In 2008, the Urban Economic Development Association (UEDA) focused its seventh annual community development summit on transportation, jobs and regional cooperation. One year later, the issue remains and a solution has yet to be determined.
Much has happened over the past year illustrating the urgent need and overwhelming support for investing in a regional infrastructure to oversee bus and rail transit in southeastern Wisconsin: a referendum was passed in Milwaukee County demonstrating the support for a dedicated sales tax for transit, parks and emergency medical services (EMS); the temporary study regional transit authority (RTA) completed their study and submitted their recommendations to Gov. Jim Doyle and the state legislature; RTA enabling legislation was included in Gov. Doyle’s budget bill; and although not what was originally proposed, an RTA for the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee (KRM) commuter rail was created and funded as a result of the 2009-2011 state budget.
Most recently, progress was seen as Gov. Doyle announced new compromise legislation to create a truly regional transit authority for Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee to govern and fund bus and rail transit in the three-county region. We are encouraged by this leadership in advancing a truly regional transit infrastructure that encompasses both bus and rail transit throughout Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee.
Additionally, we are pleased to see that the governor honored Milwaukee County’s referendum by including property tax relief and a sales tax of 0.5 percent for transit. The framework detailed by Gov. Doyle will allow Milwaukee County to immediately address the urgent need for funding its local bus transit, while phasing in Racine and Kenosha with the long-term goal of consolidating into one regional authority. As an added benefit, the plan outlined by Gov. Doyle strengthens the KRM’s application for the Federal Transit Administration New Starts funding by outlining our local plan for a regional framework and dedicated funding.
The momentum created by this recent development must not be lost. As a community we have worked hard to show our elected leaders the importance of seeing this item through to completion, with a real solution that moves our residents from home to work and school, strengthens southeastern Wisconsin’s infrastructure and positions our region as a strong competitor with our peers. It is with this momentum in mind that UEDA has decided to revisit the urgent, and unresolved need for regional transit in southeastern Wisconsin. Though the conversation has intensified over the past year, there is still much work to be done. This year’s community development summit will deliver a call to action, to make regional transit a reality for southeastern Wisconsin. We urge you to be a part of the conversation, and not let this momentum fade.
For more information on Urban Economic Development Association of Wisconsin’s eighth annual community development summit, or to register please visit www.uedawi.org.
Bill Johnson is executive director of Urban Economic Development Association of Wisconsin, a nonprofit membership association comprised of over 100 nonprofit, corporate and individual members dedicated to the professional development of individuals and groups working in community and economic development. Its mission is to support housing and economic development initiatives that revitalize Wisconsin communities.
