The Hop's expanded service line for festivals will continue to run all summer long in Milwaukee
Milwaukee's streetcar, The Hop, will continue to run both of its lines merged together with service to the Lakefront throughout the remainder of summer, the agency announced Monday on social media.
Initially, the Festivals Line was set to operate only during Summerfest, but it now will run throughout the summer so passengers can get to festivals along the line, such as Bastille Days, and other festivals on the Summerfest grounds.
Last year, Hop ridership surged during Milwaukee's Bastille Days Festival and the Harley Davidson Homecoming Festival. Ridership averaged 4,557 riders per day from July 13-16. That included 6,886 passengers on Saturday, July 15. That was the fourth-highest ridership on record for the Hop behind the pre-COVID Bastille Days and the streetcar's grand opening.
Here's what to know about the Festivals Line:
How to take The Hop's Festivals Line:
The Hop's Festivals Line is a combination of the existing M-Line and L-Line. The L-Line just opened in April and added stops at Michigan at Jackson eastbound, Clybourn at Jefferson westbound and the Lakefront inside The Couture high-rise's transit plaza.
The Festivals Line merges the M- and L-Lines, with all Hop vehicles serving the full route. Since all vehicles will serve all stations, passengers can board at any stop and reach the Lakefront station without needing to transfer. Typically, three streetcars serve the M-Line and one serves the L-Line, which goes to the Lakefront.
A Hop streetcar will stop at all stations along the route approximately every 15 minutes during peak hours. This speeds up travel time to the Lakefront. The L-Line typically stops at the Lakefront every 20 minutes, according to a news release. The Festivals Line will run until 1 a.m.
Use the free TransLoc mobile app to see where The Hop is in real-time.
How much does it cost to take The Hop?
Rides are free, no tickets are needed.
For more information:
More information is available online at thehopmke.com.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Hop streetcar runs expanded festival line all summer 2024