The Hop: Milwaukee streetcar Summerfest service changes
MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee's streetcar, The Hop, will bring back its combined "Festivals Line" during Summerfest. Here's what to know about changes to service.
Where does the Festivals Line go?
Local perspective:
The Festivals Line uses a combination of the streetcar's existing M-Line and L-Line to make it easier for passengers to reach the lakefront stop, regardless of where they board and without the need to transfer.
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The Hop will deviate from its traditional northbound M-Line route to include the loop east on Michigan to the lakefront before returning west on Clybourn and resuming its northbound route. Southbound M-Line streetcars will maintain the usual route.
Summerfest shuttle; College Ave park-and-ride lots open during fest
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced it will temporarily open the northeast and southwest park-and-ride lots at College Avenue to support shuttle services during Summerfest weekends.
Because all vehicles will serve all stations, passengers can board at any stop along the route and reach the lakefront station without needing to transfer.
Passengers looking to return from the lakefront to the Downtown Business District, Historic Third Ward or Milwaukee Intermodal Station can transfer at Cathedral Square to the next southbound streetcar, rather than travel to the end of the M-Line route at Burns Commons.
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When does the Festivals Line run?
The Festivals Line will replace the streetcar's existing operations from Sunday, June 15 through Saturday, July 5. Service will still operate from 5 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, 6 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. However, service will be extended until 1 a.m. during each of Summerfest's nine nights.
Times to the lakefront:
- From Milwaukee Intermodal Station: 12 minutes
- From Historic Third Ward: 8 minutes
- From Burns Commons: 36 minutes
Stomp Out Hunger in SE Wisconsin: Bring 3, get into Summerfest FREE
Bring three cans of shelf-stable food items to the Summerfest gates on Thursday, June 19 and receive one (1) free admission ticket to get into Summerfest from noon to 3 p.m. that day.
For riders who are not looking to reach the festival grounds, southbound travel times will remain unchanged. A northbound trip from the Milwaukee Intermodal Station to Burns Commons will take 10 minutes longer than the usual M-Line schedule, according to The Hop.
Additional details on The Hop, including an interactive route map and schedule, can be found on the streetcar's website.
The Source: Information in this report is from The Hop.