So our isthmus might not be shrinking (then again, it might be, who knows!), but it sure feels like it is. As downtown Madison grows, we are feeling the not-so-playful pinch of lakes Mendota and Monona now more than ever. It’s a simple fact that Madison’s layout and geography make it a difficult city to get around by conventional means. In fact, as the surrounding areas grow as well, transit options are being stretched thin throughout the county.
On Nov. 5, the Dane County Board of Supervisors began to address that problem by approving the creation of a Regional Transit Authority. The decision was met with enthusiasm by many, including County Executive Kathleen Falk and the mayors of Madison, Fitchburg and Middleton. This editorial board believe the action taken is an appropriate step toward solving Dane County’s transit woes.
The RTA will oversee the growth of regional transit throughout Dane County, and its formation is critical to establishing a comprehensive strategy for dealing with regional transit issues.
First and foremost, the RTA offers a body where the various municipalities can come together to discuss and plan transportation strategies. Even if it were not funded at all, the existence of a body to coordinate transit initiatives throughout the county is a worthy venture. However, the RTA also provides the correct venue to begin formulating larger, long-term plans.
The sexiest issue likely to come before the RTA is a commuter rail line through downtown Madison. Right now, it’s a pretty nebulous idea, and the creation of an RTA is a good first step toward building real momentum behind the plan.
As the region grows and looks to retain university graduates, light rail becomes an important component of the county’s future. Associated Students of Madison made the student body’s support for such a system clear by showing up for the vote and having a commuter rail system may help retain and attract young professionals, as well as help integrate the city of Madison with the surrounding suburbs.
In the meantime, securing federal grants is likely to be the most important determinant of whether or not light rail happens. The creation of an RTA gives us a credible body to begin planning and making the case for these initiatives.
Chief among the objections to the RTA is that the nine-member committee is appointed – two seats by the Falk and Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, one by the governor, one seat each appointed by the mayor for Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Middleton and one by the Dane County Cities and Villages Assocation, — rather than directly elected. Coupled with the power to impose a countywide half-percent sales tax, many fear the power to tax is being delegated to body that is too far removed from the public.
To allay these fears, county leaders have promised to offer a referendum on such a move and abide by the result. However, since the RTA received the power to levy the half-percent tax from the Board of Supervisors and that power is limited, such fears of civic malfeasance strike us as over the top.
The actual development of a holistic transit plan should be the prime concern of all involved parties at this point. Now that an RTA has been created, any plan brought to voters through a referendum must really have some definition and nuance given the task at hand. If that plan doesn’t meet the needs of Dane County residents, they’ll vote it down and we can go back to the drawing table.
But in this case, at least there is a drawing table.
