Wednesday, June 19, 2013

A Streetcar Named Milwaukee-- Part 2

 Foes of Milwaukee's proposed streetcar system have dubbed it "A Streetcar Named Disaster" and saying it is just the latest in urban fads for cities across the country. The system would cost $65 million, mostly paid with by federal funds and the rest from tax increment financing. 

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett claims that the value of property along the lines would increase and that, "You'd be hard-pressed to name a vibrant North American city that doesn't have fixed rail as part of itsmass transit arsenal."

Transportation experts agree that there is a certain "coolness" to modern streetcars like in Seattle or Toronto or traditional systems like in San Francisco.

Nearby Kenosha, Wisconsin, installed a vintage streetcar line along its redeveloped lakefront in 2000 and even used one car called the "Green Hornet" which was used in Chicago up until 1958.

The city has a website at www.themilwaukeestreetcar.com   The opposition has its own site at  www.astreetcarnameddisaster.com .

Personally, I Like the Idea.  --Cooter

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