KRM Commuter Rail -In The News

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In the News

Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee Commuter Rail

Connecting the Milwaukee-Chicago economic corridor

Editorials New 6/14: Even a conservative could love public transportation...

6/5: We Should have prepared for gas troubles

5/23: No Stone...will go unturned

5/18: Connecting the region important economic tool

5/18: Commuter rail link a tool for development

Articles New 6/1: Design, build communities more intelligently
Letters-to-the-Editor New: 6/7: Fear of rail seems irrational

Press releases New: 5/16: Regional Transit Authority-$6 million for KRM

EDITORIALS

Even conservatives could love a public transportation system as efficient as those in Europe

By JESSICA McBRIDE
June 14, 2008

GM Today

So, I leave the country for nine days to visit Europe, and Waukesha turns into Atlantis while I’m gone...

Every time I go to Europe, it makes me look at things a little bit differently. I returned this time determined to write a pro public transportation column...our public transportation system is pretty pathetic compared to theirs, at least in the Milwaukee area. So, I returned to America determined to advocate for it ... We can quibble over the type and costs, but conservatives should join together with liberals and come up with a public transportation improvement plan...

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We should've prepared for gas troubles

Laurel Walker

June 5, 2008

Journal Sentinel

I don't know about you, but I remember the energy crisis that came with the 1973 Arab oil embargo...It seems that as a country, we didn't learn much of anything from that experience. All that pain and not much gain. So here we are in another predicament. It's not lines to the gas pumps so much as lines to our bank vaults, where thanks to $4-plus a gallon gasoline, we need bushels of cash to cover the tab...The discouraging message of Tuesday's report in this newspaper was that local transit systems are poorly positioned - both logistically and financially - to expand services as demand explodes...Decision-makers can't get their act together on a regional transportation authority. What a shame. More pain...

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No stone in county mass transit search will go unturned

BY WILLIAM MCREYNOLDS, Racine County Executive

Friday, May 23, 2008

There’s an old saying that nothing is constant except change. That’s as true about public transportation as about most other things...In the 1960’s, Wisconsin’s new interstate highways were more than adequate. Gasoline was under 30 cents a gallon (about $2.00 in today’s dollars). Baby boomers were just kids and Racine had plenty of good jobs for people who didn’t even finish high school. Now, Interstate 94 is clogged. Gas prices are soaring. Boomers are retiring into urban condos and good jobs and good workers are often found beyond city limits and county lines. Life as we knew it in the 1960’s is gone. We must again take a serious look at public transit...

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Commuter rail link a tool for development

Stronger links within the region and to Chicago would boost economic development and are the best argument for building the line.

The Journal Sentinel

May 18, 2008

The reason to build a commuter rail line linking Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee to each other and to commuter rail in northern Illinois is simple: It will help move people to jobs...The problem so far in helping those workers has been funding. A local sales tax is probably the best way to fund a regional transit system, but state and local leaders need to settle on one funding source and make sure that's included in the next state budget. There is no doubt that KRM has potential. According to figures put together by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, in 2000, there were 913,000 jobs within a one-mile radius of the stations along the proposed KRM commuter rail line corridor and the existing commuter rail in Chicago and northeastern Illinois. In addition, according to SEWRPC: A majority of residents in Kenosha and Racine counties live within three miles of proposed KRM stations, and a healthy proportion of Milwaukee residents (41%) live within the same distance of proposed stations in Milwaukee...

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Connecting the region

KRM could be an important business and economic development tool

The Journal Sentinel

May 18, 2008

Where do we go from here? How does southeastern Wisconsin get this railroad built? In two words: leadership and collaboration.

Despite the failure of the Legislature - in the last regular session and in the special session that followed - to approve a funding source for a commuter rail line linking Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee to each other and to commuter rail in Illinois, most supporters of the KRM project remain optimistic..."I'm encouraged by the momentum that was created," said Karl Ostby, chairman of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority. "We came close this year. I think the governor is a lot more on board, and I think we'll be able to get something in his budget this fall. I also think there is more of a consensus in the region." The RTA, charged with looking at all transit issues in southeastern Wisconsin, is working on a report on a dedicated source of funding for regional transit. "...KRM is important for (Senator John) Lehman. "I see this as a catalyst for development in Racine," he said. "It speaks to the life and rebirth of the community." ... Kenneth Yunker, deputy director of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, argues that a quality transit system is critical to economic development in the region. And a quality transit system that ties the Milwaukee area closer to Chicago will have benefits for everyone in the region, not just those directly served by a commuter rail line...It's important as well that the RTA address funding for all public transit in the area. It's been cut, cut, cut for public transit and we need to move in the opposite direction." Yunker believes the business community in the area already has come to the conclusion that KRM should be part of a quality regional transit system. "They plan on taking a leadership role," he added....

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Budget fix demands courage, candor

BY JOHN LEHMAN, State Senator, 21st district

March 30, 2008

Journal Times

...No one is happy about our current fiscal situation. A national economic slowdown requires us to make hard choices in Wisconsin. Our fundamental choice is to truly address the budget gap or take the easy way out by pushing problems off to the future, after the fall elections...the Senate budget fix prudently attempts to generate new growth to fight the economic slowdown. Unless you are so doctrinaire as to reject the lessons of history, it is clear that government spending — like public works project during the Great Depression and federal rebate checks — can help combat business cycle downturns. That’s why moving forward with the KRM rail line projected to create over 3,000 new jobs and identified by large local employers and business advocacy groups as critical to the economic future of Southeastern Wisconsin makes sense...

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Time for balanced transit
by Tom Barrett, Mayor of Milwaukee
March 9, 2008

Journal Sentinel

One of the most powerful economic development tools a community can use to create new opportunities is a modern, balanced and integrated transportation system that unites the region and connects workers to jobs...If we fail to modernize transit in Milwaukee and throughout southeastern Wisconsin, our region will miss critical economic development opportunities and fall further behind other parts of the country...The issue is too important to wait any longer. Now is the time to bring balance to our region's transportation strategy.

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Transit at the precipice: Sales tax is the lifeline

Public transit helped Milwaukee grow and go. But unless the county raises the sales tax, its once-proud transit system will continue to sputter and decline.
March 9, 2008

Journal Sentinel

...Public transportation in Milwaukee County is now at a precipice because lack of public funding has taken a terrible toll on a system that only a few years ago regularly won national awards for performance, service and high ridership...Supervisor James White, chairman of the board's Transportation Committee, told us last week he's so concerned that he's going to push for the rest of the board to "skip the referendum" and simply vote to ask the Legislature for authority to increase the county's sales tax a quarter or half of a cent for transit. White's idea will save valuable time. And as White correctly points out, doing so will give supervisors a chance to show the kind of bold leadership the public expects. White offers another good idea: Whatever money the sales tax produces for transit should be taken off the property tax levy to give property owners relief... While state aid covers about 40% of the operating costs for the transit system, the county continues to rely on its property tax to pay the 14% local share, one of the few transit systems in the country that does. Nationally, the most common way to finance transit is through local or regional sales taxes, which makes sense. Since local residents aren't the only ones who use transit, the sales tax more fairly spreads out the cost...

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Climb on board or get out of the way
Business leaders need to make their political counterparts understand that a transportation system including commuter rail is essential to the region's economic health.
Jan. 27, 2008

Journal Sentinel

Business leaders get it. They understand that economic development and a healthy economy require a healthy infrastructure. They understand that a key element of that infrastructure has to be a sound and balanced transportation system that can move their goods and their workers. And they understand that "sound and balanced" refers to shipping, roads, air and, yes, rail..."Business leaders see a need to invest in growing the economy" through transit improvements already in place in other major cities, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce President Tim Sheehy told Sandler... funding KRM or any rail proposal is not just about who rides the rail. The fact is that even those who don't live near the rail line will benefit from the increased economic development benefits that rail can bring if done right...The impasse over funding could continue for a long time...But that would mean that southeastern Wisconsin would fall further behind its competitors in the global marketplace. To avoid that, state legislators need to find a proposal that actually serves to move commuter rail and mass transit forward. And business leaders need to keep reminding them of why that matters.

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This Is Leadership?

by Shepherd Express Staff

January 17, 2008

He had a chance to transform the way workers in this region commute to jobs—and influence businesses that are considering locating in southeastern Wisconsin. But state Rep. Robin Vos (R-Racine) took a pass on supporting the stalled Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee (KRM) commuter rail line when his support was critical to the project’s success...But we’ve got to ask: ...If Vos didn’t like how KRM would be funded, why didn’t he propose a new source and convince his colleagues to go along with his ideas...

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On talk and action

January 15, 2008

Journal Sentinel

...Blunt talk about Wisconsin's business climate scratched open an old
wound for some people last week: We're just too hard on ourselves,they complained. But perhaps we haven't been hard enough. Executives Richard Armbrust of The Oilgear Co., Jeff Joerres of Manpower Inc., Paul Purcell of Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc., John Shiely of Briggs & Stratton Corp. and Tim Sullivan of Bucyrus International Inc. engaged in an unusual session during a Public Policy Forum luncheon Thursday that was notable for its frankness (www.jsonline.com/705904)...If they want change, they should persuade Republicans who are blocking commuter rail to relent...

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Beyond talk and on to solutions
We will make a case in 2008 for a shared set of priorities to move the needle on key problems. We will focus on specific solutions that can nurture the region's economic and social development.
Journal Sentinel
Jan. 13, 2008

...Today, we launch Agenda '08: Growing Metro Milwaukee. We are taking the discussion to the next level: Solutions...the items we've picked for Agenda '08 reflect what we heard through much of the '07 round-table series...

• We live or die, improve or not, as a region. A strong Milwaukee is as important as a thriving Waukesha, Cedarburg or Germantown. Pewaukee's and Racine's woes and needs are very much Milwaukee's. It's about the region...

• Economic development is the wellspring from which all progress flows...

Under that economic development umbrella, we will campaign for the KRM commuter rail link running from Milwaukee to Racine and Kenosha. KRM will be even more effective as a tool to grow metro Milwaukee if the region's disparate transit systems can be consolidated under a single regional authority...

KRM: The region's business leaders love it...It has economic synergy written all over it. The more metro Milwaukee is linked with metro Chicago, the more competitive we'll be...

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Ties that should bind
Southeastern Wisconsin benefits from stronger links to the Chicago area,
including the stalled KRM commuter rail line and joint marketing efforts.
Journal Sentinel
Nov. 9, 2007

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Consider the human factor of commuter rail
By Andrew Steininger

Small Business Times

November 1, 2007

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We need the KRM

By Julie Jacob

Small Business Times

Oct. 31, 2007

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On to the tweaking

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

October 25, 2007

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KRM rail opposition is pathetic

By James Rowen

Small Business Times

October 24, 2007

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Time for action on funding KRM commuter rail
by Gary Becker and John Antaramian

The Business Journal

October 12, 2007

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Get back to the table

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

October 3, 2007

Commuter rail on track in Senate budget bill

Journal Times

June 26, 2007

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KRM commuter rail plan misses by a couple of `ifs'

Journal Times

June 5, 2007
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Derailed by politics

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

June 3, 2007

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Rail line important to Milwaukee's future
Alderman James Witkowiak, City of Milwaukee

Milwaukee Business Journal

June 1, 2007
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Act on KRM now

By Jerry Ann Hamilton, President, NAACP-Milwaukee Branch, and

Richard Riley, President, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998

Journal Sentinel

May 14 , 2007

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McReynolds backs KRM and car rental fee plan
By Bill McReynolds
Racine County Executive

Journal Times

Feb. 12, 2007

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It's time to make tracks for passenger rail
By Steve Jagler

OnMilwaukee.com

April 5, 2007

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Without KRM, Racine could become another Kanawha
By Jay Warner, Independent consultant

Feb. 7, 2007

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Fund it; regionalize it
A hike in the tax on car rental fees isn't the ideal solution to funding commuter rail, but it's a step in the right direction.
Journal Sentinel

Feb. 5, 2007

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Funding breakthrough welcome news for rail plan
Feb. 2, 2007

Journal Times

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Five important reasons to support the KRM line
Francesca Tenuta
Daily Reporter

January 24, 2007

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Commuter rail transit would be a win for Racine
Mayor Gary Becker

Journal Times
25 January

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Editorial: Embracing the Windy City
Journal Sentinel
Jan. 14, 2007

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Rest of southeast Wisconsin envies Kenosha’s train link

Commentary by Steve Lund
©Kenosha News

Jan. 11, 2007

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Editorial: New funding for transit

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Jan. 9, 2007

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When you're dealt aces, raise the bet
Commentary by Steve Lund

©Kenosha News
January 4, 2007

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See Editorials prior to 2007

ARTICLES

Design, build communities more intelligently

By STEPHEN FILMANOWICZ

June 1 , 2008

Soaring gas prices have revealed an inconvenient truth about the communities we've been building around greater Milwaukee: They're designed perfectly for the cheap oil of years past...Experts say that neighborhoods and their transportation options play a major role in determining our vulnerability to gas prices and our contributions to climate change. Even rail critic Randal O'Toole acknowledges that when you look not just at Priuses but at all cars, minivans and light trucks on the road, these vehicles generate 70% more CO2 per passenger mile than light rail systems and twice as much carbon as commuter rail like the proposed KRM line. They use 50% more energy per passenger mile than either commuter or heavy rail like Chicago's "L."...Of course, it's more than future generations that are taking notice. Business investment is flowing to energy-efficient locations protected from gas-price risk. If we were connected to Chicago's Metra rail system, we might better see what's happening at the other end. BP Amoco announced this month that it is moving 1,000 jobs downtown from Chicago's western suburbs, accommodating "the desire of its workers" for an urban environment within "walking distance of rental housing and condos." BP joins United Airlines and CDW in moving jobs to the Loop to benefit from transit and proximity benefits that save employees many millions on gas and parking...

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ON THE ISSUES: County exec race/transit

By Larry Sandler

Mar 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...

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Senate's budget repair advances
Approval expected for Democrats' plan
By Steve Walters
March 21, 2008
Journal Sentinel
Madison - A three-way Capitol debate over how to balance the state budget emerged Thursday, when Senate Democrats offered their plan ...The plan would revive a proposal to start developing a Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail line. It would raise the $2 car-rental fee in Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee counties to $15 to help pay for planning the system...KRM commuter rail. Sen. John Lehman (D-Racine) said the commuter rail line serving Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha would help southeast Wisconsin's economy and was backed by the region's business leaders...Last year, Assembly Republicans killed the commuter rail plan during the budget process...
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Upgrade plans screech to a halt

Bill's failure means transit ideas likely stalled for year

By LARRY SANDLER

March 12, 2008

With Milwaukee County Transit System ridership at a historic low, legislation that could help fund Wisconsin bus and train systems appears dead for this year.After failing to reach agreement on key details, lawmakers have given up on a bill to let local governments form regional transit authorities that would be funded by local sales taxes. Instead, the issue could be heading to a Legislative Council study committee for several months of debate...

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Democrats aim to revive KRM fee
Joe Potene

Jan. 31, 2008

State Senate Democrats are trying to resuscitate a plan to levy a $15 rental car fee to pay for the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail line. The KRM fee was included in an economic development agenda that members of the Senate majority unveiled Wednesday...Sen. Robert Wirch, D-Pleasant Prairie, said the fee continues to be his preferred KRM funding option, though he is not certain it will go any further than it did in the budget process. "It's a long shot, but it's worth trying again," Wirch said.

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New bill to fund transit proposed
Bill would allow binding referendums to give communities input
Larry Sandler
Jan. 21, 2008

Journal Sentinel

Levying a regional transit sales tax would be far more difficult for rail lines than for buses, under the latest version of proposed legislation co-authored by a leading opponent of Milwaukee-area commuter trains. In a surprise move, state Rep. Robin Vos (R-Racine) has signed on as a co-sponsor of a draft bill that would allow binding referendums to create regional transit authorities funded by local sales taxes of 0.5% or less. Sales tax proceeds would replace property tax support, taking public transit systems out of competition with other services for local funding...Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian will oppose the legislation because of the rail restrictions, said Antaramian and Barrett spokeswoman Eileen Force. And Tim Sheehy, president of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, said setting a higher bar for rail funding would be "legislative micromanagement."...

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Regional transit backers balk at RTA bill

Proposal gives green light to sales tax referendum

Dennis A. Shook , Special to The Daily Reporter
January 17, 2008

The Daily Reporter
A bill to help raise money for bus and train service should arrive in the state Legislature in the next two weeks, but some key regional stakeholders and transit advocates are not exactly on board. That’s the view of several legislators and even members of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority, the state’s only RTA, which includes members from county and city governments in Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee. SEWRTA sent a letter to legislators indicating its opposition to the bill...“There are just too many unanswered questions” about the proposal, he said. Yet the state Assembly is close to considering the RTA bill, said state Rep. Jeff Stone, R-Greenfield...

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Commuter rail plan stalls
Divide over funding for trains, buses means line now unlikely to start in 2010
By LARRY SANDLER
Jan. 8, 2008

Journal Sentinel

Plans for a Milwaukee-area commuter rail line have been put on hold, amid continuing disagreement over how to fund the trains and the region's public buses....The deadlock has highlighted a split between the area's business leaders and their usual Republican allies. Major business groups have been pushing for public transit improvements to ensure workers can reach jobs, but GOP legislators and county executives have balked at adding or raising taxes. One possible solution is state legislation that would allow local governments to hold binding referendums on whether to form regional transit authorities paid for by local sales taxes...the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority voiced support Monday for the basic premise of that legislation - which remains in draft form - but raised questions about how some provisions would apply to this area...Business leaders support both the KRM and improved bus funding. The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce's board supports a transit sales tax that would be tied to a property tax cut. Regionally, "business leaders see a need to invest in growing the economy," through transit improvements already in place in other major cities, association President Tim Sheehy said...