Wisconsin Regional Transportation Authorities

Had talk radio and suburban opposition not sunk a 1997 plan, we’d be riding sleek transit by now

By JIM ROWEN

Mayor Dave’s Blog
June 23, 2009

The legislature is in the final days (we all hope) of its budget deliberations, and it looks like they will authorize the creation of a Dane County Regional Transit Authority. Since Governor Jim Doyle included an RTA in his original budget, it seems likely that he will approve it once the budget hits his desk.

Continue reading RTA OK

-- Panelists include Mayor Tom Barrett, County Exec. Scott Walker, state Reps. Cory Mason and Jeff Stone–

MILWAUKEE — Come to a June 10 forum to hear major decision-makers debate the future of passenger rail, highway expansion, the port of Milwaukee and Mitchell Field in light of stressed state and local budgets and commuters’ continuing search for the best way to get to work.

The WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com forum, which will take place on June 10 at Discovery World in Milwaukee, begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 9 a.m. Breakfast begins at 7:15 a.m.

“Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and Ships): Shaping Southeastern Wisconsin’s Transportation Future” is part of a series of forums at Discovery World.

Continue reading Top Milwaukee-Area Officials Discuss Regional Transportation Issues at June 10 Forum

Conducted by RfC Survey Research on November 5-6, 2008 for the Southeastern Wsiconsin Regional Transit Authority

400 interviews were conducted from a random digit dial sample of households in Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Racine Counties in Wisconsin.

Summary of Research Findings

There is public support for expanded transit services:

• There is clear public support for expanding public transit in the region, and for creating a single regional transit system. There is even support for raising sales taxes to expand transit, while also reducing property taxes. The details of any specific proposal requiring public support should be tested, as the details of the proposal may prompt significantly different reaction than the more general support identified here.

Voters may be less supportive than non-voters:

• While those who voted in the November 4 election also support expanded transit, even with a sales tax increase, they are somewhat less supportive overall than are non-voters. Caution should be used in crafting any proposals that will require voter approval, then, as the details may be critical to winning voter support, especially if a tax increase is included as part of the proposal. There was especially weak support for a tax increase outside of Milwaukee County.

If transit is expanded, the most popular option is to extend Metra commuter rail:

• There is significantly more support for expanding Metra commuter rail service to Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha than there is for any specific other options, though some do prefer expanded local bus service. There is less interest in a downtown circulator bus or streetcar, regional express bus service, or fixed route bus service. Combined, however, the forms of increased bus service receive similar support as does expanding Metra rail.

 Link to pdf of presentation

Local bus transit is facing a funding crisis

• State and Federal funds are not increasing to meet the needs of the system
• Without dedicated funding, burden on local property tax will increase and service will decrease

Service cuts have made jobs inaccessible by transit

Our region is falling behind

• Wisconsin is one of the last remaining states to fund transit with a property tax
• Wisconsin has never secured a federal New Starts grant

Enhanced connections to Chicago will drive economic development

 Link to pdf of Presentation