Forum: Leaders, public push for better regional transit connections
Photo by Ryan Gleason
News & Opinion:
Forum: To build commuter rail officials first have to fix bus systems
Dustin Block
Racine Post
October 8, 2009
Time for regional transit is now, advocates say
Christine Won
Journal Times
October 8, 2009
Mayor Dickert talks mass transit
Sound Off host Don Rosen
WRJN's
October 5, 2009
Build a thriving, well-connected economy
Ron Thomas AFL-CIO Labor Council
October 1, 2009
Journal Times
The program posed the question: Can transit ensure a brighter future for your family, your business, and Racine County? Yes, speakers and panelists told a crowd of about 130 gathered at the DeKoven Center Wednesday for a Racine Area Forum on mass transit.
The public and panelists responded with reasons why leadership should do less talking about the benefits of improved bus transit and a Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee Commuter Rail line and start building it as part of regional transit network.
There was broad agreement that coordinated bus and rail transit improvements are needed to spur the local economy, create jobs, and make the region more competitive and appealing to outside investment. The public chimed in with how that would make everyday life more convenient and reduce the cost of living.
A Regional Transit Authority was formed in July to advance KRM commuter rail and while buses were not included, forum panelists urged political leaders to move expand the RTA to include buses and begin to deliver on jobs and economic growth. Legislation is currently being drafted by Governor Doyle to reach that goal.
Annette Harpole told panelists she works in Milwaukee, and her commute is unpredictable. She was encouraged by a presentation by Ken Yunker, Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission executive director, which described how commuter rail would be unaffected by weather and traffic conditions. The proposed KRM line would shorten commuting time, according to Yunker.
Harpole also said transit service cuts have cut off many Racine residents from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and its educational, cultural, and employment opportunities. “If you don’t have a car, you can’t get to Parkside,” Harpole said, adding: “We should be concerned about an educated citizenry.” Parkside Student Government President Ted Ruffalo added that students want better bus service. “How can we help get the RTA?” he asked.
Racine Mayor John Dickert said transit would give us regional connectivity, “something all of the nation’s fastest growing regions have” and Southeastern Wisconsin lacks. Citing Racine’s high unemployment, he urged the public and leadership to “look at the bigger picture” and embrace regional transit efforts to oversee development and operations, and guaranty a dedicated funding source for bus, rail, and other transit projects.
Much of the evening’s focus was on how regional transit would be a potential economic boon to communities. Yunker said, “We’re not one of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas, but there’s one just to our south.” He said the benefits of job access, increased property value, outside investment, and personal mobility outweigh the cost of investing in transit.
Jim Beere, president of Pioneer Products spoke on behalf of the Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce's Manufacturing Board. He reiterated that businesses thrive on connections to workers and good transit will contribute to our businesses' ability to sustain a local presence. Beere concluded, "Business needs good mass transit, our community needs good businesses."
Stephanie Sklba, Gateway Technical College vice president of community and government relations, cited why good transit is essential to their efforts to deliver critical training and education by providing vital connections to their many campuses, more jobs for graduates, and by reducing the cost of education by allowing students access to Gateway before transferring credits to more expensive four-year schools.
“Transit could be an economic game changer,” said Kerry Thomas, executive director of Transit NOW. She said according to a UW-Milwaukee study, the start-up efforts for KRM alone would create nearly 4,000 jobs, and support the creation of up to 71,000 jobs in the long-term, while attract millions in tourism dollars and jobs to region.
“We have a 16 percent unemployment rate in Racine. We’re talking about our relatives, friends and neighbors,” panelist Jeff Van Koningsveld said. “They want to work and deserve the opportunity.” He said he’s been asked if KRM and better transit isn’t like putting the cart before the horse, he responds, “No. We’re trying to put the wheels on the cart and make it easier to pull the cart.
Van Koningsveld concluded with a call to action: “It’s not enough for CEO’s, union leaders, and community organizations to endorse the RTA we need to get the message to the employees our members and their friends and our families,” he said. “We need our government to cooperate and coordinate. People need to talk to their elected representatives. Sign up to support transit and stay in the loop.”
Other panelists included WISDOM Interfaith Coalition President Nancy Holmlund; Michael Shields, Racine alderman and president of Racine Chapter-NAACP.