Obama Administration Awards High Speed Rail Funds to Wisconsin

For Immediate Release:
2010-01-28
Bruce Speight
(608) 251-9501

Obama Administration Awards High Speed Rail Funds to Wisconsin

Madison, Jan. 28 – Statement of WISPIRG Director Bruce Speight on today’s announcement from the Obama administration that Wisconsin will receive $823 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to prepare for high speed rail in the state.

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Wisconsin to get $810 million for high-speed rail

Jason Stein
Wisconsin State Journal

Wisconsin will receive $810 million in federal stimulus money to establish high-speed passenger rail from Milwaukee to Madison and to study the possibility of extending it to the Twin Cities, President Barack Obama’s administration will announce Thursday.

That would eventually bring 110 mph passenger rail service from Chicago to Madison after years of fruitless attempts to jump-start the project and give Madison its first passenger rail service since 1971.

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Wisconsin lands $800 million for high-speed rail

Tom Held
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin will receive more than $800 million to build a high-speed rail line carrying passengers between Milwaukee and Madison at 110 mph and recapture a piece of a regional rail system largely abandoned six decades ago.

The high-speed line could be up and running as early as 2013, the state says.

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RTA plan would allow Milwaukee County sales tax for transit

By Larry Sandler of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: Jan. 19, 2010

South Milwaukee – Milwaukee County could create its own transit authority, funded by a sales tax of up to a half-cent, to take over the county’s cash-strapped bus system, under proposed legislation unveiled Tuesday.

The full 0.5% sales tax would bring in about $60 million a year, or roughly $20 million more than the Milwaukee County Transit System would need to end property tax support and meet its funding needs, bus system spokeswoman Jacqueline Janz said. The new transit authority would be required to use the additional money to restore bus routes cut since 2001, to increase service or to reduce fares.

Planners have warned the bus system would face a major service cut without new state or local funding to replace property taxes.

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Mayors, County Executive make Appointments to Dane County RTA

For more information contact:

Rachel Strauch-Nelson, (608) 266-4611 Joshua Wescott, (608) 267-8823

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12/4/2009
Issued By: County Executive

View only releases from County Executive

Mayors Dave Cieslewicz, Joe Chase, Jay Allen and Kurt Sonnentag and County Executive Kathleen Falk announced their appointments to the Dane County Regional Transit Authority (RTA) today.

“I’m pleased to be taking this important step forward,” Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said. “An RTA will allow us to improve and expand our bus service, as well as explore options for a regional transit system. I’m confident that we are bringing together qualified appointees that will move us toward the goal of truly regional transit.”

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Dane County Board OKs regional transit authority

By Robert Taylor
The Daily Cardinal

The Dane County Board voted 20 to 16 to establish a regional transit authority Thursday that would oversee mass transportation planning within the county.

The vote falls in line with the 22-13 vote the board sent as a signal of support to the state government for the creation of an RTA in 2007.

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Dane County Board passes RTA proposal after passionate debate

by Matthew DeFour
Wisconsin State Journal

Metropolitan Madison residents, welcome to the Dane County Regional Transit Authority.

The Dane County Board voted 20-16 with one absence early Friday morning to create a new governmental body with the power to raise a sales tax to fund bus and rail transportation options. Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk said she plans to sign the resolution, which will make the new body official.

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Critical Dane County RTA Vote on Thursday, Nov. 5th!

WE NEED YOUR HELP to make it happen!

Friends,

We are building strong momentum for regional transit and the formation of a Regional Transit Authority in Dane County, but Thursday evening (Nov 5) will be a critical step to moving forward – the full county board will vote on the formation of the RTA (Resolution 152) at 7pm.  The creation of an RTA is the first critical step to developing a seamless, region-wide transit system in Dane County that grows our region and local economy, meets our needs, and reduces our dependence on oil. Continue reading Critical Dane County RTA Vote on Thursday, Nov. 5th!

Two committees OK Dane County RTA creation, send issue to County Board

By NICK HEYNEN
Wisconsin State Journal

A proposed Dane County Regional Transit Authority received recommendations from two Dane County Board committees at a joint meeting Monday evening, bringing the long-sought planning body one step closer to reality.

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Dane County RTA Hearing Set for October 26

A public hearing on establishing a Regional Transit Authority, hosted jointly by the Dane County Public Works and Transportation Committee and Personnel and Finance Committee has been set.

When
: Monday, October 26th at 6:30 pm
Where: Room 201B City County Building

Check out the Dane RTA Now! pages for more details.

Time for regional transit is now, advocates say

RACINE – Bernie Hoff, 59, of Racine, said she and her family enjoyed the comforts of commuter rail when they were living in a Chicago suburb 24 years ago before they moved to Racine.

“We saw commuter rail is such an asset to the area,” said Hoff, who was at a transit forum Wednesday night. “We can’t understand why they don’t have it here.”

More than 130 people attended the community forum “Tapping into Transit as a Game-Changer” Wednesday night at the DeKoven Center, 600 21st St. The forum, hosted by Racine Transit Task Force and Transit NOW, highlighted the benefits of public transit and specifics of the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail project. The Task Force is a group working to improve transit for Racine.

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WURTA Applauds Governor Doyle’s Renewed Support of Regional Transit Authorities

Gov. Jim Doyle’s announcement Tuesday of a revised framework for establishing and funding
regional transit authorities (RTAs) brought praise from David J. Mumma, Wisconsin Urban &
Rural Transit Association (WURTA) chair and transit director of the Janesville Transit System.

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Doyle: We need firm transit plan

Framework likely requires Kenosha, Racine voter OKs

BY JOE POTENTE
Kenosha News
jpotente@kenoshanews.com

MILWAUKEE — Gov. Jim Doyle wants to give Kenosha and Racine counties time to merge into an umbrella regional transit authority that would fund and oversee bus and rail transit across a three-county region.

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Doyle unveils Southeast Wisconsin regional transit authority proposal

The Business Journal of Milwaukee

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle on Tuesday announced a framework of a proposal crafted with legislators from southeastern Wisconsin on a plan to improve bus and rail service in Milwaukee, Kenosha and Racine through a Regional Transit Authority.

The proposal would give Milwaukee County the authority to raise local sales taxes by 0.5 percent to fund local transit and a commuter rail line.

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Governor Doyle Announces Proposal for Regional Transit Authority for Southeastern Wisconsin

DOYLE OFFERS NEW PLAN FOR TRANSIT IN SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN

Gov. Doyle on Monday offered a new plan to continue planning for the KRM commuter service and to improve bus and rail service in Milwaukee, Kenosha and Racine. Doyle’s plan would:

  • Create an umbrella RTA responsible for KRM planning and construction.
  • Independent sub-RTAs would be responsible for local transit. Ultimately, the sub-RTAs would merge with the umbrella RTA.
  • There would be a 0.05% sales tax for Milwaukee sub-RTA.
  • Sub-RTAs created in Racine and Kenosha counties could be funded through a combination of currently authorized local revenue. All new transit revenue sources not authorized under current law would be subject to referendum.
  • Incentive funding would be provided for local governments to create sub-RTAs. The incentive fee may consist of rental car fee revenue, funding from the transportation fund or other sources.