Bus strike: Downtown Milwaukee's trolley service to extend service on Friday, July 3rd

MILWAUKEE -- Downtown Milwaukee’s trolley service, the Milwaukee Trolley Loop presented by VISIT Milwaukee, will extend service on Friday, July 3rd until 11:00 p.m. to accommodate guests attending Summerfest and the U.S. Bank Fireworks. This, as Milwaukee County Transit System drivers are taking part in a 72-hour strike called by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 998. Union leaders and MCTS officials have been unable to reach an agreement on a contract.

To help folks get around during this busy holiday weekend, a third trolley vehicle will be added to the trolley loop in downtown Milwaukee. Rides are $1 per trip.

The 30-stop Milwaukee Trolley Loop serves downtown Milwaukee’s East Town, Westown and Historic Third Ward neighborhoods.

Due to traffic congestion, however, the Milwaukee Trolley Loop will not make its regular stops at the Milwaukee Art Museum nor Discovery World during Summerfest. The closest stop to Veterans Park and the Henry Maier Festival Grounds is Prospect Avenue and Mason Street.

Passengers riding the Milwaukee Trolley Loop on Friday, July 3rd should anticipate 10-15-minute headways and remember the trolleys offer limited capacity with only 34 occupants.

Operated by Transit Express, the Milwaukee Trolley Loop regularly operates Thursdays through Saturdays, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., until Saturday, September 5th. One complete loop is 40 minutes.

The privately funded service is supported by its two lead contributors, VISIT Milwaukee and Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, with additional support from the Historic Third Ward Association, Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum, The Shops of Grand Avenue, The Usinger Foundation, East Town Association and Wisconsin Cheese Mart.

For route and schedule information, visit www.milwaukeedowntown.com or call 414.562.RIDE.

CLICK HERE for further coverage of the transit strike via FOX6Now.com.