Lake Express lauded by Milwaukee leaders
IN ITS First eight seasons, the Lake Express High Speed Ferry generated payments of nearly $1.15 million to Milwaukee city government as it smoothly moved travelers between the Port of Milwaukee and Muskegon, Michigan.
"The addition of Lake Express to the Port of Milwaukee is one of the most important developments here in a generation," comments Milwaukee Port Director Eric Reinelt.
The Lake Express, the first high-speed ferry in the U.S., was developed and is owned by Lubar & Company, a Milwaukee private investment firm. Its terminal located on previously vacant port land and dock are leased by the port to the Lake Express and the port receives a per- passenger fee and collects parking revenue from the lot adjacent to the terminal.
"While we're known for shipping cargo by water, rail and truck, Lake Express adds and entirely different service to the port," said Reinelt.
"The relationship between the port and the Lake Express is an example of an effective public-private partnership,"
comments Michael Murphy, Milwaukee Common Council Finance and Personnel Committee Chair. "The partnership pays dividends to the people of Milwaukee through the tourism business that Lake Express adds to our economy."
Research partnerships
IN ADDITION TO green efforts benefitting the environment, the Lake Express offers operational support to scientific efforts measuring and studying the health of Lake Michigan.
A research partnership with the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee (UWM) Great Lakes Water Institute allows researchers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to take near real-time measurements as instruments travel with the Lake Express.
Lake Express also has partnered with the UWM Innovative Weather program through which UWM meteorology students gain real-world experience while assisting the ferry's staff with forecasts covering lake weather and conditions.
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