Lawmakers In Southeastern Wisconsin Renew Calls For Regional Transit System

Some southeastern Wisconsin lawmakers say the region needs a new transit system to serve future Foxconn workers. While the idea isn’t a new one, supporters say an influx of up to 13,000 employees at the Taiwan-based tech company’s planned LCD manufacturing plant in Racine County provides a reason to move forward with such a plan.

State Rep. David Crowley, D-Milwaukee, argues the region needs to start planning for future transportation demands, so he’s co-sponsoring a bill to create a transit authority for Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee counties.

“When we look at Foxconn and how transformational it will be, as many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle would say, I think we need to make sure that we’re putting in something more sustainable as it relates to getting people to and from work,” Crowley said.

But the bill is drawing no Republican support and members of the GOP have rejected the idea of regional transit authorities before.

In 2009, a Democratic-controlled Legislature authorized four similar regional systems. Republicans repealed that law in 2011.

A spokeswoman for Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, of Rochester, said he opposes unelected taxing authorities and believes transit should be left to municipal governments.

The transit authority lawmakers are proposing would be able to raise sales tax in the area by half a percent and buy property to create the transit system.

But creating a regional transit authority in southeastern Wisconsin would require more than legislative approval. Voters in each county would have to give the green light.

Depending on how ambitious the transit authority decides to be — it could opt for creating bus and rail lines — building the infrastructure for a transit system could take several years.

“We need to start now so that by the time Foxconn is actually contributing to the economy, we have the workforce and we have a rail system,” Crowley said.

Crowley said although Foxconn is what could eventually win Republican support, a transit system is needed in the region to help smaller businesses too.