Southeastern Wisconsin – Downtown Connector

Over the last decade and a half, discussions of regional transportation have often been contentious, particularly when the topic included public transportation.  In 1999, recognizing the need for benefits in economic development and transportation connections that some sort of guided bus, light rail or streetcar system would bring, the Wisconsin Center District, the City of Milwaukee, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and Milwaukee County applied for and received funds from the Federal Transit Administration to study the potential for such a project.

Goals for project include:

  • Improve transit mobility to and between key residential, employment, and activity centers in the study area.

  • Enhance the downtown environment in attracting conventions, tourists, commerce, and residents.

  • Increase transit utilization to and within the Downtown.

  • Support and enhance Downtown economic development.

  • Preserve and protect the environment.

  • Develop a Downtown transit connector system that is economical and efficient.

After considering technologies such as non-guided buses, guided buses, and light rail, the project’s steering committee favors guided trams, which are currently used in France and run on electricity, with a hybrid diesel backup.  The routes under consideration include: 1) extend from the near north side of Milwaukee through downtown into the Historic Third Ward and 2) from Miller Park through downtown to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campuys..  Estimated cost for the 14.5-mile proposed system is $300 million.

In the fall of 2005, a draft of the Locally Preferred Alternative will be presented to the public.  Following public comment and pending funding, the project can then move forward to Preliminary Engineering.

To learn more about the Milwaukee Connector, visit http://www.milwaukeeconnector.com/flashindex.html

 

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