Need for clarity in county RTA plans

Wisconsin State Journal, April 13, 2009

Dick Wagner and J. Michael Blaska failed to bring clarity to the debate on commuter trains in their March 29 guest column.

Do we spend millions on commuter rail first, or do we regionalize bus service -- which accomplishes the same goal -- for a fraction of the cost? Busing to the region and to neighborhoods will not happen if all the money is spent building commuter trains.

A Dane County RTA needs to provide details for the voters to know what they are voting for. Expanded busing first, or rail first? When and who makes the decision to build trains? When the Milwaukee County stadium taxing authority was created, voters knew exactly what they were voting for. Not so with this plan.

We have a fraction of the population of any city or region that has commuter trains. Even if everybody used the system, it would never break even and ongoing operation costs have not been part of the taxing equation.

Creating incentives to use mass transit is more effective than punitive legislation. Parking fees are going up to curb Downtown travel. Street parking is restricted. Zoning laws are changing, requiring fewer parking requirements.

We need clarity.

-- Bill Lauer, Madison
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