RTA Update

As recently blogged here , the Dane County Cities & Villages Association (DCCVA) held a joint meeting with the Towns Association to hear presentations tonight on the proposed RTA for Dane County. Monona was well-represented - I attended as did Mayor Robb Kahl, alder Peter McKeever, and acting city administrator Marc Houtakker.

Presentations were made by Dave Trowbridge on behalf of Transport 2020 as well as County Exec Kathleen Falk and former Board Chairs Mike Blaska and Dick Wagner and current Board Chair Scott McDonell. The opponents were given a chance to make a presentation and several people made comments in opposition.

Revenues from the half-cent sales tax would be portioned to support transportation improvements for every corner of Dane County:

§ Bus service for Madison and surrounding communities – 25%
§ Town, Village, City and County road maintenance – 25%
§ Commuter rail – 33%
§ Rail/Bus Enhancements/County-wide Paratransit/Bike Transit – 16%

While the RTA proposal does include funding for roads, buses and other transportation enhancements, the proposal for commuter rail is driving the need for action. At this point, the County needs to submit a proposal that includes a governance and funding structure to the Federal Transit Administration in order for the FTA to give consideration to providing federal funding for the project. If the FTA ultimately decides to provide funding for the rail component, it would fund at least 50% of the estimated $250 million.

At this point the County Board needs to adopt a resolution proposing the RTA with the half-cent sales tax. County Exec Falk and others made clear that if the FTA does not approve federal funding there won't be any commuter rail project. That decision point is likely to be at least three years away. Also, the sales tax will not be increased unless the voters approve it through a county-wide referendum. The make-up of the Board (elected? appointed? consist of elected officials? etc.) and other details would be hammered out over the next couple years.

One favorable point about the sales tax: Dane County attracts a large number of commuters from other counties who use our roads. The sales tax would capture some of the costs from those commuters.

Dane County is going to add 150,000 residents by 2030. Congestion will increase. Commuter rail is part of the solution, if we choose it. It's expensive, but road projects are too. $80 million for the East Wash project that did not even add capacity.

I support moving forward with the proposal. There will be plenty of chances to say 'no' down the road. If we say 'no' now, then this proposal is dead, we're done and the question I would ask opponents is, what is your plan to address the congestion that will continue to grow in Dane County?