Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett celebrates The Hop's millionth rider

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett surprised passengers aboard The Hop on Friday afternoon in celebration of reaching one million riders.

THE HOP CELEBRATED A NEWMILESTONE TODAY-- ONE MILLIONRIDERS.

THE CELEBRATION ALSORAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THEFUTURE OF MILWAUKEE'SSTREETCAR.

STEPHANIE HAINESHAS ANSWERS FROM BOTH THEMAYOR AND RIDERS.let's go for a ride!PASSENGERSABOARD THE HOP AROUNDLUNCHTIME WERE IN FOR ASURPISE.MILWAUKEE MAYOR TOMBARRETT...ALDERMAN BOBBAUMAN...AND OTHER WORKERSHANDING OUT COUPONS....CELEBRATING THE HOP'S MILESTONEOF ONE MILLION RIDERS.

Wecertainly want to get itextended into theneighborhoods that's my goal APROPOSAL TO EXTEND THE HOPWOULD TAKE IT FROM MLK ANDNORTH AVENUE IN BRONZEVILLE TOAT LEAST 1ST AND PITTSBURGH INWALKERS' POINT.

THAT WOULDHELP BRANDON TOLBERT GET HOMEFROM WORK.

Im actually headinghome from work i catch thisbus every dayBUT PLANS TOEXPAND THE HOP TO ATRANSPORTATION HUB NEAR THEWISCONSIN CENTER FAILED TOPASS THROUGH THE COMMONCOUNCIL LAST SUMMER.

THE HOPWOULD HAVE MADE IT JUST SOUTHOF FISERV FORUM IN TIME FORTHE DNC AT A COST OF NEARLY 47MILLION DOLLARS.

Even withpotential future plans somecritics still believe the hopis a waste of moneyfinancially it's not viable.it works chicago it works intokyo and the reason it doesyou have the population butpeople aren't going to get outof their cars to ride it in acertain neighborhood RIDERSHIPSTATISTICS ON THE HOP'SWEBSITE SHOW NUMBERS PEAKED INJULY AND DWINDLED DURING THEWINTER MONTHS.

I think it'spretty cool i don't have towalk as far but the intervalsare very cold FOR NOW THE HOPIS FREE...UNTIL THE CITYINSTALLS INFRASTRUCTURE TO BUYTICKETS.

IN MILWAUKEESTEPHANIE HAINES TODAYS TMJ4