*** Racine Taxpayers Association ***

Dennis Kisley

The Racine Taxpayers Association continues to oppose the use of public funds for KRM commuter rail.  We also opposed the legislative creation of the S.E. Regional Transit Authority (SERTA) to start the KRM construction process in 2010 and eventually take total control of all transit operations in S.E. Wisconsin. 

Legislation currently being written will authorize .5% sales tax and give total fiscal control of regional and local transit to the unelected SERTA board.   We believe this direction is not in the best interest of Racine County taxpayers and urge you to stop this process.

A significant amount of money has been spent promoting the economic development, job growth and increased property values that will come with commuter rail.  However, SEWRPC’s own studies call this “potential growth” and states 75% of the jobs and up to 80% of the development would still occur without commuter rail.

Richard Reich, Don Phillips and Dennis Kisley

The passenger numbers are also suspect.  Promotional data for KRM shows daily rides at 7,392 generating annual revenues of $4.6 million. The Ridership Forecasting Report considers the KRM Corridor to be 21 stops from Milwaukee to Braeside, Illinois.and the 7,392 number is for the entire corridor in year 2035.  The Report projects current ridership at the nine Wisconsin stations would be about 3,000, increasing to 4,500 in the year 2035.  

The only certainty is that the operating and amortized capital costs of KRM will be in excess of $30 million per year.  The need for federal., state and local tax dollars will be great.  Amtrak High Speed Rail from Milwaukee to Madison has already been submitted for $651.8 million with an additional $47 million to increase daily Milwaukee to Chicago trips from 14 to 20.  This means more Racine riders on Amtrak and more yearly tax dollars for Amtrak.

Would this be good for Milwaukee County? – probably.   MCTS is virtually bankrupt and they need additional funds wherever they can get them.  They control the SERTA Board with 5 of 9 members and they collect the  majority of the car rental tax.  Racine BUS will lose the current $4.3 million state/ fed assistance and the direction of regional transit would be dictated by Milwaukee.

The increasing availability of public funds (free money?) is very questionable and they must be used wisely.  Expanding current, and bringing new business to Racine County for Racine County residents is the number one priority for these resources.  KRM and Milwaukee directed transit will not do it.  Racine County is expanding west and Amtrak is serving that area.  An improved, flexible transit system for the entire county, with more private funds and participation should be the top priority.

To assist in making a decision, we request that you do the following:

- Ask RCEDC for a statement regarding the importance of commuter rail in their search for new businesses.

- Ask RAMAC for a statement regarding how many new jobs current employers commit to add with KRM.

- Ask SERTA for current KRM ridership projections and facts to back it up.

- Ask the people if they want KRM via referendum

In closing we add the following anecdotes: 

- Downtown Racine to O’Hare Field is 65 miles and 80-90 minutes by car.  KRM is 3 hours, 2 trains & 2 cabs.

- Case/IH to CNH Global, Burr Ridge, IL is 80.5 miles and 90-100 minutes by car.  KRM is 3 ˝ hours, 3 trains, 3 cabs.