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Regional Transit Must be Truly Regional

Posted by State Senator Jim Sullivan on July 1, 2009 | 3 comments

RTA, Regional Transit Authority, Doyle, Veto, Milwaukee, Budget, KRM, Rental Car Fee, Business

I applaud Governor Doyle’s veto of the Milwaukee Transit Authority and echo his call for a truly regional transit authority. I am also concerned with the remaining provision which funds the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee (KRM) commuter rail line with a significant car rental fee increase. Increasing this fee puts an undue burden on business in Milwaukee, and makes it difficult for our region to attract visitors and conventions. In addition, a rental car fee increase is unlikely to secure necessary federal funds for this project.

Moreover, the rental car increase further demonstrates that our would-be regional partners want Milwaukee County to bear the burden. The proposed sales tax just included Milwaukee, and the rental car increase disproportionately affects Milwaukee, as most of the rental cars are located at our airport. You can't say you're for regional transportation or a regional KRM line if your only funding plan is to get Milwaukee consumers, businesses and visitors to pay for it.

In order to succeed, regional transit needs to be truly regional in nature.  The design must be regional, and the funding must be regional.  Funding must be dedicated solely to transit, and any new revenue must be offset by a reduction in property taxes for those services coming off the property tax. 

The goal of an RTA is to provide choices and alternatives to commuters, and if well designed, it can produce many benefits for a community and region.  Transit reduces pollution, relieves congestion on the roads, and connects workers with jobs.  It improves access to airports, hotels, and city centers, making the region a more inviting and accommodating place to do business.  It can also help spur an increase in recreational travel and bring more revenue to the area its serving.

I have always supported regional transit.  Unless it plays a role in the way our region grows, drivers will spend more time sitting in traffic, using more gas and creating more exhaust.  It will also affect our regional ability to compete in attracting new businesses and tourism. 

Creating regional transit will enable people to live, work and do business throughout southeastern Wisconsin, and I will continue to work with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle and the Governor’s office to create regional transit that works for the residents and businesses of the 5th Senate District.