If you ever wondered why southeastern Wisconsin hasn't moved forward with development of a functional mass transit system, the answers were clearly apparent at the annual Community Development Summit held Wednesday at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee.
The summit, presented by the Urban Economic Development Association of Wisconsin, featured a panel discussion that included: Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett; philanthropist and business executive Michael Cudahy; Milwaukee County economic development director Bob Dennik; Mequon Mayor Christine Neurenberg; Racine County Executive William McReynolds; Waukesha Mayor Larry Nelson; state Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale); state Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee); and Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas.
The discussion was moderated by Mike Gousha of WISN-Channel 12 and the Marquette University Law School. Talk about herding cats.
I know most of the panelists personally. Good people all. Fine public servants too. But they cannot agree upon what the top regional transit priorities should be, which transit modes are most needed and just as important, how to fund them.
Barrett and Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker are at a standoff about how to spend $91.5 million in federal transit funds that were allocated for the region 17 years ago. Before those dollars can be spent, the mayor, the county executive and the governor all most agree upon how to use the money.
Barrett wants modern streetcars to link to local attractions and express buses to connect workers to jobs through a hub at Milwaukee's new Downtown Transit Center. Walker calls that idea a "Trojan horse" for light rail and instead wants to ramp up the county's bus system.
Until they agree, those dollars will just sit in Washington, and their potential impact will continue to dwindle (Remember, $91.5 million bought a lot more 17 years ago than it does today.)
Barrett extended an olive branch of sorts Wednesday, saying, "I'm prepared to split that money with the county right now, and let's move forward."
Dennik, representing Walker, was not impressed.
Cudahy, who has studied transit systems throughout Europe and in American cities such as Portland, Ore., said the plans of both Barrett and Walker fall short of what is needed in Milwaukee.
"What has to be done is a new and a bold transportation scheme," Cudahy said.
Cudahy is proposing a public/private partnership to form a regional transit authority with the power to impose a sales tax to help fund an integrated transit system that would include buses, streetcars and the KRM (Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee) rail line.
To people who say such a system should be self-supporting, Cudahy notes that successful mass transit systems in other cities are not self-supporting. Heck, even our highway system isn't self-supporting. We don't have toll booths in Wisconsin.
Barrett says his plan is a "Goldilocks" idea, which Cudahy says is too small and Walker says is too big. Barrett says his plan is "just right" to at least move the region forward.
But McReynolds said any regional plan that calls for a sales tax increase is dead upon arrival in Racine.
"If you say 'sales tax' in Racine County, it's going nowhere," McReynolds said.
Nelson said the geographic boundary lines in the political discourse of the mass transit issue in the region are "foolish and outdated." Taylor and Stone agreed.
Still, Stone acknowledged, "I don't think Waukesha County trusts Milwaukee County."
Vrakas didn't disagree.
Amid the partisan and geographical posturing, there are occasional signs of political courage and even independence.
Taylor praised Stone for being the only Republican on the Joint Finance Committee to vote Tuesday against a provision that would have prevented the state from spending $100,000 to study the KRM line unless a funding mechanism was first approved by the legislature and the governor.
Stone is the Assembly's transportation expert. For his bipartisan gesture on Tuesday, Stone will no doubt receive grief from the local conservative radio talk show cabal. Neurenberg blamed the media and talk show hosts Mark Belling and Charlie Sykes for dividing the community on such important issues.
Nelson, meanwhile, said he would support a KRM line, because he believes it will be beneficial for the entire region, including Waukesha.
Cudahy, the richest guy in the room, predicted that gasoline could soon rise to $6 per gallon and even $10. If local political leaders do not overcome their differences, Milwaukee will soon become the only major American metropolitan region without a mass transit system, and the region will be at a stark competitive disadvantage economically and socially, Cudahy said.
Several key civic and business leaders throughout the region are stepping forward to support the KRM, including the Greater Milwaukee Committee, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, the Spirit of Milwaukee, the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors and the Racine Area Manufacturers & Commerce (see the complete list key supporters at www.transitnow.org/key-endorser-list.html). The business leaders often cite the need for a mobile workforce and to connect with Chicago as reasons to move forward with the KRM.
"Everybody needs this thing," Cudahy said.
Steve Jagler is executive editor of Small Business Times.
11 Comments
I may be obtuse here, but what is left to discuss for our regional transit plan. SEWRPC has provided a plan to the year 2035. The KRM studies made the choice of Rapid Bus over the incredulous cost of rail a no brainer (how could anyone justify 12 times the expense to build, 11 times the cost to operate, and less ridership than the Amtrak and zero flexibility once in place). If the Mayor wants a couple more street cars added to the ones we already have, fine (although quite honestly, they seem to be empty whenever I see them).
To Mr. Cudahy's point, if you want bold, make the city buses FREE. Seriously, let people get on and off whenever and whereever they want when they are downtown or even in the city. Talk about mobility, the potential increase in customers and income to the retailers and destination attractions downtown would be astronomical.
Suburbanites can leave the car at the park and ride. Pay to get delivered downtown then spend the whole day (and spend their money) site seeing, shopping, touring without parking hassles or worry that they can not get back to the car before receiving a ticket.
For free transport, you may see out of towners flocking to Milwaukee's attractions from Chicago for the day or weekend. Think of the attraction to use downtown hotels over their counterparts.
People will spend their lunch hours at restaurants knowing they can move about without the parking hassle. The road repairs will ease up over time as people learn to be more comfortable on the bus. Crime on the buses will reduce with more people riding as well.
Now there is a study that is worth doing. What economic gains and liabilities come from providing free transportation downtown. Common Mayor, this one will get you national coverage without a doubt.
Sad commentary when the only person in the room who "gets it" and has the necessary vision to ensure the region stays competitive is an octogenarian private citizen. Michael is from the last generation that understood leadership; and he has been one of few in the community putting his money where his mouth is. God bless him.
But really, we're paying all of these other officials to be responsible leaders and solve the problems you and I don't have the time to do. That, by definition, should mean one of the metrics determining job performance is leadership. Sitting on $91.5 million dollars for 17 years because of petty disputes and turf battles is ameteurish and timid - quite the opposite of what I expect from a leader. This entire scenario insults my intelligence. Now get off your duffs and work out a plan or you're all going to be out of work, God willing!
My first question is how many of the advocates for a new mass transit tax took the bus to the summit? I'm betting close to zero. Also, Michael Cudahy says "Everybody needs this thing,". well then lets hold a referendum for the tax increase and let's see if "everybody needs this thing". Cudahy also says "Milwaukee will soon become the only major American metropolitan region without a mass transit system". Last I checked, we do have a bus system.
The problem in Wisconsin and Milwaukee is that we have already blown our government budgets on other things (primarily lavish govt. employee pay and benefits), and the taxpayers are tapped out.
Finally, has anybody seriously looked at the KRM plan. I'm sure the advocates have a trumped-up study provided by an overpaid consultant that provided the opinion the advocates wanted. But, who will want to take a train to Racine or Kenosha and then want to get on a bus to get to places of employment? The Racine train station is in a rundown, quasi-industrial area approximately a mile west of downtown Racine and not within walking distance of JWax, Modine, etc. Same thing going the other way. On top of that, Amtrak already provides service from Sturtevant. But hey, who is to question the elites that attended the summit? If only the media and talk radio would shut up, then the elites could completely ignore the taxpayers. That's democracy in action in Wisconsin.
Thanks for the comprehensive assessment for those of us who could not attend. I have this image in my head of all of these players in 10 years time(older, fatter, grayer, more crotchety) still sitting around bickering about taxes and plans and who gets what while the future has passes us by (and it won't be on rubber tires). Meanwhile, the citizens of SE Wisconsin continue to be uninformed and uninvolved in this process.
Mark Irving
http://www.gridlock.com
Steve,
My major in school was Transportation. I consider myself an authority on mass transit systems throughout the world. I am totally confused as to a politized fight in Milwaukee regarding mass transit and specifically light rail. This is not the same as the old trolley cars although they are still in service and successful as an efficient and cost effective for a coordinated mass transit system such as New Orleans. We are the last major metropolitan area that depends solely on highways and buses. Gas prices are out of sight. You can reduce the cost of roads and the fumes of cars and busses. Ridership in cities which have constructed new light rail and heavy rail systems is up substantially. Examples are Portland OR,
Minneapolis, MN, St. Louis, MO, Cleveland OH, San Diego, CA, and Los Angeles. New construction is under way in Seattle, WA and many other cities. Canada has done the same in Edmonton, Alberta, CAlgary Alberta and Toronto, Ontario. In Europe, the masses ride local and long distance rail lines. The same is true in Japan. Charlie Sykes talks about "choo choo trains" instead of describing light rail as an efficient modern system which is a cost effective method of transport. The politicians have their heads in the sand. This should not be a political issue. Mayor Zeidler, if he was alive would be a proponent. The people who oppose this are an embarrassment and this reflects poorly to the outside world as we are such provincial thinkers.
Steve, LRT does not have the flexibility to meet the demand of changing population nor the increase of ridership over time. BRT can move roughly 4 to 5 times the pph that LRT can move. BRT can also flex to special events and destination changes like Summerfest or the County Fair. The vehicles also lend themselves to "special local charter" to increase revenues in slower periods.
By comparison, LRT has nearly zero flexibilty. You can add trains if ridership increases but never beyond the 3-4 minute headways between trains.
Sure, trains are nicer and ride quieter. But not 10 times nicer or 10 times quieter. And we will not acheive 10 times the ridership.
We need mass transit. It will NEVER pay for itself and therefore must be subsidized. So let's turn a negitive into a positive. Make the city buses free and increase the express and direct routes for cost.
Mr. Cudahy, show us where we can sign on. Kansas City is doing a pretty good of demonstrating to the electorate the possibilities of safe fast clean efficient rail transit. With the support of their newspaper, they have a very good virtual reality presentation on line. Keep up the efforts. Their is an army of younger generation as well traveled people who have seen what we should have. The deadwood in government will fall on its own. Just look at the miserable failure the County has made of marketing the Park East corridor. I have never sensed more long dormant enthusiasm ready to embrace a really well presented vision for our future. Mr. Cudahy, Thank you. I hope you are planning to organize in building an effort to see Milwaukee get where it needs to go with an eye on the future. I volunteer now. Dan Thompson
Michael Cudahy is right and has been all along. The sad fact is, around here, politicians literally get elected on a platform of "do nothing." Don't raise taxes. Don't put forth any innovative ideas. Even our poster boy Senselessbrenner votes against aid for flood victims. Credit Barrett for at least trying to break the impasse. But folks, we get what we deserve. And if we think busses are the answer to billion dollar road repairs and double-digit gasoline prices, we will certainly get increased ridership. At least on the routes that are headed out of town.
Well, I guess if we can live with the inflexibility and the inability to expand or increase ridership or meet the needs for the greatest number of people (taxpayors), then let's do the train. On the bright side at least it will cost alot more.
Another reason for the lack of progress on this issue just might be the lack of adequate local media coverage. (Hats off to The Small Business Times!) I looked online and did not see any coverage in The Journal Sentinel of this summit. (I did not yet look today.) Did I miss it? I also did not see any TV news coverage of the summit. Did I miss it? I do not get those decisions. I looked at the list of KRM supporters provided above (thanks Steve Jagler and Transit Now!) and noted that Gov. Doyle, who supports widening I-94 (as does The Journal Sentinel), was not on the list. So, as of now, I think we will see built a very wide I-94 from here to Chicago, when we will be told, "Sorry, folks. There is just no money left for anthing else, not KRM and certainly not high-speed rail. Besides, who needs it anyway?"
Paul, the dramatic difference in cost; the lack of flexibility; the current tax burden and an economy such as this are why you do not want this in the public scrutiny. The train would derail almost instantly (pun intended).