The city of Milwaukee will receive an additional $14.2 million in federal funds for its downtown streetcar project, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, announced today.
The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) program.
The funds will be used for the addition of a lakefront line to be added to the downtown streetcar route.
The Common Council earlier this year approved the $124 million downtown streetcar project. The cost to build the system will be paid for with about $65 million in federal funds and about $59 million from tax incremental financing districts.
Most of the federal funds for the project were allocated to Milwaukee decades ago to pay for a rail transit system, but additional federal funding was needed for the lakefront line, which will run through the site of the proposed Couture luxury apartment tower.
“This is a strong federal investment in 21st century Wisconsin infrastructure that will put people to work,” Baldwin said. “The Milwaukee streetcar will also help spur significant economic development and improve the quality of life for Milwaukee residents.”
“This critical federal grant for the Milwaukee streetcar will bring thousands of residents and visitors to major attractions and new development’s on Milwaukee’s lakefront,” said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. “This announcement builds on the positive momentum we’re experiencing in the heart of the city and will also have a significant impact on our neighborhoods creating hundreds of construction jobs and better connecting neighborhoods to downtown.”
