NUMB:
990087
VERS:
ORIGINAL
REF:
XXBY:
ALD. KALWITZ AND NARDELLI
TITL:
Resolution expressing Common Council support for the Milwaukee County Executive's proposal to purchase and operate 10 new trolley buses on 2 routes serving major attractions in downtown Milwaukee.
ANLS:
- Analysis -
With this resolution, the Common Council expresses its support for Milwaukee County Executive F. Thomas Ament's proposal that Milwaukee County purchase and operate 10 new trolley buses to serve an expanded, 2-route downtown trolley bus system. The purchase and operation of these trolley buses would be funded primarily with a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant (80%); the balance of the costs would be paid for with a combination of farebox revenues, County budget appropriations and contributions from a downtown business improvement district.
BODY:
Whereas, For the past 2 years, the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) has used Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds to operate Route 81-Milwaukee Loop, a route designed to connect many popular downtown Milwaukee attractions; and
Whereas, MCTS provides the Milwaukee Loop service with its 3 rubber-tired, diesel-powered "trolley buses"; and
Whereas, The Milwaukee Loop trolley bus service is funded through 1999 under the current CMAQ grant; and
Whereas, Because of the success of the Milwaukee Loop, as well as the need to provide better public transportation to downtown Milwaukee's growing list of attractions, MCTS has designed a proposed downtown trolley bus system that would consist of 2 routes, one operating east-west along Wisconsin Avenue between 10th Street and Prospect Avenue and the other operating north-south along Water Street between Schlitz Park and the Historic Third Ward; and
Whereas, CMAQ funds will cover up to 80% of the total cost of new transit services and associated equipment, with the remaining 20% coming from a local match; and
Whereas, The annual operating cost of the new trolley bus routes is projected by MCTS to be $2,176,400, of which $1,741,000 (80%) would be covered by CMAQ funding and the remainder paid for with farebox revenue and annual contributions from Business Improvement District No. 21; and
Whereas, The current 3-vehicle trolley bus fleet is inadequate for serving an expanded trolley bus system; and
Whereas, MCTS estimates the cost of purchasing the 10 new trolley buses needed to serve the expanded system to be $2,500,000, of which 80% would be covered by CMAQ funding and the remainder by a Year 2000 Milwaukee County budget appropriation; and
Whereas, Milwaukee County Executive F. Thomas Ament has recommended that Milwaukee County apply for a CMAQ grant to fund the purchase and operation of 10 new trolley buses as part of the expanded downtown trolley bus system recommended by MCTS; and
Whereas, An enhanced downtown transit system would improve the accessibility of Milwaukee attractions to city residents and out-of-town visitors alike; and
Whereas, Improved downtown transit services have the potential to bring additional tourism, shopping and entertainment dollars to downtown Milwaukee, thereby creating additional income and employment opportunities for the community; and
Whereas, The proposed downtown trolley bus system expansion would have no direct costs for the City of Milwaukee; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Common Council supports Milwaukee County Executive F. Thomas Ament's recommendation that Milwaukee County purchase and operate, with 80% CMAQ funding, 10 new trolley buses on an expanded, 2-route downtown trolley bus system.
ZDPT:
DFTR:
99107-1
JDO
4/12/99