Another Giant Step for Transit: Milwaukee County Board Wisely Endorses RTA
February 5, 2009
Supervisors Jursik and Larson successfully led the charge to develop a draft Regional Transit Authority position and move it through a challenging process of education, public input, and consensus building. The final position was crafted as a compromise that meets the needs of Milwaukee County residents and the region. The agreement represents a major step forward for the RTA and Milwaukee County and will be delivered to the Governor and legislature to guide state legislation as it develops in the coming days and months. The Governor has indicated that the state budget proposal will include an RTA. If implemented, the RTA would provide the dedicated funding needed by the county-run bus system is to avoid a financial crisis that would result in the elimination of 1/3 of it's service in 2010. Legislative action is needed to make the RTA permanent and give it functioning powers. Kudos to County Board Chairman Lee Holloway for appointing a five-member task force to develop a draft RTA position for consideration by the Board, to the members of that task force for their constructive and diligent efforts, and Michael Mayo, Chairman of the County Board Committee on Transportation, Infrastructure and Transit for carefully and expediently shepherding the process.
In the 13-5 vote, Milwaukee County Board endorsed a three-county Regional Transit Authority, but called for greater Milwaukee County representation and continued efforts to secure a county sales tax increase if the RTA’s transit sales tax is approved. In line with the approved November 4 countywide advisory referendum for a 1-cent sales tax increase, the County would continue to pursue a half-cent tax for parks and EMS if the RTA recommendation for a half-cent tax for transit were to get legislative approval. Specifically, Milwaukee County called for a nine-member board. Five of the nine RTA members would come from Milwaukee County.
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By Ernst-Ulrich Franzen of the Journal Sentinel
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