Delayed! Final Common Council vote on proposed streetcar project pushed back to February 10th

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Delayed! The Milwaukee Common Council has pushed back a final vote on the proposed downtown streetcar project to Tuesday, February 10th.

Prior to delaying the final vote, aldermen voted 10-5 in favor of the project. But the Common Council then voted to reconsider the project at their next meeting in February. They only needed three votes to postpone the final vote -- and they got seven.

The delay will give opponents of the project more time to gather signatures in their petition drive. They hope to gather 31,000 signatures -- and they've set a self-imposed deadline of February 8th. The Milwaukee Business Journal says only about 4,000 signatures have been collected so far. Those opposed to the project hope to bring the issue to a referendum -- and let voters decide in April.

The proposed $123.9 million streetcar project would provide service within a four-mile loop — connecting downtown Milwaukee to the lakefront and the city’s east side. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says the project will be paid for with grant money, an already approved TIF district and $54 million in federal dollars earmarked specifically for a streetcar project. He says it won’t involve a property tax increase.

If approved and built, the streetcar could eventually be expanded.

CLICK HERE to view the streetcar expansion map

Mayor Barrett pointed out Wednesday that if the opposition does get those 31,000 signatures, the city clerk will need time, and it will mostly likely cost taxpayer money to verify those thousands of signatures.

READ IT: Statement from Common Council President Michael Murphy on streetcar

CLICK HERE to learn more about the proposed downtown streetcar project.

CLICK HERE for further streetcar coverage via FOX6Now.com.