[milwaukee-electric] Fwd: And (yawn) another rail proposal for Milwaukee ...

[mrcooby]

Milwaukee-area officials, each with their own public transit ideas,
responded with skepticism to Alderman Joe Davis' plan to build a
citywide electric rail system.

Davis on Friday asked that the city's 2009 budget include freedom to
borrow $250 million (PDF)
<http://www.dailyreporter.com/pdf/davis0110308.pdf>  to support
construction of a light-rail system (PDF)
<http://www.dailyreporter.com/pdf/handouts-110308.pdf>  connecting the
entire region. His idea now joins Mayor Tom Barrett's plan to build
a light-rail loop around downtown Milwaukee and County Executive Scott
Walker's support for county buses and high-speed bus routes
stretching from Milwaukee to surrounding cities.

So far, there's no compromise between Barrett and Walker on local
transit projects, said Peter W. Beitzel, vice president of business
development for the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. He
would not speculate on whether Davis' idea could shift the gridlock.

"We're going forward with our studies," Beitzel said.
"Then the compromise will be required. Will this help it or hurt it?
I don't know."

A coalition including the MMAC, the city, the county and the Wisconsin
Center District is studying the ideas Barrett and Walker proposed.

Davis said he's familiar with the area's inability to get
transit projects rolling, but he said creating the ability to borrow
$250 million would demonstrate the city's commitment to progress.
Davis said building a rail system would create a lot of long-term jobs
for Milwaukee residents who need the work.

"We want to speed this thing up," he said. "We're
getting our lunch eaten by other municipalities because they are
building out their communities."

Walker wants $91.5 million the federal government set aside for
Milwaukee transit projects to focus on the county bus system.
Furthermore, he wondered how people would react to creating a rail
system when the city is behind on its cycle of rebuilding streets.

"Even if you liked it," Walker said, "it's kind of like
saying, `I'm going to make a new driveway when my roof's
falling apart.'"

Comptroller W. Martin "Wally" Morics last week released his annual
report (PDF) <http://www.dailyreporter.com/pdf/handouts-110308.pdf> 
detailing the reconstruction cycle for city streets. The 942 miles of
streets have a life expectancy of up to 60 years, but, as of 2006, are
replaced on average every 160 years. But the city invested more money 
in
roads last year, so the numbers will be better in 2007, Morics said.

If borrowing money for rail would hurt the city's ability to shorten
the cycle depends on whether taxpayer money is used to pay the debt,
Morics said. The city can borrow up to $1.1 billion, and right now
it's hovering around $650 million to $750 million, he said.

If taxes, rather than federal guarantees or train fares, pay off the
$250 million, it would eat up a good chunk of the city's remaining
ability to borrow for projects, he said.

Davis said the city's approval of a wheel tax this year would
generate more money for road projects. And, he said, his idea has 
perks
that benefit the county, including stops at county-owned facilities 
such
as the zoo, Milwaukee Regional Medical Center and General Mitchell
International Airport.

"I think (Walker) has a vested interest because all of the other
plans that have been submitted don't take into account our regional
partner," Davis said, referring to the county.

Beitzel said he doesn't see any compromise in sight, and there is
probably not enough buying power in the $91.5 million in federal cash 
to
support Barrett's and Walker's ideas.

Faced with a logjam that existed before he entered the mix, Davis said
he's hopeful his idea can stir some movement.

"I'm not a pessimist," he said.

--- End forwarded message ---