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Commuter rail project is still on the tracks
Published October 25, 2007 - BizTimes Daily
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Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee (KRM) Commuter Rail advocates announced today they are not giving up on their project and will regroup in November to push again for legislative approval.
Rosemary Potter, executive director of Transit NOW, the nonprofit organization that advocates for the project, said, "The feedback from business and elected leaders in the past few days has been overwhelming. There is more commitment than ever to keep KRM moving. There is broad consensus that KRM is simply too valuable to lose."
The funding for the KRM project was omitted from the negotiated state budget this week.
However, the SE Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority will meet in November to discuss the next steps in developing an alternative dedicated local funding source for KRM and local transit.
A wide coalition of business executives and politicians remain supportive of the project.
"While we are not happy with the outcome of a very frustrating budget process, it is still one more step in the legislative process to keep the train moving. Major projects are never easy, simple or advance without opposition. We are very grateful for the strong support and leadership of the Democratic Assembly and Senate leadership and strong regional support. We will continue to advance KRM as a component of a comprehensive regional transit plan and funding solution. The train is still on the tracks," said Julia Taylor, president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee.
"We are not deterred by this setback. KRM is too important to the economy of
this region to let it slip away. KRM is a huge priority for businesses in SE
Wisconsin and we fully intend to see it become a reality," said Jerold Franke, president, of Wispark LLC, the commercial real estate division of Wisconsin Energy Corp. in Milwaukee.
"A modern, fully-integrated transportation system that serves our city and our region is critical to Milwaukee's economic health and vitality. The KRM remains an important part of my multi-modal transit vision for Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin, and we should continue to search for a comprehensive funding solution for this effort," said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett
"We still have open windows of opportunity to make KRM a reality. Finding a
workable funding source will be a top priority to ensure the success of this
effort," said state Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale).
Steve Jagler, executive editor of Small Business Times, wrote his weekly OnMilwaukee.com blog about the need to have an open and unbiased discussion of the region's mass transit needs. Read more in his blog, which was posted earlier today.
