Rumor of Transit Rally

I’m hearing rumors of a major rally in support of transit scheduled for Thursday, 12/3. More details as I get them.

Coalition for Advancing Transit Meeting Wednesday, Nov 18.

Transit plays a pivotal role in our growth as a vibrant economic region and state, and our success in competing in the global marketplace. We cannot emphasize enough how critical it is that RTA legislation moves forward in 2010 and it can only happen with the collective pull of members and individuals like you.

Learn what’s happened in regional transit proposed legislation during the last two months.
At this meeting, the Coalition for Advancing Transit will bring you up to speed on the current status of draft legislation that will allow Wisconsin transit systems to organize regionally and gain dedicated local funding. This event is FREE and open to the public. You will hear from:

The lead staff person from State Assembly Representative Tamara Grigsby’s office will present an overview of the draft Regional Transit Authority (RTA) legislation.

Milwaukee County Supervisor Chris Larson and a representative from the City of Racine will outline exactly why our local transit systems are in peril and we must act NOW. (We need your help to in saving our local bus systems!)

You will also have the opportunity to enjoy breakfast refreshments and network with other members in the Coalition to learn what WE can all do together to move regional transit forward.

RSVP to Kristi Luzar, Program Manger at UEDA
Phone: (414) 562-9904 or kristi@uedawi.org

Registration & Refreshments begin at 8:00AM
Speakers: 8:30-10:00AM

Location: Manpower International
100 Manpower Place, Milwaukee

East of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (3rd Street), off of Cherry Street and just north of downtown Milwaukee.
Parking is available on Cherry Street and in the Visitors Lot north of the building (on Cherry).
Bus routes 19, 80, 57 and 15 all run near Manpower. Visit www.ridemcts.com to plan your trip or call the Bus Line at 414-344-6711 for assistance.

For more information on the Coalition for Advancing Transit visit www.coalitionforadvancingtransit.com.

Transit Rally Planning Meeting Today!

The following is from Kerry Thomas, Executive Director of Transit NOW. For more information, contact Kerry at 262-246-6151, kthomas@transitnow.org.

Our transit system is moving precariously close to a major financial fallout, and major service cuts and fare increases. To ramp up the visibility of the dire transit situation, and build momentum and support to get the RTA bill moving forward, a transit rally is being planned for the week of November 16. The urgency of the situation demands quick action and many partners.

The ATU 998 and several other organizations are inviting you to join a collaborative group of transit advocates to help plan and organize the rally, and also to spread the word to your members and friends so we get an overwhelming turnout at the rally.

Please join us:
Transit Rally Planning Meeting
Monday, November 9
8:30 AM-10:00 AM
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998 hall
734 North 26th Street (1/2 block north of Wisconsin Ave.)
Milwaukee

If you’re not able to attend the planning meeting but would like us to keep you in the planning process, please be sure to contact Kerry Thomas at the information provided above.

FREE Info Session! Transit Options: What’s Our Return on Investment?

This was forwarded to me. Looks great, I encourage you to attend if you have questions around the financial implications of investing or not investing in transit.

Local organizations invite you to a FREE discussion to learn more about critical transit and economic issues.

Wisconsin has an historic opportunity to modernize our transit systems. Decisions made this year at the local, state and federal level will impact our state’s economy for decades to come. With these new opportunities come key decisions that will affect our economy and our future.

Expanding Transit Options: What’s the return on our investment?
Delve into options including a Regional Transit Authority, High Speed Rail, KRM Commuter Rail and local bus!

Wed, April 29, 2009, 6:30 p.m.
DeKoven Center, 600 21st Street, Racine

Featuring presentations and a panel discussion with:

• National rail expert Kevin Brubaker, Environmental Law & Policy Center, Chicago
• Lori Richards, SE WI Regional Transit Authority
• Kerry Thomas, Transit NOW

Following the panel, attendees will hear local perspectives from minority, labor, faith & business leaders. Panelists and community leaders will also be available to answer YOUR questions on transit.

Hope to see you at the DeKoven Center on Wednesday, April 29 at 6:00 p.m.!

Visit Belle Urban System for local bus routes /schedules to this event! Route 1 goes to the Dekoven Center and should get you there by 6 p.m. After 6, it’s a one hour service at 6:39, 7:39, 8:39, etc.

Questions? Please contact the Sierra Club at (608) 256-0565 or shahla.werner@sierraclub.org

Cosponsored by The Sierra Club, 1000 Friends of WI, Clean Wisconsin, Good Jobs Livable Neighborhoods, Hispanic Business Alliance, Insider News, Midwest Environmental Advocates, Racine Interfaith Coalition, WI Citizen Action, WISDOM, WISPIRG, The WI Alliance of Cities, & The WI BlueGreen Alliance.

Transit Needs Your Help – State Legislators Will Vote This Week!

We’ve been talking about this for what seems like forever. But whether or not we move forward with saving our current local transit system and look to develop a more robust regional system comes down to a very important vote this Thursday! We need to invest in transit before it’s too late. It impacts companies, jobs and people like you and me, whether you plan to use it or not.

To learn more about what you can do (it’s as simple as leaving a voice message) before Thursday, please send an email to Kristi Luzar, director of the Coalition for Advancing Transit at kristi@uedawi.org. She’ll quickly send you a couple of links.

Don’t let people make decisions without your input!

As always, thank you for your support!

Governor Doyle in Racine on Tuesday, April 21

From Kerry Thomas, Executive Director of Transit NOW

Join us to show Governor Doyle we appreciate his transit support and his RTA proposal. Let’s pack the Racine train station!

Stimulus money in the amount of $2.54 million for new busses and modern bus equipment is being hand delivered to Mayor Friedel by Governor Doyle tomorrow, Tuesday, April 21. Please join leaders and residents in welcoming the Governor.

Tuesday, April 21 at 1:45 p.m.
Racine Transit Center (historic train station) on 1409 State Street.
Parking available adjacent to the south end of the train station

Governor Doyle has included retaining a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) in his proposed budget. That proposal is now in the hands of the Joint Committee on Finance. Retaining an RTA for Southeastern Wisconsin means acquiring a dedicating funding source for transit (which includes commuter rail). An RTA would create urgently needed funding to save our BUS and bring millions of Federal dollars to the Racine community to improve transit connections, implement KRM commuter rail, and spur economic growth in Racine.

Show the governor your support of his proposal and give him a warm welcome tomorrow.

Racine Community for Change Rally for KRM and an RTA

Distinguished Speaker: Mayor Friedel

Gather for some fun and show your support! Rally on our trolley through downtown Racine with transit advocates and then back to the historic train station for more rally!

When
Sunday, March 29
1-2pm

Where
Racine State Street Train Station/Transit Center
1409 State Street
Racine, WI 53404

For more information, contact Kerry Thomas from Transit Now kthomas@transitnow.org.

Racine Public Hearing on Transit Today!

Joint Committee on Finance Public Hearing: Monday, March 30th, 10:00am – 4:00pm

Where: J.I. Case High School Theater
7345 Washington Avenue, Racine

What: At these hearings, constituents and groups can give or pass along public testimony regarding budget issues. A large number of elected officials also attend.

What Can You Do?
Please join Coalition for Advancing Transit members at Case High School at 9:30am to join the support effort. If you have the time to speak in support of transit you can register to do that. If you only have 10 minutes, that’s ok. You can fill out a simple card to register your support as well.

Join Our Cause on Facebook

Thanks so much for your support of transit. Here’s another way to get involved. Join our cause on Facebook and tell all your friends. Actually, we’ve created a cause in support of the Coalition for Advancing Transit, the group bringing all of us together on this very important issue.

Here’s where you can join the cause: http://tinyurl.com/CATCause

If you’re not sure you want to jump in just yet, but really want to learn more about how transit effects you, your job, your employer, or your community, go here: http://tinyurl.com/d72u5y

And, don’t forget the two important events coming up during the next week.
WEST ALLIS: Wednesday, March 25th 10:00AM – 4:00 PM
The Tommy Thompson Center, State Fair Park, Banquet Room #2
640 S. 84th Street, West Allis, WI 53214

RACINE: Monday, March 30th, 10:00 AM- 4:00 PM
J.I. Case High School Theater
7345 Washington Avenue, Racine

For both events, the Coalition for Advancing Transit will gather from 9:30-11AM.

To learn more about the Coalition for Advancing Transit and to join the group, contact Kristi at the Urban Economic Development Association of WI (UEDA) at 414.562.9904 or kristi@uedawi.org.

Regional transit CAN positively impact property tax, economic development and the environment.

What do you think? What would you like to know? Tell us here:  http://tinyurl.com/d72u5y

Our existing bus systems cannot be sustained by property taxes. Without a new source of funding, Milwaukee County Transit System will have to cut routes by 35% in 2010. Racine and Kenosha bus systems are facing similar funding crises.

Over 15% of residents in our region do not have access to a car; on a daily basis, there are nearly 160,000 passenger trips to work and school on bus transit in southeastern Wisconsin. 

The business community has rallied support around efforts to save local transit, as losing our bus system would have a devastating effect on major employers in our region.

In addition, our region is well-positioned to secure a federal grant to build the KRM commuter rail line, increasing our connections to the booming Chicago region.

The KRM commuter rail will have a positive impact on property values. Based on experiences across the nation, existing property along the commuter rail can be expected to experience a four to 20% growth in property value. A 10% increase for a one mile corridor along the KRM rail line would represent a $2.1 billion increase in property value in the three KRM counties.

KRM will create 4,700 local jobs during construction with a $560 million impact on the local economy.

KRM will also reduce traffic congestion and auto pollution, provide an alternative during I-94 reconstruction, increase access to jobs, education institutions, cultural amenities and tourist attractions.

Almost every other metropolitan region in the US has a transit system that encourages urban and transit-oriented development, and is paid for with sales taxes. In Wisconsin our cost for transit falls squarely on property tax owners.

If you are interested in learning more about the RTA’s recommendations for southeastern Wisconsin to shift the cost of transit from property tax to dedicated sales tax to save our bus systems and build the KRM, please tell us here: http://tinyurl.com/d72u5y