From:	Bohl, James
Sent:	Tuesday, December 09, 2014 2:25 PM
To:	Lee, Chris
Subject:	FW: Streetcar Support



From: Stacie Callies [mailto:stacie@westown.org]  
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2014 9:51 AM 
To: Bauman, Robert; Murphy, Michael (Alderman); Hamilton, Ashanti; Davis Sr., Joe; Kovac, Nik; Bohl, 
James; Coggs, Milele; Wade, Willie; Puente, Robert; Dudzik, Joseph; Zielinski, Tony; Stamper II, Russell; 
Perez, Jose; Witkowski, Terry; Donovan, Robert 
Subject: Streetcar Support

Members of the Common Council:

The Westown Association, BID #5, representing property and business owners in downtown 
Milwaukee’s central business district west of the Milwaukee River, would like to join with other 
community groups and organizations in supporting Mayor Barrett's $123.9 million streetcar plan 
as an important component of a multi-modal, comprehensive transit system for the City of 
Milwaukee.  

The Westown Association board of directors believes that the streetcar project will make a 
significant impact on the transportation needs and overall economic development in the 
downtown area. Beyond the project's catalytic economic development impacts, the streetcar 
has the potential to alleviate traffic congestion and parking issues, increase access to downtown 
Milwaukee’s many cultural and entertainment amenities as well as connect people with available 
jobs including the growing millennial segment - that are frequently choosing public 
transportation over car ownership.  Furthermore, during the Westown Association's last 
strategic planning session, many stakeholders identified transportation as the single most 
important strategic initiative impacting the future of economic development in downtown 
Milwaukee.  

The Westown area is on the verge of some potential changes that will permanently change the 
landscape of our downtown neighborhood.  With a rapidly growing residential base, a potential 
new sports and entertainment facility, strong efforts to revitalize West Wisconsin Avenue and 
continued redevelopment of The Brewery and former Park East areas, it is imperative that we 
have an efficient means of connecting and circulating people in this rapidly developing segment 
of the city.  Because many of the future route extensions in the proposed streetcar plan are in 
close proximity to many of the items mentioned above, we know that the streetcar project will 
only help to support the development efforts that are underway.    

We look forward to continued collaboration and communication with the City of Milwaukee on 
the streetcar project as it moves forward.  

Sincerely,

Stacie Callies
Executive Director
Westown Association, BID #5
633 W. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 409
Milwaukee, WI 53203
(414) 276-6696 office
(414) 531-0685 mobile
www.westown.org
www.parkmilwaukee.com