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The Kenosha Electric Streetcar is Wisconsin's only public electric transit line. It opened for service on June 17, 2000.
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CARS Service began with five former Toronto PCC cars which were refurbished and have wheel chair lifts added at the center doors. The cars retain their Toronto numbers, and are painted in various schemes to represent cities that operated PCC's. 4606 - Green & Cream w/Red stripe - Chicago 4609 - Red & White - Pittsburgh 4610 - Maroon & Cream - Toronto 4615 - Orange & Cream - Johnstown (were also TMER&L colors) 4616 - Yellow w/Green stripe - Cincinatti Two additional cars were acquired in 2011.
ROUTE The line is about 2 miles long, in a oval shape loop. It is single track with one short passing (storage) siding at the end of 56th Street, near the new public museum. Cars run counter-clockwise. It generally connects the METRA station, Civic buildings, Dinosaur Museum, Public Museum, Civil War Museum, Shops, Condos and Apartments. 54th Street - Starting at 8th Avenue (new Transit Center and Carbarn) cars run west in the right lane of the street. 11th Avenue - Cars turn south, pass the METRA station and run in the curb lane. 56th Street - Cars turn into the boulevard strip and head east past a park, municipal buildings, post office, stores, condos, and the new public museum. At the east end of 56th Street, the road and tracks make a wide sweeping curve back to 54th Street. The tracks cross over to the outside of the roadway and run in the grass between the street and the lake back to 7th Avenue, where they re-enter the street. The lead track for the carbarn branches off here.
SCHEDULE & FARE Except for holidays and special events only one car operates per day. They are usually rotated with a different one operating each day. They run about every 1/2 hour, and the ride takes about 15 minutes. The fare is $1.00 for adults and 50 cents for kids. The short, but interesting ride and the cheap fare make it ideal to take younger kids to introduce them to electric transit.
INFO Phone (262)653-4287 or check their website - kenosha.org/departments/transportation
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The Johnstown car, number 4615 offers a colorful contrast to the gray pavement and white snow. It is heading east through the boulevard of 56th Street. Orange and Cream were also the colors of TMER&L streetcars, trackless trolleys and buses, making this car one of the local fan favorites.
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Heading east in the 56th St. boulevard, car 4616 passes the new public museum, and adjacent Civil War Museum. Although weekdays can be busy, Saturdays and Sundays find little traffic on most area streets.
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With Kenosha's proximity to Chicago, car 4606 in Chicago colors, easily ties car 4615 in popularity. It is heading west on 54th St., just before turning south onto 11th Ave. in front of the METRA station.
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Car 4610 in Toronto colors, heading east on 56th St. crosses Sheridan Rd. The Dinosaur Museum is to the left behind 4610.
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Car 4609 heads west in the grass strip between 54th Street and the harbor inlet. While much of the area is being developed with condos and stores, most of the east end near the lake will remain parkland. For a short ride, the Kenosha system offers a wide variety of scenery.
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