I just got back from a meeting hosted by the Wisconsin Urban and Rural Transit Association downtown. The event featured an impressive array of transit managers, city leaders, transit employees, and advocates from around the state. The agenda was intended to highlight the state of Transit in Wisconsin.
Topics covered included:
- The State Legislature’s Schedule for 2011-12
- Wisconsin’s High Speed Rail board has been dissolved by the Governor.
- A discussion on how to interact with your legislators effectively. (Give your legislator a call today and let them know what you are concerned about!)
- The state transportation budget (as set by Governor Doyle) currently calls for a 2.2% increase in both 2011 and 2012 for transit operating assistance. This will be reviewed by Scott Walker’s team.
About 3 items into the meeting the leader, Greg Gary Goyke, shared a recent discussion he had with Scott Walker’s office about the fate of the RTA enabling legislation. The story is that the budget the Governor will propose will not contain a repeal of RTAs. Instead Goyke suggested that a certain State Legislator from Racine on the Joint Finance committee will do the dirty work. In my estimation, that would be State Rep Robin Vos (whose office can be reached at 608-266-9171).
