Milwaukee's streetcar enters its 2nd year of service with free fares through Dec. 31

MILWAUKEE -- The Hop, Milwaukee's streetcar, celebrated one year of service on Friday, Nov. 1 -- and that celebration comes with big news.

"Over the year, over 40,000 trips on our streetcar have occurred," said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. "I am thrilled to report that our ridership for year one is 802,541 or 2205 per day. We've shattered our projections."

The "birthday party" for The Hop was held at City Hall -- and there was cake and treats, all while officials took a look back at the first year. Mayor Barrett said 93 percent of rides were on time -- with a record day of almost 9,000 riders during Bastille Days. The lowest ridership came in January.

Now, after a year of service, The Hop will remain free through Dec. 31 thanks to a partnership announced on Friday.

"We want to continue to support all of the things that are making Milwaukee such a great place," said Brett Lindsey of Everstream.

Everstream, the business-only fiber network, announced it will provide the free fares to all streetcar riders through the end of the year while also collaborating with The Hop on a festive, holiday-themed streetcar.

"I think at some point there will be fares. But in the foreseeable future, we're going to continue to have it be free," Barrett said.

Everstream’s sponsorship of free streetcar fares begins on Saturday, Nov. 2. The Everstream-branded and holiday-themed streetcar will debut later in November to coincide with the city’s annual tree lighting ceremony.

Not everyone was celebrating the news on Friday. Alderman Tony Zielinski, who will run against Mayor Tom Barrett in 2020, released the following statement: