Wisconsin Regional Transportation Authorities

By Tom Held of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Milwaukee-area motorists spend far less time stuck in traffic than their counterparts in most similarly sized urban areas, but the slowdowns are costly – about $307 million in extra fuel and lost time in 2007, according to a transportation report issued Wednesday.

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6/30/2009
Bruce Speight,
(608) 658-3517

WISPIRG Applauds State Action on RTAs

[Madison, WI] — Governor Doyle yesterday signed a budget bill, which includes provisions enabling the creation of Regional Transit Authorities ( RTAs ) to help streamline transportation decision-making in four regions of Wisconsin, including Dane County, southeastern Wisconsin, the Chippewa Valley/Eau Claire area, and the Bayfield-Ashland region.

“The Governor and state legislature are putting Wisconsin on the right track,” said Bruce Speight of WISPIRG.
Continue reading Moving Wisconsin toward a 21st century transportation system

Wisconsin Ranks in Bottom Third

Madison,WI -A new report released today by Smart Growth America, WISPIRG and UEDA based on official data of the states’ American Reinvestment and Recovery Act transportation funding decisions thus far, found Wisconsin in the bottom third of the state ranking for allocations that spur long‐term growth and capitalize on an opportunity to invest in a 21st century transportation system. The report shows that some states are moving aggressively to make badly needed repairs and prepare for a 21st century transportation system. Others are letting their roads and public transportation deteriorate, adding new capacity while they cannot take care of what they have.

Continue reading Report Finds Stimulus Funding Decisions Missed Opportunity to Make Progress on Transportation

A new WISPIRG Foundation study was released examining specific opportunities for enhanced and expanded public transportation across the state and finding that such projects would save Wisconsinites money, boost the economy, and reduce oil consumption.

Key findings of the report, “Connecting Wisconsin: Public Transportation Projects for the 21^st Century,” include:

· In 2006, public transportation in Wisconsin saved approximately 700,000 gallons of oil, saving consumers more than $1.8 million at the pump.

· Public transportation prevented more than one million hours of traffic delay – equivalent to about 25,000 work weeks – in the Milwaukee metropolitan area in 2006, saving the economy more than $23 million in wasted time and lost productivity.

· More and more Wisconsin residents are choosing to take public transit rather than drive. Outside Milwaukee, where severe service cuts have led to dropping ridership, transit ridership has continued to rise, increasing by 17 percent since 2001.

· In 2008, ridership on the state’s transit lines jumped 1.8 percent compared to the year before, and vehicle travel dropped 3.9 percent.

April 30, 2009 Joint Committee on Finance Paper #766
Southeast Regional Transit Authority

(DOT — Local Transportation Assistance)
[LFB 2009-11 Budget Summary: Page 607, #2]

CURRENT LAW
The statutes create a Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority comprised of the geographic area of Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Racine counties. The governing body of the authority consists of the following members: (a) three members, one from each county in the
region, appointed by the county executive of each county and approved by the county board; (b) three members, one from the most populous city in each county in the region, appointed by the mayor of each such city and approved by the common council; and (c) one member from the most populous city in the region, appointed by the Governor. No action may be taken by the authority unless at least six members of the authority’s governing body vote to approve the action. The primary responsibility of the authority was to prepare a report for submission to the Legislature regarding the future of the authority and the long term planning and funding of public transportation in the region. The report was submitted on November 15, 2008, as required.

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