What will streetcar extensions look like in Walker's Point and Bronzeville?

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The city is advancing land-use plans around future extensions of The Hop, Milwaukee’s streetcar starter system. Public workshops will be held Tuesday and Wednesday nights to present an update regarding the ongoing study of the potential impacts of extending the streetcar north to Bronzeville and south to Walker’s Point.

The study team will present renderings that reflect feedback from area stakeholders on what new development could look like.

The meetings are the fourth installment in a series focusing on how the extensions can better connect residents to downtown jobs and maximize positive impacts on the two neighborhoods, while respecting and maintaining the neighborhoods’ character. Residents and area stakeholders are invited to give their input as part of the process.

In October 2016, Urban Milwaukee broke the news that the city had received a $750,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration to study transit-oriented development along two future extensions of the route . These workshops are a step in that planning process and will help city planners draft modifications to the zoning code and plans for streetscaping, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. The city is also examining strategies to avoid displacement of existing residents if new development does occur.

A press release from the city notes that each session will include a presentation, discussion and neighborhood tour. The city is leading the workshops in partnership with the King Drive Business Improvement District, Walker’s Point Association, and the Harbor District. The city has hired Skidmore, Owings and Merrill to help facilitate the study.

To date the concept of transit-oriented development (TOD) locally has been illustrated by projects like The Couture, which will have a streetcar and bus rapid transit station in the first floor of the building, but TOD is often not that literal. Successful TOD strategies include aligning zoning and design standards along a transit corridor, finding synergies with other public investments along the route, as well as maximizing the development of land nearest transit stops and stations.

Looking for more information? The planning effort has a website, MovingMKEForward.com.

The Milwaukee Streetcar project, now known as The Hop, is scheduled to begin operation this fall. An extension to the lakefront is scheduled to begin in late 2019. The $128 million starter system is being funded in part by $68 million in federal grants. A 12-year, $10 million sponsorship commitment from Potawatomi Hotel & Casino was announced in recent weeks, which coupled with a federal operating grant, will keep the project from having a direct impact on the city budget until at least 2021.

Meeting Locations

Tuesday, May 22nd

6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Welford Sanders Enterprise Center

2812 N. 5th St., Milwaukee, WI 53212

Wednesday, May 23rd

6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Escuela Vieau, gymnasium

823 S, 4th St,

Milwaukee WI 53204

A press release announcing the events notes a light dinner will be served, and that the meetings will open with presentations followed by small group discussions.

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