Sponsor
Aldermen Hart, Anderson, Coe, DeHahn, Friedel, Helding, Kaplan, Karas, Maack, Shakoor, Shields, Spangenberg, Weidner and Wisneski
Title
Resolution in Support of the Extension of Commuter Rail Service From Kenosha to Racine and Milwaukee
Whereas, the Counties and Cities of Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation have agreed to sponsor a Transit Alternatives Analysis Corridor Study and Draft Environmental Impact Study for enhanced public transit service generally east of I-94 in the Counties of Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee (KRM); and
Whereas, the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC), by an intergovernmental agreement, has agreed to serve as project manager for the purpose of managing the Transit Alternatives Analysis/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (AA/DEIS); and
Whereas, the KRM project purpose and need is to provide high quality transit service connecting Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee Counties with each other and with northeastern Illinois, thereby improving access to jobs and labor force, encouraging high density mixed use and more efficient land development around stations, and attracting increased transit ridership, potentially reducing highway traffic volumes and congestion and attendant air pollutant emissions; and
Whereas, the Transit AA/DEIS has now been completed and has identified commuter rail as the best alternative for providing improved transportation service and mobility, land use development and redevelopment benefits, and environmental benefits, and as the KRM Commuter Link project, has been recommended to be advanced to implementation as the locally preferred alternative; and
Whereas, the Transit AA/DEIS includes preliminary station area development plans for the commuter rail stations in the City of Racine and Town of Somers which have been developed and included as part of the KRM Commuter Link Transit Supportive Land-Use Plans and Policies Portfolio; and
Whereas, the Transit AA/DEIS includes a financial plan for the proposed commuter rail service which identifies the funding source for the local share of the commute rail service costs as recommended by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority (RTA), and which consists of an increase in the RTA care rental fees to $15 per transaction; and
Whereas, SEWPRC must meet the requirements of the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) New Starts program by submitting a Request to Initiate Preliminary Engineering to advance to the next phase of implementation and be eligible for discretionary capital funding; and
Whereas, the City of Racine has reviewed the findings and conclusions of the AA/DEIS including its financial plan and preliminary transit supportive land use plans and policies.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Common Council of the City of Racine, Wisconsin, as follows:
Section One. The City of Racine will benefit from the proposed commuter rail service connecting Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Racine Counties with each other and with northeastern Illinois and also from the transit oriented development around its proposed commuter rail stations.
Section Two. The City of Racine therefore endorses and supports the development implementation, and operation of commuter rail service as the locally preferred alternative for providing the best means for expanded and improved transit service in the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee (KRM) corridor.
Section Three. The City of Racine endorses and supports the recommendation of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority (RTA) to increase the RTA fee on car rentals to $15 per transaction in order to fund the local share of costs for the proposed KRM commuter rail service; and encourages the RTA to provide further recommendations relative to dedicated and permanent funding sources for all public transit services in Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Racine counties.
Section Four. The City of Racine station area plan developed as part of the AA/DEIS and included in the Transit Supportive Land-Use Plans and Policies Portfolio, are hereby found to be consistent with the goals and objectives of land use and comprehensive plans for the City of Racine.
Section Five. The City of Racine endorses the station area plans and policies and will take appropriate steps toward implementation as recommended as part of the Transit Supportive Land-Use Plans and Policies Portfolio if commuter rail is chosen for implementation.
Section Six. The City of Racine endorses and supports the submission of a Request to Initiate Preliminary Engineering for the KRM Commuter Link project to the FTA New Starts program, towards development and implementation of commuter rail service in the KRM corridor.
Section Seven. The City of Racine urges FTA approval of the Request to Initiate Preliminary Engineering for the KRM Commuter Link project, and acceptance and endorsement of the complete KRM Commuter Link Transit Supportive Land-Use Plans and Policies Portfolio.
Fiscal Note: N/A