Coalition for Advancing Transit Update
Kristi Luzar
COALITION FOR ADVANCING TRANSIT
(C.A.T.) Good Afternoon
Transiteers!
THANK
YOU to all who showed up, participated and supported our efforts to contact
the members of the Joint Committee on Finance this week regarding transit issues
in southeastern Wisconsin. In particular, those
who came at the start of the hearing and stayed throughout the day
deserve our thanks! It was a long day and your commitment to participating
in the democratic
process was key.
Tom Rave of the Gateway to Milwaukee, the CAT Steering Committee Chair, read a statement on behalf of the Coalition in support of a permanent regional transit authority and dedicated funding for transit in SE WI. We also gave the Joint Committee on Finance members a packet that included written testimony from CAT members and partners, as well as a list of key supporters for transit in our region. All of this can be found on the NEWly launched CAT website: www.coalitionforadvancingtransit.com.
The work is not yet over! For those of you who live in or near the Racine and Kenosha area, the Joint Committee on Finance will be in your backyard THIS Monday. See below for specifics on how you can participate; there will be a Transit Support rally THIS Sunday as well. A flyer is attached with details.
Lastly, you can STILL contact Joint Finance Committee members yourself with your written testimony. Talking points and contact information are listed below, be sure to say WHY you as an individual or organization support transit! Also, if you would like a CAT member to come and talk or present to your group about this work, please contact me.
Thank you all once again for your continued support and action on behalf of transit in SE WI...only TOGETHER can we "get moving!"
PS If you are on Facebook, look for the Coalition for Advancing Transit and JOIN THE CAUSE!
~Kristi Luzar, Program Manager,
UEDA
The Coalition for Advancing Transit
2212 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Drive
Milwaukee, WI
53212
Telephone: (414)
562-9904 * Fax: (414)
562-9906
www.uedawi.org
Racine/Kenosha Event Information:
Pivotal State Budget Hearings are Next Step in Push for
RTA
Please
attend 2 important events and show your support:
KRM/RTA Rally at the Racine Historic Train Station on Sunday March
29,
1:00-2:00 (See attached flyer and details below)
State Budget Hearings Monday March 30, 10-4 (join us from 9:30-11 AM, come at
8:30 AM to register to testify)
Thanks for all of your efforts to move the RTA forward! It’s time
now to speak up again. Historic decisions on the Regional Transit Authority (RTA)
will be made in the coming weeks that will shape our ability to:
- Connect people to over a million jobs,
- Spur sustainable economic development and job growth,
- Attract the businesses, jobs, and talent that will build wealth in SE Wisconsin.
- Give people property tax relief and an alternative to
the high cost of fuel
We have arrived at a pivotal point. The
future of our community, our transit systems, and KRM Commuter Rail is riding on
the creation of a strong permanent Regional Transit
Authority. See talking points about why an RTA is needed now by visiting:
http://www.transitnow.org/EndorseTransitForProperity.htm.
State legislation is required to create a
permanent RTA. The Governor has included a strong RTA proposal in his budget
bill. On March 30, a very important state budget hearing will take place in
Racine that will kick off the the next step of needed legislative action on the
RTA. See more about the Governor's RTA proposal: http://www.transitnow.org/021709DoyleBudget.htm.
Gather
for some fun and show your support!
COMMUNITY FOR CHANGE
RALLY FOR KRM and an
RTA
Sunday, March 29, 1 PM–2
PM
Distinguished speaker: Mayor
Friedel
COME TO THE RACINE STATE STREET TRAIN STATION/TRANSIT CENTER, 1409
State Street, Racine
Rally on our trolley through downtown Racine
with transit advocates and then back to the historic train station for more
rally!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are 4 important ways to speak up and support Governor Doyle’s RTA proposal in the state
budget:
- Attend state budget hearing and testify (arrive between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM to register). Testimony is limited to 3 minutes, bring copies of your testimony to submit in writing. Please include full name and address.
State Budget Hearing: held in Racine for Kenosha and Milwaukee are key participants.
Monday, March 30, 10-4 P.M at J.I. Case High School, Theater, 7345 Washington Ave., Racine
- Join with RTA, transit, and KRM advocates from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at the budget hearings to show the broad support for the Governor's RTA budget proposal. Buttons will be available to identify you as a supporter, please wear green or black. Please let us know if are planning come: kth...@transitnow.org
- Submit written testimony or register your opinion at the hearing. If you cannot attend the hearing, submit your testimony to us and we'll deliver it for you. Please include full name and address. Send to kth...@transitnow.org.
- Send letters and emails to Joint Finance Committee
members. For contact information go to: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/jfc.html. It's very helpful if you send a copy
to kmth...@transitnow.org.
Finally, please
endorse the Transit
Principles for Prosperity (http://www.coalitionforadvancingtransit.org). The endorser list illustrates the
broad support for the RTA and transit advancements. Ask your organization or
businesses to sign on!
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS:
- Visit http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/jfc.html to access contact information for members of the WI State Legislature Joint Committee on Finance or see the attached roster.
- Visit www.legis.wisconsin.gov and click on the “Who Represents Me?” link in the middle of the page to find your state legislators. After inputting your address, it will bring up their contact information.
Talking Points
I am calling to urge your support for the establishment of a permanent regional transit authority in southeastern Wisconsin and a sales tax increase of 0.5% in Kenosha, Milwaukee and Racine counties to serve as a dedicated funding source for transit.
· A vibrant, modern transit system is a fundamental part of a successful and sustainable economy in the region.
· A permanent regional transit authority in Southeast Wisconsin in 2009 is critical to providing regional coordination, creating a united voice to access local funding and federal investments, and advancing efficient regional linkages for jobs and economic growth.
· A dedicated funding source for transit is vital in 2009 to provide adequate, stable funding for transit and prevent significant cuts in service.
· A dedicated 0.5% sales tax for transit will provide property tax relief by removing local transit costs from the property tax.
(We encourage you to add WHY you as an individual or organization support transit solutions for SE WI here)
Southeastern Wisconsin is far behind the curve in terms of mass transit and we need to get moving. In light of higher gas prices and challenging economic times, it is critical that this region has a strong transit system, so people can reliably travel to work and school to support their families. Now is the time to support a stronger transit system for Milwaukee County, and a broad system for southeastern Wisconsin.
Other statements you could make
We want property tax relief
· We want to remove transit from the property tax and implement a dedicated sales tax for transit so that visitors, vacationers and non-property owners can pay into our transit system.
· A sales tax would increase with inflation and would grow with our transit needs.
We want to be able to get around the region, regardless of county lines
· There are many jobs in Milwaukee County that we currently cannot reach by bus.
· We want a connection throughout southeastern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois to get us to jobs, entertainment and educational institutions.
We want a permanent governing authority dedicated to overseeing regional transit
· We want a group dedicated to a regional approach to transit that will oversee and work with each individual county or municipality to create a transit system that benefits both each individual county or municipality and the region as a whole.
Questions? CONTACT US AT:
Urban Economic Development Association of WI (UEDA)
2212 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Telephone: (414) 562-9904
Fax: (414) 562-9906
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