MKE Streetcar: Personal Blog

Letter to The Honorable Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation

by John December / Updates/More Info: johndecember.com/mke

I sent this letter to the Secretary of Transportation after he was sworn into office.

February 9, 2020

The Honorable Pete Buttigieg
Secretary of Transportation
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590

Dear Mr. Secretary,

I congratulate you on beginning your service as United States Secretary of Transportation. I want to share with you some perspectives on a transportation mode that is available now, which, in my experience, has already helped the city where I live improve the health, equity, livability, and prosperity of our community.

I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and have utilized our city's electric streetcar--named The Hop--since its opening in November, 2018. During these times, all transportation has faced challenges, but I have come to see the ability of streetcars and their unique role in urban rail transportation. As Wisconsin's only transit system built entirely during the 21st century, The Hop offers a unique vision for cities that could be crucial for post-pandemic recovery.

In Milwaukee, The Hop has demonstrated an ability to serve as transit, support development, and build an emissions-free, pedestrian-oriented, accessible transportation infrastructure for the city--all on a small starter route over the past two years. The Hop has motivated and supported growth, jobs, and revenue to help all parts of the city.

The transportation plus housing costs people face are a burden, and, during the recovery, some people may have to rely more on public transportation. The Hop's ability to support housing or commerce offering jobs by using transit-oriented development (TOD) techniques could be key for more jobs and affordable housing. The Hop's benefits might be leveraged further by expanding to other neighborhoods and allowing more residents to use the streetcar and increase the equity of access to city destinations. The Hop's ability to increase the productivity of urban land along its corridor could drive further revenue and cost reductions.

Revenue sources to fund The Hop should be explored and expanded. Transportation spending at all levels of government and grants for carbon reductions, affordable housing support, innovative urban planning, and community development may help. Parking revenue or gas taxes could be used to fund the streetcar as a way to alleviate the inequities from large amounts of automobile-oriented spending at all levels of government. Streetcar systems like The Hop deserve a place in transportation funding.

As a Milwaukee resident, I see the streetcar as key to moving Milwaukee forward. I've regularly used the streetcar since its opening, and, for the past ten months, I've used The Hop and walking as my only forms of transportation (of course using a mask and social distancing). This has given me insight into the benefits of the streetcar. I see The Hop's strength in the construction along the route and in the connections among walkable urban places. I've been able to meet all my needs--from medical appointments, grocery shopping, local business, the riverwalk, mailing services, city hall for voting, my freelance work, and more--by riding The Hop and walking. I see The Hop connecting hundreds of destinations (https://johndecember.com/mke/) and giving people access to the city's civic life, commerce, education, and culture with transportation that is low-carbon, energy-efficient, and oriented toward the density that drives the economies and productivity of cities.

The nature of the modern streetcar as transportation offers favorable qualities: emissions-free operation, accessibility through large doors, ADA-compliant level-loading, rapid loading, smooth ride, predictable-path travel, excellent ventilation through the large doors, hybrid battery and overhead-wire energy system, ability to connect walksheds centered at stations, energy-efficient and low-resistance rail operation (many times more efficient than rubber-tired vehicles), ability to capture the attention of residents and visitors, strength in supporting transit-oriented development including affordable housing, record of safety, ability to run in all weather including the polar vortex and blizzards, permanence as infrastructure, and the ability to alleviate the need for automobile storage at destinations. These qualities can contribute to place-making and city-building. Moreover, these qualities are non-existent or weak in current bus-based transit systems. The Hop builds value through transportation that is efficient, scalable, durable, community-building, eco-friendly, and preferred by riders.

The abilities of streetcars have been proven throughout the world in hundreds of streetcar systems for more than a century. Milwaukee's early transportation network included streetcars--first horse-drawn and then electric-powered. Historic streetcars served people during the walkable urbanism of those times, and the streetcar networks grew because they met people's needs well, demonstrating the inherent ability of streetcars to connect walkable urban areas. Rail-based streetcars use electric power efficiently, are emissions-free, and are ready to receive power from renewable power sources, completing a production and use cycle to address climate change and move communities forward.

I hope that, as you navigate the difficult times ahead, you will see a way to support innovative, emissions-free transit. Streetcars deliver the timeless power of walkable urbanism and can reignite the economic engine for not just cities but for all of the USA.

Thank you and best regards,

John December
Milwaukee, WI