An Assembly committee just passed a regional transit authority for southeastern Wisconsin. The proposal passed on a 8-2 vote and now heads to the Joint Committee on Finance for a public hearing and then to the full Assembly for approval. If it passes, the proposal will move to the Senate, where just a few weeks ago its prospects were dim.
The state needs to pass an RTA for southeastern Wisconsin in order to extend commuter rail from Kenosha to Milwaukee. The federal government could award up to $250 million to create the KRM rail line, but the application will require a strong public transit component to get approved.
Here's the J-S story on the vote. And, the Daily Reporter interviews Robin Vos, who isn't happy.
More as reports come in ...
Transit Now, the organization lobbying for KRM and the RTA, is happy about the committee vote, which included support from one Republican.
Here's one blogger's preview story of the Assembly committee's vote.
No, no, no.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, yes.
ReplyDeleteThe State is another out of touch elected body trying to spend more money in a bad economy. Sounds like RUSD or RUSD sounds like the State.
ReplyDeleteStop the spending already.
Yes, Yes, Yes to RTA. Robin Vos and his 19th Century mindset would have us buggy-whipping down Main Street. Everywhere in the country where commuter rail is in service, that area has grown and economically prospered. It is time to move forward, not backwards. Let's get on with it and leave Mr. Vos and his Model A behind.
ReplyDeleteNO MORE TAXES!
ReplyDeleteCould you provide asome examples of where this growth and prosperity has happened? One example of where it hasn't is Las Vegas. Their monorail system is bankrupt.
ReplyDeleteAnd, speaking of "moving forward and not backwards" you seem to forget that trains were in place long before the Model A was around. How far back do you want us to go?
This will be great for the handful of times each year that Cubs fans make the trip up to Wrigley North... but that's about it.
ReplyDeleteRacine needs the RTA more than ever now that the economy has begin turning, and yes, it is getting better regardless of how you spin your dooms day rhetoric.
ReplyDelete3:17 - how are you going to pay for it. And how can you say the economy is turning around when the unemployment rate in Racine just went up .3%?
ReplyDeleteA 1-cent, county-wide sales tax would do it. I'm sick and tired of the way that NOBODY is willing to use those words! Speak the truth and own-up to it! Considering the economic benefits it would create, a tax like this would be worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteFor are the backward thinkers out there. From CNN today.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/04/01/infrastructure.rebuild/index.html?hpt=C1
The federal money should be spent here rather than elsewhere. Bring it on! Finally movement forward!
ReplyDeleteReally good news!
It is funny to read the responses in the JT when asked about a tax for RTA. They all think that there will be are duction in property tax. News flash to the new county candidates.. The county budget doesn't have anything in its budget for mass transit. The city won't reduce the property tax so this will be a new tax for us to eat.
ReplyDeleteFor all those who support this thing do your home work. They never self support and never reach their ridership targets in this part of the country. The numbers on trains sound like the health care predictions of no debt. Even the CBO say healthcare will create a new debt. The trains are the same thing.
A countywide tax for this is nonsense. There won't be a benefit, if there is one, past HWY 31 at best.
Healthcare, RTA and RUSD alone should pretty much bankrupt this county. I just don't see where the supporters of all this spending think the money is going to come from. Even the US Treasury Secretary today said that high unemployment is going to be a reality for a long time. That means the prediction that whatever recovery we have will be a jobless recovery as predicted over a year ago. So the idea that the train will take people to jobs else where is not going to happen.
I will be working to unseat any elected official in my area that supports the RTA.
The RTA if necessary will be ended by Scott Walker.
ReplyDeleteI too will work to get out of office ANYONE who likes this idea.
To Anonymous (2:41 pm): Check out the light rail systems in Charlotte, NC which was initiated by a Republican mayor against great opposition, and they are expanding the system because it has become an economic boon to the community. Or, how about the following cities: Portland, OR, Dallas, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego and others.
ReplyDeleteWho will ride a train that is going only 29 mph? What is wrong with going out to Sturtevant and riding a 79 mph train that already goes from Chi-Milw. From a fiscal point of view, it makes more sense to maximize the use of existing assets, before added this expensive, duplicate line. Who cares if SCJ wants this, will their execs ride a slow train, with many stops, to Racine?
ReplyDeleteTo help those w/o cars why cant extend the Sheridan Road bus go to the county line and try to get Kenosha bus to do the same. On the north end, The bus goes only as far as 4 mile. Milw county bus service is only 6 miles to the north on Ryan road. How much would it cost to run a bus up there once in the morning and one at night to help those that work in Milw? If ridership isnt there, stop the service. The people calling the shots aren't looking at the most economical way to improve transportation in the area. This KRM project has more pork than Arnold Ziffel.
Hey all we have to do is print the money, just like they do in Washington. Who the hell cares how much debit we are in.
ReplyDeleteJust say NO.
ReplyDeleteNo more taxes, fees, surcharges, name it what you want.
No more.
9:09 - Today, without any changes, there IS bus service between Milwaukee and Kenosha through Racine. Coach USA has great busses that are not filled that run south from Racine right down Hwy 32. In fact, they run from the Milwaukee train station to the Kenosha Metra station. Enjoy!
ReplyDelete8:52 - Just for clarification, KRM is not LIGHT RAIL, it's COMMUTER RAIL. Big difference!
ReplyDeleteAnon 10:09 am,
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting that info about Coach USA. I found the schedule last night, I wasnt aware they made about 7-8 trips daily for only a $3.25 one way fare to Milw. They make it to Milwaukee very quickly, from there people could take Milw Co busses to their destination.
I think this service should be promoted/marketed more.
Amtrak has never been able to sustain itself and we are to believe this train will ? I can drive cheaper and faster by car. I don't have time to waste on a slow train. If this was such a good idea why doesn't a private company come forward and bank roll this ? Because there is no money in it ! We are to believe that we will magically gain economic prosperity by building a train line ? Even in Europe 76% of commuters use cars.
ReplyDeleteThese same train lines will be used by freight trains. Public funding will be helping them out. Why do you think Warren Buffet is investing in trains !
this is just a pipe dream and makes no economic sense. Wisconsin is $7 billion in debt. we need fiscal responsibility. we need new leadership in Wisconsin.
In the past I have suggested that the train people wait to see how the high speed train works that Washington is paying for before we spend more dollars on another train. If these were such great ideas and would make money the private sector would have implemented a train. Government seems to want to implement things that people don't use and then stick the local folks with paying for it long-term.
ReplyDeleteNote to Madison out of touch elected officials. The reason there is so much resistance to the KRM and RTA is because we are smart enough to know we will be stuck paying for it in the end. The far left has done a great job this year telling us plain folks that we are to stupid to know what is good for us. Bill Mahar was very clear about that view on Larry King a few weeks back. News flash, we bumpkins are actually smarter than you think and don't want more taxes for empty trains. We already paying for empty busses to drive around Racine.
The IRS allows companies to reimburse their employees at a rate of .50 per mile. Based on that, a round trip to Madison would cost approximately $100. With the price of gas increasing it can other get more expensive. I have to believe mass transportation will be far less costly.
ReplyDelete