by jboullion | Sep 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Governor Jim Doyle:
Legislation will improve bus and rail service and roster regional cooperation in Milwaukee, Kenosha and Racine
MILWAUKEE – Governor Jim Doyle today announced a framework of a proposal crafted with legislators from southeastern Wisconsin on a plan to improve bus and rail service in Milwaukee, Kenosha and Racine through a Regional Transit Authority.
“Investing in safe, reliable modes of transportation allows people to travel and commute efficiently and it strengthens the economy,” Governor Doyle said. “I am pleased today to announce that leaders from Milwaukee, Kenosha and Racine have joined me in support of a truly regional approach to improving and expanding transit in this area.”
Governor Doyle has supported Regional Transit Authorities in Wisconsin that serve a population base, rather than any specific municipal jurisdiction, and are independently governed. Under the Governor’s priorities, RTAs also should provide property tax relief and be focused solely on transit.
The proposal satisfies those conditions and will create an RTA in southeastern Wisconsin that would phase in independent governance. Milwaukee, Kenosha and Racine would initially operate as sub-RTAs, with varying sources of previously approved funding.
Over time, the sub-RTAs would merge into a common board. Representation would be proportional to population. A primary goal of the RTA would be to better position the proposed Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail line for obtaining New Starts funding from the Federal Transit Administration.
by jboullion | Aug 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an editorial in The Capital Times:
Wisconsin is closer than ever to gaining the high-speed rail service that is needed to put this state on the regional and national transportation map.
In fact, the likelihood that a Chicago-Twin Cities route will make stops across the state is now so real that communities are fighting to be on it.
It was long thought that the service would go from Chicago to Milwaukee to Madison to La Crosse and then across the Mississippi River and up toward Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The “phase one” connector between Madison and Milwaukee is still on target — despite the efforts of the anti-rail naysayers to try to slow things down. All that is needed is for the project to get a piece of $8 billion in stimulus money that is being made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — a prospect that seems entirely possible now that Midwestern governors are uniting to push for the plan.
But there is suddenly a debate about whether the service will go through La Crosse or Eau Claire.
A final version of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Connections 2030 plan, which identifies the design, construction and operation of the Madison-Twin Cities corridor, now suggests that the choice of which Wisconsin city will get the service is open to question.
The WisDOT plan refers to the La Crosse and Eau Claire routes as “project alternatives … to be determined during environmental and engineering studies.”
That introduces an uncertainty to the process, which is to some extent understandable.
The return of real rail service to Wisconsin is an exciting prospect, especially as gas prices spike. And cities have every right to compete for the service.
But our sense is that Bob Fisher, a member of the Wisconsin Association of Rail Passengers, is right when he says that La Crosse’s claim is well settled. The city already has Amtrak service. It’s rail infrastructure is in place and there’s strong local support for the project.
by jboullion | Aug 4, 2009 | Uncategorized
The Wisconsin State Fair runs from August 6 thorugh the 16th.
NEW! WAUKESHA COUNTY AREA SHUTTLE
Jump on the new Waukesha County Area Shuttle Service that will drop-off and make return trips from the U.S. Cellular Main Gate. The shuttle will run every 30 minutes starting at 7:30am with the last departure 30 minutes after the Fair closes. Pick-up the shuttle at the Hwy 83/I-94, Hwy G/I-94 and Barker Road/Goerkes Corners Park-N-Rides. Regular round trip fare is $8.00 but $6.00 with discount coupons. Seniors $6.00 and children 5 & under FREE. For more details visit statefairshuttle.com or call (262) 292-9992
Riteway Bus Service – Washington County Area State Fair Shuttle
Enjoy an air conditioned motor coach ride with Riteway’s daily round-trip service to the 2009 Wisconsin State Fair. Motor coach departs from two locations in Washington County beginning at 8:30 a.m. from Washington County Fairgrounds and at 9:30 a.m. from Germantown. Fares are $12 adults aged 12-59; $10 seniors 60+ and disabled; $5.00 children aged 7-11 and children under 7, free. For boarding locations and departure times please visit www.ritewaybus.com or call 262-677-3282.
Pedal to the Park Presented by wheel & sprocket
Getting to the State Fair just got easier, healthier and more affordable. The State Fair encourages guests to save on gas, leave their cars at home and “Pedal to the Park” instead. In collaboration
with the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, FREE dedicated bicycle parking will be offered outside of the U.S. Cellular Main Gate on the north side of the Fair Park (enter from 76th Street at Gate 8, near the RV Park) and inside Gate 2 on the south side of the Fair Park (enter from Greenfield Avenue). Spaces are limited.
RIDE THE BUS!
Riding the bus to the Fair is easy, convenient, and economical. To determine the public transportation option that best suits your needs, call the Milwaukee County Transit System Bus Line at 414.344.6711 or visit RideMCTS.com. Remember, children (6 & under) ride FREE.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY TRANSIT SYSTEM SHUTTLES
The shuttle from Watertown Plank Road Park & Ride Lot at HWY 45 operates to the State Fair Transit Center near Gate 4 every day of the Fair. Shuttles operate every 15 minutes from 7:30am until one half-hour after Fair closure. Shuttle fares are only $3 round-trip for adults (ages 12 – 64) and $1.50 for children (ages 7-11), seniors (65 & over) and disabled persons with proper I.D. Parking is FREE.
FREEWAY FLYERS
Park FREE at any of the following Park-Ride lots: Brown Deer Road west of I-43; Loomis Road at I-894; Green Bay Road just north of Brown Deer Road; Southridge Mall Parking Lot on Edgerton Avenue at 72nd Street; Whitnall / Hales Corners at I-43 east of South 108th Street; MATC-South at Jewell Ave. at Howell Ave. Buses drop off and pick up at the State Fair Transit Center near Gate 4.
Freeway Flyers operate between 7:30am until one half-hour after Fair closure. Service is every half-hour EXCEPT at the Brown Deer and Green Bay Park & Ride Lots which have hourly service. Buses will serve the Green Bay Lot every hour at 20 minutes past and the Brown Deer Lot will be served hourly at 30 minutes past the hour. Round-trip fares are $6 for adults (ages 12 – 64), $3 for children (ages 7-11), seniors (65 & over) and disabled persons with proper I.D. Don’t forget daily service is available via regular Milwaukee County Transit System routes 18, 67, and 76. Regular bus
fares apply.
by jboullion | Jul 27, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Samantha Marcus in the La Crosse Tribune:
Recent changes to a plan for high-speed rail in Wisconsin has set up a potential tug-of-war between La Crosse and Eau Claire to be on the Chicago-Twin Cities route.
La Crosse officials and train enthusiasts considered it a foregone conclusion the much-desired span would route through La Crosse and into Minnesota.
But a final version of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Connections 2030 plan puts the choice of which west-central Wisconsin city back into play.
“We have worked for years ensuring La Crosse’s place on the high-speed rail route, but Eau Claire certainly has had their efforts as well,” said La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce President Dick Granchalek.
The essentially parallel routes are referred to in the plan as “project alternatives … to be determined during environmental and engineering studies.”
The studies have been done, argued Bob Fisher, a member of the Wisconsin Association of Rail Passengers. There’s a time for studies and there’s a time for moving dirt with a shovel, he added.
“The truth is the Midwest has a plan that was done 15 years ago, went through a whole scenario of economic studies and determined the route that Amtrak was currently operating on, and still does, was the most feasible route,” Fisher said. “This is the route that should logically be chosen.”
La Crosse has the infrastructure, the rail culture, the potential passenger load that should give it the edge, he added.
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, whose district includes both La Crosse and Eau Claire, said it shouldn’t be an either-or proposition. Kind said the La Crosse route makes the most sense for the first connection and then the Chippewa Valley route could be brought in.
by jboullion | Jul 27, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Samantha Marcus in the La Crosse Tribune:
Recent changes to a plan for high-speed rail in Wisconsin has set up a potential tug-of-war between La Crosse and Eau Claire to be on the Chicago-Twin Cities route.
La Crosse officials and train enthusiasts considered it a foregone conclusion the much-desired span would route through La Crosse and into Minnesota.
But a final version of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Connections 2030 plan puts the choice of which west-central Wisconsin city back into play.
“We have worked for years ensuring La Crosse’s place on the high-speed rail route, but Eau Claire certainly has had their efforts as well,” said La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce President Dick Granchalek.
The essentially parallel routes are referred to in the plan as “project alternatives … to be determined during environmental and engineering studies.”
The studies have been done, argued Bob Fisher, a member of the Wisconsin Association of Rail Passengers. There’s a time for studies and there’s a time for moving dirt with a shovel, he added.
“The truth is the Midwest has a plan that was done 15 years ago, went through a whole scenario of economic studies and determined the route that Amtrak was currently operating on, and still does, was the most feasible route,” Fisher said. “This is the route that should logically be chosen.”
La Crosse has the infrastructure, the rail culture, the potential passenger load that should give it the edge, he added.
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, whose district includes both La Crosse and Eau Claire, said it shouldn’t be an either-or proposition. Kind said the La Crosse route makes the most sense for the first connection and then the Chippewa Valley route could be brought in.
