The free ‘The Hop’ streetcar has served over 3.2 million riders since it launched in late 2018.
Milwaukee’s The Hop streetcar got its highest summer ridership numbers since 2019 in August and September, yet one local official believes it should be defunded.
As Maia Pandey explains in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “August and September also marked the first time in 2025 where The Hop's monthly rider numbers outpaced 2024 levels.” The system has carried over 3.2 million riders since its launch in November 2018, averaging roughly 44,000 riders per month.
According to Pandey, “Amid conversations about the city's 2026 budget, one Milwaukee Common Council member, Ald. Scott Spiker, has been calling to defund The Hop, saying funding for the free streetcar should instead be put toward other city priorities.” Other council members pointed to the streetcar’s positive effect on property values and economic development, noting that canceling the streetcar could involve having to pay back federal funding.
Read the full story: Amid calls to defund, The Hop logs its highest August and September ridership numbers since 2019
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