For years, Milwaukee taxpayers have been told that The Hop streetcar is an investment in the city’s future. Yet after millions of dollars in operating costs, repeated management failures, and ongoing questions about financial sustainability, it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify keeping the system running.
Mayor Cavalier Johnson appointed Tiffany Shepherd to serve as the primary media spokesperson for the Department of Public Works, the agency responsible for overseeing The Hop. With a salary exceeding $100,000, taxpayers have a right to ask a simple question: Where are the promotions and public outreach for the streetcar system? For a service that consistently requires public support and funding, there seems to be little visible effort to increase ridership or build enthusiasm among residents.
Streetcar system manager Andrew Davis-Lockward was forced to resign after missing deadlines to apply for federal grants. A state inspection also found “significant deformation” on the wheels of streetcar vehicles. These issues raised serious concerns about both management and oversight.
According to reporting by Urban Milwaukee’s Jeramey Jannene, the missed grant applications could have cost the city $4.8 million in federal funding. Shepherd later stated that the city ultimately submitted the application but failed to secure the grant.
Even some of The Hop’s strongest supporters acknowledge that the system’s future is uncertain. Alderman Bob Bauman, one of the streetcar’s most vocal advocates, admitted that expansion efforts are effectively stalled, saying, “We’re pretty much dead in the water right now, as far as expansion is concerned.”
The Hop began operating in 2018 and currently serves a 2.1-mile route through downtown Milwaukee. A 0.4-mile extension to Summerfest opened in 2024. Despite years of operation, the system remains heavily dependent on public subsidies and outside funding.
Tiffany Shepherd recently stated that the city is pursuing additional grants and sponsorship opportunities to expand what she described as a valuable service. However, taxpayers should question why expansion is even being discussed when the current system continues to struggle financially.
Wisconsin Act 12, signed into law in 2023, prohibits Milwaukee from using property tax revenue to develop, operate, or maintain the streetcar system. The law also limits the city’s ability to use tax incremental financing districts for streetcar-related expenses.
The financial picture is troubling. In 2025, The Hop is expected to cost $5.7 million to operate while generating only $1.7 million in revenue. That gap represents a significant burden that must be filled through grants, sponsorships, and other funding sources.
Wisconsin Policy Forum researcher Ari Brown noted that parking citations, parking lots, and parking meters contribute significantly to the city’s transportation fund. However, declining parking revenue could create future funding challenges for the streetcar.
Alderman Scott Spiker has argued that relying on $4.2 million in parking revenue and $2.7 million in sponsorship and grant revenue to cover operating costs is irresponsible. He described the streetcar as “largely a device for transporting the unhoused and the well-heeled.”
Spiker has called on the federal government to allow Milwaukee to shut down The Hop without requiring the city to repay a prorated share of the federal funding that helped build the system. A Department of Public Works official estimated that Milwaukee would have to immediately repay approximately $48 million if the system were discontinued under current rules.
Alderman Spiker’s position has attracted support from State Representative Bob Donovan and State Senator Van Wanggaard, both longtime opponents of the project. In a joint statement, the lawmakers argued that ending federal repayment requirements would finally allow Milwaukee to eliminate what they described as a costly public works “boondoggle.”
Supporters continue to defend the streetcar. Alderman Peter Burgelis argues that The Hop strengthens the downtown economy, increases property values, and ultimately reduces tax burdens by encouraging economic development.
But after years of promises, mounting operational concerns, missed opportunities, and continuing financial dependence, many taxpayers are no longer convinced.
Milwaukee faces serious challenges, including public safety concerns, aging infrastructure, and growing financial pressures. At a time when every public dollar matters, many residents believe those resources could be better spent elsewhere.
The Hop has had years to prove its value. Instead, it has become a symbol of misplaced priorities, management failures, and ongoing taxpayer subsidies.
At some point, city leaders must stop defending the project and start confronting reality.
The Hop is a “boondoggle,” and it is time for Milwaukee’s mayor and alders to seriously consider ending it and dealing with the consequences once and for all.
