ON THE ISSUES: County exec race/transit
By Larry Sandler
March 24, 2008
Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and his challenger, state Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee), have clashed sharply on issues related to public transit. Here's what they said in response to written questions and in interviews.
One issue is the fate of the Milwaukee County Transit System, where bus ridership has plunged to its lowest level since the county took over the system in 1975. County officials have cut service, raised fares or both every year from 2001 on, and regional planners have warned a 35% service cut will be needed by 2010 without new state or local funding.
Taylor blames Walker for the current state of the transit system, accusing him of lack of commitment to transit and acting irresponsibly in service cuts and fare hikes. She supports restoring service, increasing marketing efforts and holding the line on fares to win back riders. She says she would lobby for increased state and federal funding for the bus system.
Walker says it would be possible to freeze fares, restore slashed service and add new routes if the system can stabilize state funding and control costs through regional consolidation. He is pushing a plan to use part of the state sales tax on vehicle-related purchases for transit. State Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale) added a similar provision to the state budget several years ago, but Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed it, saying it would widen the state's structural deficit. The idea hasn't resurfaced in Madison, but Walker says he will lobby for it if re-elected.
Another issue is how to use $91.5 million in long-idle federal transit aid, reserved for the results of the Milwaukee Connector study of how to link downtown and nearby neighborhoods with public transit. That study ruled out light rail and backed a guided electric bus system, but the electric bus plan was vetoed by Walker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Now discussion is focusing on streetcars and express buses, although a bureaucratic mixup has frozen the federally required study of those projects.
Walker wants to use all of the money on express buses. He is firmly opposed to light rail or streetcars, saying they would take money away from upgrading the bus system. Taylor says she would be open to light rail or express buses, although she agrees that stabilizing the rubber-tired bus system must be the foundation for transit improvements.
As for the role of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority, Walker says he would back a merger of the Milwaukee County, Waukesha, Racine and Kenosha transit systems into a single agency, adding, "It should not, however, be an excuse to raise a new sales tax or gas tax." Taylor says she supports regional cooperation, but the details should be negotiated among local officials. She says she doesn't want the unelected RTA to have taxing authority, although it is already levying a $2-a-car rental car tax.
The RTA's main job to date has been planning the KRM Commuter Link, a $200 million regional rail line that would link Milwaukee to the southern suburbs, Racine and Kenosha. Attempts to fund the local share of the line's construction and operating costs through a $13 hike in the rental car tax have failed to date -- although Senate Democrats are still pushing the idea -- after Walker and Racine County Executive William McReynolds refused to back a local sales tax.
Taylor says she supports KRM and will continue trying to fund it. Walker had previously backed KRM but now says improving and upgrading the bus system must come first. Federal officials have told the RTA that it will be difficult for the KRM to win crucial federal funding until the Milwaukee County bus system's future is more secure.
The Milwaukee Transit Riders Union has criticized both candidates as lacking vision for transit. The riders' group assails Walker's fare increases and service cuts and says his plan for state funding is unrealistic. But the organization also faults Taylor for not being specific about what she would do to save the bus system and bring the KRM and Milwaukee Connector plans to fruition.