After an absence of over 60 years, streetcars have returned to the streets of Milwaukee. Beginning with its first run on November 2, 2018, a 2.1-mile route from Milwaukee’s Intermodal Station through the Historic Third Ward to the Lower East Side is now operating and called “The Hop.” Five "Liberty" model streetcars built by Brookville Equipment Corporation are used, and are capable of operating in service using only battery power part of the time, since almost one third of the line is not equipped with overhead wires, with the batteries getting charged when the vehicles are under the wired portions of the line. The 67-foot streetcars are articulated in two locations, and can carry 150 people, seated in 32 seats and standing. Potawatomi Hotel & Casino is the corporate sponsor allowing all Hop service to be free for the first year, and route expansion for “The Hop” is planned. In this view, car 02 heads west on West St. Paul Avenue not far from Milwaukee Intermodal Station (Amtrak) on November 12, 2018.
