Governor Doyle moves transit to the forefront
to build a stronger economy and connect people to jobs.
February 17, 2009
Governor Doyle championed sweeping transit inititiatives to spur job growth and economic growth. In his budget address last night, he detailed his plans to give SE Wisconsin the ability to form a permanent Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and invest in strengthening our local transit infrastructure and our economy. A regional transit system is critical to the success of our local communities and our state, and the ability to form and fund RTAs is an essential first step in accomplishing that goal. Business, labor and community leaders in southeastern Wisconsin are working together to support transit improvements in our region and implement crucial transit connections such as KRM Commuter Rail. The Governor expanded regional and inter-city transit connections further by promising stimulus funds to build high speed rail between Chicago and Milwaukee. This is a truly visionary plan to build an efficient transit network on 3 essential levels: local, regional, and inter-city.
Key facts of the RTA Legislation proposed in the Governor's budget
Why is a sales tax a smarter way to invest in our transporation infrastructure?
An RTA will leverage millions of dollars in federal funding, creating jobs and building a transit system that will better connect us with the dynamic, powerful global marketplace in metro Chicago. It will also improve and integrate our local transit systems, giving local residents and businesses greater access to existing jobs, education and the labor force.
In his budget speech Governor Doyle laid out his plan for economic recovery: "As we prepare our businesses to succeed, we can give cities and counties the ability to plan better transportation systems – better ways to get people to work. If a region agrees to cooperate on building rail lines or coordinating bus service, we can help make that happen. This budget allows Wisconsin communities to form Regional Transportation Authorities, which will be important tools in driving economic development and adding jobs."
The Governor recognizes that transit needs often cross political borders. Consequently, effective provision of transit requires coordination across those borders. By creating regional transit authorities, transit can be provided based on travel patterns instead of city or county boundaries.
Creating jobs, connecting people to jobs
It is a particularly important time to invest in infrastructure that will create jobs and connect people to jobs. Job growth has to be our top priority and transit is a powerful tool for job growth, and business attraction—and to affordably and efficiently connect people to jobs and employers to the workforce that rely on.
Building Wealth: Transit provides alternatives that save money
Families and businesses need to have alternatives to the cost of fuel that is taking a big bite out of household income and businesses’ bottom line. Families that have access to good transit can save 10% to 20% of their household income, and use the resulting discretionary income to build wealth such as investing in a home or education. These investments strengthen communities and stabilize neighborhoods.
We are being left behind
Commuter rail transit and bus systems are expanding in other metro regions around the country because they are experiencing double digit increases in ridership. Demand for transit access and transit-oriented development continues to grow, while auto use declines. Our region is literally one of the last metropolitan regions in the nation without an RTA or dedicated transit funding needed to support vital transit investments and expansions to meet demand. The inclusion of an RTA and a dedicated sales tax for transit will provide our region with a modern transportation infrastructure and help us compete in the 21st century global economy.
Leveraging federal dollars
A permanent RTA will help garner our share of federal dollars. Regions with RTA’s receive more federal dollars to invest in transit and support businesses, families and their economic infrastructure, We are paying into the federal transit fund, but get little in return. An RTA will leverage over $100 million in federal investment in our region.
If we don’t act on the Governor’s RTA proposal?
Without the dedicated funding that and RTA provides, local bus syst6ems will face a financial crisis that will result in slashing bus service and widening the divide between workers and jobs, precisely when people need better and more affordable links to employment.
Building our green economy
An RTA will make transit investments possible that will solve many of our big problems by creating green jobs, building our green economy, reducing our dependence on oil and global warming emissions, and improving our air quality.