First streetcar test goes smoothly

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee's first streetcar hit the tracks for testing on Wednesday. 

The streetcar slowly made its way down St. Paul Avenue for its first test run. 

Engineers say the test run went smoothly. The manufacturer of the car was also on hand from Brookville, Pennsylvania. Operators are becoming familiar with the streetcar as it drove back and forth along St. Paul for about an hour. 

Testing on the car will be sporadic for the rest of the week as most of the operation is happening within a fenced area. 

A total of five streetcars will be on the roads once the project is complete in the fall. 

“It’s exciting because we are on time. We’re still targeting that mid to late fall to start up. There’s going to be a lot of activity going on through the summer months. It’s going to be pretty exciting to see the vehicle actually on the street now," said Jeff Polenske, an engineer with the City of Milwaukee. 

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