Supporters pack buses to Madison to Back Regional Transit Legislation and Create Jobs and Economic Growth
Broad Coalition of Labor, Business and Citizens Push for RTA and Give Rousing Sendoff to Busing to Advocates Madison for Pivotal Assembly Hearing
See new video: “What Business Leaders and Others are Saying About Transit”
MILWAUKEE – Despite damp weather, high pressure came from everywhere as supporters from across the state urged legislators holding an Assembly committee hearing in Madison Thursday to do their part to ensure Southeastern Wisconsin can save their transit systems from rapid decline, and build regional transit that will generate jobs and development, while helping to secure the state’s economic future.
Many from the chorus of supporters descending on the Capitol began their day at a rally and press conference in Milwaukee at the former Tower Automotive site.
Business, labor, and elected transit champions shared how better transit and the RTA plays into improving lives and business growth at a press conference in Milwaukee that kicked off what was to be a great day in Madison. Speakers included: Eric Ibister (shown speaking,) GenMet, Mequon; Mike Fabishak, Associated General Contractors-Greater Milwaukee; Annie Wacker, Milwaukee Area Labor Council; and Milwaukee Alderman Robert Bauman, who emceed the event.
Labor endorses RTAs
At the press conference Wacker held up a labor endorsement letter urging action on RTA legislation and signed by unions representing over 250,000 workers across Wisconsin and. “Labor is behind RTA legislation.” She said as she revealed troubling statistics that beg for RTA action, “The RTA is about jobs. It’s a JOBS bill.” She continued, “Right now there is an unemployment rate of 30% in the building and construction trades. That startling percentage will rise to 50% by the end of the year when the Oak Creek power plant is completed. These are union jobs that are the backbone of our state’s economy.”
Business gets behind tranist improvements for economic development
Fabishak detailed a similar picture, “We have not seen this much economic decline since the 1920s. We know that solid investments in transit infrastructure can give us competitive advantage and spur development that creates well-paying.” he said.
Fabishak was especially vocal about the jobs and economic potential at stake, saying our compromised economic condition means that we “We must use every arrow in our quiver to promote economic development and jobs during these difficult times. Moving forward NOW with the RTA will serve as an essential catalyst to do both.” Recent reports show that Wisconsin is lagging behind every bordering state, including Michigan, in sustaining and creating small business.
Common Council President Willie Hines elaborated in an earlier statement, “The Milwaukee County Transit System was once the envy of the nation, but that is no longer the case. County leadership has been forced to either increase fares or cut routes on an annual basis.” He continued. “The financing structure is obsolete – nearly every other major metropolitan area in the nation has moved away from using its property taxes to fund its bus system – and if we do not pass RTA-enabling legislation soon, thousands of Milwaukee bus riders will be left out in the cold. Now is the time for an RTA – to connect residents to jobs, educational options and other opportunities.
Hines stated that State Representative Grigsby and others in the State Legislature have his full support as they attempt to pass AB 723 in the best form possible to make the transportation system sustainable, getting it off the property tax levy once and for all.”
Wacker summed up a common thread on the event, “We are at a crossroads and have the opportunity to create jobs and provide transportation to get to jobs, let’s just hope that there is the courage to do so.”
See more about the RTA legislation.