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The Hop system manager forced to resign
The man in charge of the Milwaukee streetcar system, The Hop, was forced to resign back in October, per internal records that show the manager's alleged misconduct may have cost the city nearly $5 million.
MILWAUKEE - The man in charge of the Milwaukee streetcar system was forced to resign.
The surprise move came amid questions about The Hop’s safety record and a series of missed federal deadlines.
FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn has obtained internal records that show the manager's alleged misconduct may have cost the city nearly $5 million.
On Oct. 10, Streetcar System Manager Andrew Davis-Lockward testified in support of the streetcar's proposed 2025 budget, which faces a $4 million revenue gap.
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Four days later, he was gone.
"Our prior streetcar operations manager is no longer employed with the City of Milwaukee," DPW Director of Operations Danielle Rodriguez said.
Milwaukee Alderman Bob Bauman is chairman of the Common Council's Public Works Committee, but said he had nothing to do with it.
"I had very little interaction with the guy," Bauman said. "He was a mid-level manager. Didn’t have a lot of authority. It wasn’t a big deal."
A FOX6 investigation found the city gave Davis-Lockward a choice: resign or be fired.
His performance had been under scrutiny since at least 2023, when he allegedly missed a federal grant deadline to buy a sixth streetcar.
According to records, that resulted in "a potential $4.8 million loss" to the streetcar system. The Department of Public Works said they were able to file the application after all, but did not get the money.
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Last year, the city placed Davis-Lockward on a so-called "performance improvement plan."
But in October, DPW once again accused him of misconduct and "incompetent or ineffective" performance, in part for going on paternity leave without completing a required federal audit.
"That’s all news to me," Bauman said.
The new allegations came three weeks after a surprise Wisconsin Department of Transportation inspection found one the city's five streetcars was operating with wheels "worn to a state of near condemnation."
On Oct. 9, the DPW sent a letter of concern to Transdev, the private contractor that runs The Hop streetcar, expressing a "loss of confidence" in Transdev’s ability to operate the streetcar system safely.
The letter cites a Sept. 24 derailment at Switch #19 near Burns Commons, as well as four other derailments that Transdev did not properly report.
The DOT said "worn wheels" are a factor that leads to derailments.
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"I know nothing about that," Bauman said. "I probably should be concerned. But that’s the Department of Public Works. They report to the mayor, they don’t report to me."
A spokesman for Mayor Cavalier Johnson said the mayor "was not a direct part" of the decision-making process and referred us to the DPW. But commissioner Jerrel Kruschke declined our request for an interview.
"I don’t know that we want extensive reports about everything that may not be exactly right in every aspect of the city," Bauman said. "Should the public be concerned? My answer is no."
As far as he's concerned, The Hop is on the right track.
"I’m perfectly comfortable with the safety record and the safety of the streetcar," Bauman said.
Davis-Lockward said the misconduct allegations against him are false. Beyond that, he declined to comment.
The general manager of Transdev did not respond to an email sent on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a DPW spokesperson said since that "loss of confidence" letter was sent in October, the city has had productive meetings with Transdev and they are "confident in their ability to safely operate the streetcar system."