hop,' Milwaukee Commissioner of Public Works Jerrel Kruschke said in a statement. In 2024, ridership increased 30% year-over-year during Summerfest with 28,383 total trips during the festival. An average of 3,154 passengers took the Hop during Summerfest, which ran nine days over a three-weekend stretch (June 20-22, June 27-29 and July 4-6). Milwaukee's streetcar, known as The Hop, launched in 2018 on a 2.1-mile route known as the M-Line. That line runs in a loop through eastern downtown to the edge of the Historic Third Ward. Another 0.4-mile lakefront line through the Couture high-rise, known as the L-Line, opened last year. Outside of the modified schedule, the Hop M-Line operates Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to midnight, Saturday from 7 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Streetcars arrive every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 20 minutes during off peak hours and on Sunday. The L-Line streetcar provides service to existing stations at Wisconsin Avenue northbound and southbound, City Hall northbound and southbound, the Historic Third Ward eastbound, and stations Michigan at Jackson eastbound, Clybourn at Jefferson westbound, and the lakefront inside the Couture transit plaza. Yes, passengers can ride the streetcar for free. Complete ridership data for The Hop is available online at RELATED: Milwaukee's streetcar keeps breaking down, here's why This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee streetcar The Hop runs Festivals Line during Summerfest 2025
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Here's how to apply for Milwaukee County Transit System's first-ever apprenticeship programs
For the first time in its history, Milwaukee County Transit System is launching new apprenticeships this year and has already hired more than two dozen people for the program, the agency announced April 30. In honor of National Apprenticeship Day in Wisconsin, MCTS launched a new mechanics and operator apprenticeship program. The program launches as Wisconsin reports a record number of registered apprentices across the state with more than 17,000 participants in 2024, according to a news release. "As a leader in developing workforce development programs in the transit industry, our Union knows these programs are critical in preparing transit workers for the challenges on the job and helping them to advance careers,' said ATU International President John Costa in a statement. Here's what you need to know about the new apprenticeship programs. RELATED: Milwaukee County Transit System managing director steps down Apprentices can join a new 18-month registered program for mechanics, where after they can move into mechanic positions at MCTS, according to the release. Curriculum includes hands-on learning and mentorship at MCTS. The transit organization will also supply each mechanic apprentice with a set of tools valued at $4,000, which they will own after the completion of the program. Each mechanic apprentice will earn between $30 to $44 per hour, depending on their position. Trainers will also receive an additional $4 per hour on top of their current wage while teaching apprentices. Additionally, MCTS is also offering a 12-month registered apprenticeship program for new bus operators. Each operator apprentice will be assigned a mentor, who will be a current employee with at least three years experience. Each bus operator apprentice will earn $24.40 per hour, which is the same as a first-year bus operator. Both receive benefits, including a pension. This spring, MCTS hired two mechanic apprentices and 25 bus operator apprentices. You can find more information at To apply for the bus operator apprenticeship program visit MCTS starts screening in July and will start the bus operator program in the fall. The link will be posted later to the mechanic applications, confirmed spokesperson Anna Schryver. MCTS hopes to expand the mechanic apprenticeship program and will open applications in early 2026. RELATED: Ridership of Milwaukee's streetcar The Hop sees slight uptick in passengers compared to previous year: Inside the data This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: MCTS launches first-ever mechanic, bus operator apprenticeships
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ridership of Milwaukee's streetcar The Hop sees slight uptick in passengers compared to previous year: Inside the data
Ridership of Milwaukee's streetcar ticked slightly upward last year with its highest monthly totals of rides thanks to a boost from Summerfest, according to new data posted on the organization's website. Until earlier this month, ridership data had not been updated since last August after the former streetcar manager submitted his resignation in October in lieu of discharge, according to city records. Following his resignation, the city hired engineering consulting firm HNTB in the interim to assist with operations, and posted the job listing last month to hire a replacement for the role. "We are always aiming for strong ridership numbers and we know that certain events, and weather play a part in that, but we didn't have any anticipated numbers per se," wrote DPW spokesperson Tiffany Shepherd in an email. Here's a breakdown of the most recent Hop ridership data. Total ridership for the Hop last year was 532,460 passengers, up slightly over the previous year from 494,445 passengers. That's a nearly 8% year-over-year increase. Ridership continues to increase since the COVID-19 pandemic, although it still falls short of total ridership numbers prior to 2020. The streetcar recorded more than 760,000 passengers in 2019, according to data on its website. Hop ridership dropped 28% during the RNC, held July 15-18 in downtown Milwaukee, compared to the same week in 2023. Ridership during Bastille Days also decreased 22% compared to 2023, with 14,269 riders taking it during the festival, held July 11-14. However, ridership increased 30% year-over-year during Summerfest with 28,383 total trips during the festival. An average of 3,154 passengers took the Hop during Summerfest, which ran nine days over a three-weekend stretch (June 20-22, June 27-29 and July 4-6). The Hop started running in 2018 and 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 started last year. RELATED: Do visiting Republicans also think The Hop is a boondoggle? The Hop M-Line operates Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to midnight, Saturday from 7 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Streetcars arrive every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 20 minutes during off peak hours and on Sunday. The L-Line streetcar provides service to existing stations at Wisconsin Avenue northbound and southbound, City Hall northbound and southbound, Historic Third Ward eastbound, and stations Michigan at Jackson eastbound, Clybourn at Jefferson westbound, and the Lakefront inside the Couture transit plaza. Passengers can ride the streetcar for free. Complete ridership data for The Hop is available online at This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ridership of Milwaukee's streetcar the Hop increases in 2024 over 2023
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Milwaukee's streetcar will be delayed Monday after crash suspended service over the weekend
Milwaukee's streetcar is running a reduced schedule Monday after a crash suspended service over the weekend, a Department of Public Works spokesperson said. Initial reports suggest a driver ran a red light near Broadway and Wisconsin avenues and collided with the streetcar Sunday afternoon, according to DPW spokesperson Tiffany Shepherd. Milwaukee Police are investigating the crash. No injuries were reported from the crash and the driver of the vehicle was cited, confirmed police. Service on the Hop's M-Line, spanning from eastern downtown to the Historic Third Ward, will be provided Monday every 20 minutes to the streetcar stations, instead of every 15 minutes. The L-line is running on its normal schedule. 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. RELATED: Milwaukee's streetcar keeps breaking down, here's why This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee streetcar The Hop: Delayed schedule Monday after car crash
