Ridership on The Hop fell in January, and a counting glitch leaves February and early March numbers unknown

Ridership for the Milwaukee streetcar was down in January, and ridership totals for February and the first half of March are unknown because of problems with automatic passenger counting system. 

"Unfortunately, in reviewing the data captured thus far in 2019, we've discovered numerous malfunctions of the (Automatic Passenger Counter) system resulting in large blocks of missing data," according to a statement from streetcar spokesman Mark Rosenberg. 

The APC scanners, which track location, the arrival and exit of passengers, and miles, had a glitch that would not allow them to count past 10,000 miles. As the streetcars reached the mileage checkpoint, the APCs stopped collecting data all together. 

"In early February three of our five vehicles reached that threshold and consequently logged no data for the remainder of the month," according to a statement from Commissioner of Public Works Jeff Polenske. 

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Ridership for January was 49,501, down sharply from December and November ridership totals that were both above 76,000.

The Hop's average daily ridership for January was 1,597. December's average daily ridership was 2,453 and November's was 2,291. 

Polenske said the data collected in the first few days of February was in line with daily totals recorded in January.

"But with so little data to go off, we're not comfortable projecting out the remainder of the month," he said. 

Mayor Tom Barrett on Monday announced Family Hop Week beginning March 18. 

"This is a week we are reminding parents that this is a great time to take your kids for a ride and come into the heart of the city and enjoy what Milwaukee has to offer," Barrett said. 

Barrett said the problem with the APC has been addressed and it is back running. 

"I'm confident moving forward we will have a good count," Barrett said.

Barrett also said the city is working to extend The Hop line to the Fiserv Forum convention center ahead of the Democratic National Convention coming to Milwaukee in 2020. 

RELATED:Milwaukee moving ahead with expansion of The Hop streetcar to the Wisconsin Center convention hall

"We're looking to identify some funding sources and hopefully within the next month or so we will make some progress," Barrett said. "Certainly we want it to get there, but we can't guarantee it at this point."

Contact Jordyn Noennig at jordyn.noennig@jrn.com. Find her on Twitter @jordyntnoennig and Instagram at @JordynTaylor_n.