070408 BJ Richards commentary

http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/07/07/editorial5.html

Friday, July 4, 2008

Milwaukee area must address its transit issues

The Business Journal of Milwaukee - by State Rep. Jon Richards

Remember when $3-a-gallon gas seemed unbelievably expensive? Gas prices are not just a nuisance -- they are seriously eating into the budgets of most families.

Just when more people are turning to mass transit, however, our region faces two challenges: maintain what we have and seize the opportunity to invest in our infrastructure.

The respected Public Policy Forum, in a report issued last month, detailed the perilous condition of Milwaukee's bus system. If we do nothing, the county-run bus system could be forced to eliminate all night, weekend and suburban service.

Given that we are the only major city in America that funds buses on the property tax, a logical step would be to take the funding off of our property tax bills and provide a more reliable funding stream.

The Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee (KRM) commuter train, which would run on existing tracks and provide greater links between Milwaukee and Chicago, is important to fund. Southeastern Wisconsin business and civic leaders must continue to build a network of support for KRM to overcome the obstacles shortsighted politicians have been putting in its path in the state Legislature.

Finally, it is time Milwaukee loses its distinction as being one of the last big cities in this country without streetcars or light rail.

The Downtown Connector would run sleek new streetcars through downtown with spokes eventually reaching different parts of the city. Millions in federal dollars allocated for the project have gone unused.

A sensible plan has been forwarded by business leaders, concerned citizens and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. We need to implement that plan.

We cannot count on gas prices going down again, or wait for some other form of relief. These are common-sense solutions that we must look at to help our city.

State Rep. Jon Richards represents a portion of the city of Milwaukee.