Folks in favor of building expensive, new trains frequently claim that we have far too many roads already and it’s high time we focused on other modes of transportation.  So how would we figure out the ‘right’ number of roads?  Actually it turns out to be quite elementary.

First and foremost, we need to consider why we have a given road in the first place.  No rocket science here.  We have a road because people need to get from place ‘A’ to place ‘B’.  Places ‘A’ and ‘B’ are your home, school, work, gym, shopping, the movies, or just anyplace you want to go.  Therefore we can safely say that all the roads we’re talking about have some purpose or they would not have been built. 

Of course a truly progressive mind would maintain that we wouldn’t need all those roads in the first place if we had other means of mass transit.  So let’s run with that argument.  Similar to cars, buses and even bikes would make use of the aforementioned roads.  Therefore a vast majority of the existing roads would also exist to support current mass or alternative transit options.  Case in point: our lovely new red bicycle boxes being built on Madison roads.  

So then what roads can we get rid of?  If buses, cars, and bikes all make use of the same roads then it would seem logical that the only roads we could get rid of are those that a train can theoretically replace.  The key word is ‘replace’.  If the train can’t replace the road then we’ve just doubled our investment for a route from ‘A’ to ‘B’. 

What routes could a train replace then?  It would seem that would only be inter-city or inter-state routes.  Routes like Madison to Milwaukee where then we would could rip up I-94 and force you to take that train.  Or if you wanted to go to Chicago (oops, no I-90 anymore!) the train would be your option.  Imagine the profound impact on our mobility that this “road-less” Wisconsin would look like.  More like a trip to the distant past than progressing to the future.

So there you have it.  The next time someone tells you that we have too many roads you can simply explain that isn’t the case.  In fact, it would seem that we have the exact right number of roads.

Representative Brett Davis put forth legislation recently to simply require that before the state spends millions on ‘car-speed’ rail from Milwaukee to Madison that the State Legislature sign off on the expense.  Also, in a novel twist sure to drive Madison progressives up the wall, the legislation further asks for the approval before the money is spent.    

Why is this important?  For me personally the biggest issue is that we simply don’t have the money to spend on this boondoggle.  Folks that want trains at any cost will claim “hey, this is federal money!” – never mind the fact that federal money is still our money and the feds aren’t in any shape to be giving money to anyone either.  Remember your parents telling you that money doesn’t grow on trees?  I guess some people never learned that lesson.

The other argument you’ll hear is that if we don’t take the money then some other state will.  The problem with that is two-fold.  First of all, the money we get covers only a portion of the construction and doesn’t cover the ongoing operating expenses to keep this train moving (and by moving we mean just barely moving faster that your car, hardly ‘high-speed’ moving).  Second, remember your mom also asking you ‘if Jimmy jumped off a bridge would you too?’  Just because someone else might take the money doesn’t make it right for Wisconsin to take the money and all the strings attached.  That’s called standing on principle.   

If you want to learn more about this legislation, sign the petition, or e-mail your own representative about this bill then check out the web site www.stopthetrainwisconsin.org. 

Fascinating little tidbit about Progressive Dane – apparently they are not responsible for the content posted on their website.  Recently I made some comments regarding “An Ambitious Plan” which was posted (the plan that is, not my comments) on the front page of the Progressive Dane website.  As a quick recap, this is a plan for the RTA in Dane County with a major emphasis on building a train.  While rational people can debate whether those points represent an ordered list (most important to least) or just a list of equally important points, the conversation took a turn for the weird when I was informed that the content on their site doesn’t truly represent PD’s views.

So I’m in a quandary.  Do I accept the information posted on the PD site as representative of their group?  After all it is quite clearly written as a statement of Progressive Dane’s beliefs.  Do I accept the folks that post here as representatives of PD?  They certainly sound like they were involved in the aforementioned piece.  What about the individual that claims he has the inside scope to the ‘real’ PD people?  What a dilemma.  And they say the Democrat Party is in disarray…

You can view the website in its original form here, which I’ve saved for the historical record, and make your own call.  This is not a Facebook-like site where just anyone can post to your wall or Madison.com where you can comment freely on articles but rather what appears to a rather locked down web site representing a political party here in the county (thier website claims they are a political party in Dane County anyway, I feel like I can't trust anything I read on the internet now).  Bummer if we can’t count on the information posted on their site as being an accurate representation of their beliefs.     

Time will tell if there are some updates to the PD site to suppress all this talk about the train.  Regardless of the outcome of that, I wish them luck in figuring out how to manage their web site.  Perhaps they could look to the Dane County Republicans (www.danegop.org), recently of Isthmus front page fame, for some website pointers.*

*Disclaimer: Until someone from the Dane County Republicans informs me otherwise, I will assume that the material and information posted on their website belongs to them. 

In honor of the first meeting of the appointed RTA board last week I thought I would kick off my first post of the month related to that subject.  Before that though, I have to say that it is embarrassing that I haven’t had time to write nearly as much as I would have liked recently.  However, I am happily volunteering that time instead to help with the upcoming County Board Supervisor elections on April 6^th.  There are a great number of good candidates running in districts all across the county and I had hoped to write more about them here – but I digress.

Back to that unelected, appointed RTA board.  In addition to the first meeting of the unelected, appointed RTA board, what also got my interest peaked in this issue again was a post on the Progressive Dane website (www.prodane.org).  They’ve got their eyes on the unelected, appointed RTA board as well.  Remember how we’ve been told the RTA isn’t just about putting a train across Madison?  If Progressive Dane had their way it would be the first and foremost thing this appointed board does.  Next priority?  More bike paths so people can ride their bikes to… wait for it… the train.  In their words, these are two very important characteristics of what makes “fully functioning RTA”.  Important enough to make these points the first two things they mention.  Trains and bikes.  Bus service is mentioned too but way down at the fourth position (after we make sure we subsidize riding the train). 

Interestingly, the very last point, which seems like it was added as an afterthought to me, says it would be nice if the RTA could help people get to places employment too.  Consider how upside down those priorities are.  First, we need a train and the train must go from A to B to C.  Next we need to build bike paths so people can get to the train.  Next let’s make sure we subsidize people riding the train.  Lastly, if we must, let’s figure out if the train and bike paths actually meet some realistic, useful, functional use for the citizens of the county.  This reveals a lot about what is driving the desire to build the train.  It’s not about serving the people's needs – it is ideology plain and simple.

Remember when the RTA was passed?  Supporters, including several supervisors who voted for it, swore up and down we would have our referendum.  Just let them pass the RTA and ‘trust them’.  So the RTA passed and we should be poised to get an opportunity to vote on it, right?  Not so fast.  Of course we couldn’t have a referendum in April.  This far too important to vote on in April they say.  November is when we should do it, well, maybe.  

Predictably though, now that most of the appointments have been made their true colors are showing.  Steve Hiniker, one of the appointees to the Dane County RTA, has already come out and said “I wouldn’t go in tomorrow or in spring saying we need a referendum.”  Whoa, what happened to our guarantee?  Oh, that’s right; the board didn’t have the authority to promise that.  The RTA can do whatever they like without asking the voters squat.  Incidentally that particular quote was pulled between when I first read the article this afternoon and this evening.  Instead we now we have Supervisor Opitz saying a referendum is a bad idea.  Makes you wonder how much that promise to have a referendum is really worth.

And who exactly is Steve Hiniker?  He’s the executive director of 1000 Friends of Wisconsin.  This is an organization dedicated to “smart growth” policies and pushing trains on everyone.  Even a quick look at their website reveals their bias towards trains.  Of all the transportation projects listed on their website, over 70% are for rail, trolleys, or trams (and I’m being kind with that number, many of the other items include trains to some degree, just not outright).  Nope, no bias there.  No wonder Mr. Hiniker doesn’t believe the voters should get a say in this.  He already “knows” what’s best for us.  

Unlike those Supervisors who believe the RTA is a done deal and we won’t remember their promise to give us a referendum, Dane County Supervisor Eileen Bruskewitz is still fighting to allow the people of Dane County to have a voice.  If you believe we should have the opportunity to vote on such an important issue to our area then I urge you to contact your supervisor and let them know you support Eileen’s resolution.  Even better, turn out in April 2010 and let your County Supervisor who voted to create the RTA know how you feel. 

Not to be outdone by the CapTimes, the Isthmus came out today with their own hit piece and here come the labels!  Mr. Richardson is now consistently referred to “Dane County GOP spokesman” throughout the article.  Actually, saying they us it “consistently” doesn’t do them do justice.  “Dane County GOP spokesman” is plastered to his name just about everywhere it appears.  Previously in the CapTimes they inaccurately reported he was just supported by the Dane County Republican Party.  This is looking like a race to show which paper can be the most partisan.  Maybe Friday Mr. Richarsdson will receive a promotion in the Republican Party courtesy of the CapTimes.  We’ll just have to wait and see. Whatever Mr. Richardson’s personal beliefs may be, he clearly is not speaking on behalf of the Republican Party of Dane County when he speaking for The Great Train Robbery organization.  How are any of those labels relevant to the issue at hand?  They aren’t.  Clearly this is just an attempt by both the CapTimes and the Isthmus to marginalize Mr. Richardson’s message. 

On a side note, the Isthmus also does their best to low-ball the number of people who turned out against the RTA also.  While the CapTimes, in an ‘oversight’, suggested there was almost a hundred, the Isthmus reports dozens.  Hmm… dozens?  Like maybe 36, 48, or 60?  How about nearly 200 (188 by some, conservative counts)?  For the record that’s more than a dozen dozen.       

Representing the other side, County Board chairman Scott McDonell portrays those of us against his train as people who “hate all transit”.  This is the same guy who accuses Vicki McKenna of radicalizing the issue.  He goes on to say that if we’re against the trains stopping traffic, then “we shouldn’t have stop signs” – no radicalization there!  He also says the people who spoke against the RTA at the last board meeting were just "too angry" to be taken seriously although that same evening he said we didn’t count because we don’t live close enough to Madison.  I’m not sure what is more offending, to have Mr. McDonell say he ignored me because he thinks I don’t count or he ignored me because he thinks I’m too upset about where he’s leading us.  Remember, this is the person who is supposed to the representing the people of this county in important decisions – like the creation of an appointed board that doesn’t answer to the County Board that created it.    

The last thing I will point out is just one of the places where the Isthmus article ‘fudges’ the facts.  The article says that the voters will have to approve any sales tax proposed by the RTA.  This just isn’t true.  While Mr. McDonell and the other board members who supported the RTA may swear up and down that we’ll get our referendum, they conveniently leave out the fact that the RTA is not bound to do anything they say or promise on its behalf.  Furthermore, even if we have a referendum, it’s not binding.  The fact is that every, single soul in this county could vote against the sales tax increase and the RTA board can do whatever they like.  Small detail.

Now this is a sad, but too typical, example of Capital Times reporting.  In today’s paper they profile Bill Richardson who has been very vocal in raising awareness to the whole commuter rail and Dane County RTA discussion.  Unfortunately what they say leads a lot to be desired in accuracy.  It scares me to think that if I hadn’t been present Thursday night, I might think what they reported is accurate. 

They say “Richardson helped bring out about 100 people in opposition, a number nearly equal to those who registered in support” last Thursday night*.   In reality there were more registered in opposition than were in favor and there was nearly two hundred between those registered and those that spoke in opposition.  Perhaps not a lot more than those in support, but still more.  I sat through all five hours of it firsthand.  I guess ‘about 100’ is close enough to ‘about 200’ for some lines of work. 

*Note:  As I review this, I see where they say the numbers are nearly equal isn't technically inaccurate, it's just intended to create the impression those against where almost as many as those in favor. 

They also attempt to tie The Great Train Robbery to the Republican Party.  The Great Train Robbery website is not supported by the local Republican Party (or their website).  Those two groups certainly believe in a great number of the same points in this debate but The Great Train Robbery is not “supported” in any financial way by the Republican Party.  These are two distinct entities.

Lastly, it seems very easy for the County Board Supervisors who are in favor of the RTA to dismiss those of us who are not.  County Board Chairman Scott McDonell who suggests Mr. Richardson doesn’t have enough time vested in this to be a legitimate critic.  This is the same person (Chairman McDonnell) who dismissed those of us outside of Madison who spoke against the RTA simply because we live outside of Madison and the current RTA boundary (wasn’t this a county board meeting?).  This was literally minutes after we got done speaking.  It sends chills through my spine to hear our elected representatives say we don’t matter simply because we don’t live close enough to Madison.

Personally I am glad for people like Mr. Richardson who have spent their own time to help better educate and involve the people of this county in their local politics.  Contrary to the politicians and their supporters who would like to do this without any public scrutiny I think we are better served by a vigorous and transparent political process.  Perhaps he has been a bit too effective? 

The primary purposes that I created this site earlier this year was to be able to highlight issues, votes, and elected officials that are relevant to folks in Dane County but live outside of Madison, particularly west of Madison.  I appreciate the difficulty for so many of us that are busy with life, family, and/or careers to stay up to date on current events.  Knowing who all your representatives are from the federal level on down is difficult.  I sometimes wander into national issues but I will always do my best to get back to a local level or angle.

With regards to the Dane County RTA, keep in mind that it all started with the enabling legislation passing in the state budget.  Of particular interest to District 79 residents, remember that our representative, Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts, voted in favor of this.  This legislation is where it all started and set the stage for our county board to create the RTA in it's current form (as an unelected, appointed body) last Thursday night.

Next in line, our esteemed Governor line item vetoed the provision that the voters of Dane County would have the opportunity for a binding referendum on this issue.  This simple thing is all that many of folks who appeared last Thursday night in opposition to the RTA were asking for.  I guess he didn't believe we deserved a say in this matter.    

Lastly, this then went to the Dane County Board.  Here is how the vote to join the Dane County RTA broke down there: 

While not exact, the geographic line has pretty much been drawn.  Those inside Madison want more money for transit and they’ve voted to create this RTA to get at it. 

I had the pleasure of attending and speaking at the County Board meeting yesterday evening.  Here are some of things that I learned:

·   Apparently in today’s tough economic climate one of the first things graduates consider when looking for a job is whether or not the job is in a city with an RTA.  Who knew?  I’ve literally done hundreds of job interviews of recent or soon-to-be college graduates and not once has one ever asked me if there’s an RTA that serves the community my company is in.  Weird.

·   RTA’s are good for your health.  This is according to a Sierra Club study (unfortunately I couldn’t see the article the speaker was referring to, I’m going on his word) that says something to effect that homes near highways increase the rate of cancer.  Therefore getting everyone on the train will help lower the rate of cancer in our community.  I can’t argue with lowering cancer rates in Dane County.

·   An RTA will help “spread the fairness” of paying for Madison Metro.  Clearly if you live in Stoughton it’s only fair that you help subsidize the buses in Madison.  Surely you’ve used it before or might use it… be honest and pay up.

·   Move over MADD… here comes the RTA!  The RTA will fix our DUI problem in the county.  It will so improve transportation in this county that even if you live far outside of Madison there will be a train, bus, or other RTA-guided service to get you from the bar to your doorstep.  By the way, taxis don’t count, I learned those are too expensive last night and you can’t expect someone to pay for a taxi! 

As you can see, it was a very enlightening evening for me.  Here I was worried about whether or not I would have representation as the RTA raises our taxes, how much it will cost, and silly stuff like that.  If they do raise our taxes then I’ll just call my supervisor… no wait… the county board doesn’t have authority over the RTA.  But didn't they promise the RTA would give us a referendum? I thought the RTA had no legal responsibility to answer to the board.  If they can't make promises for the RTA then how does that work?  I'm sorry I'm getting off on a tangent... stupid details!  I learned to not sweat the details last night too, we just need trust them. 

Perhaps I’ll need to contact the county executive; she appoints two people… or the member from a village within the jurisdiction of that authority other than those appointed by Madison appointed by the Dane County Cities and Villages Association or something like that…  I’m sure that person is looking out for us, I just to need figure out who that person is first. 

Anyway, I know someone is looking out for us voters - I learned that this whole taxation without representation nonsense is a big red herring last night too.  If nothing else there is always the governor since he gets to appoint one person.  Even though the governor vetoed our ability to have a binding referendum on this I’m sure he’ll be responsive to my concerns - Dane County transportation issues surely will be one of his top priorities. 

Why would the Sierra Club support the formation of a Dane County ‘Regional’ Transit Authority?  I’ve heard prominent members of the Sierra Club state they would support true regional (regional = Milwaukee to Madison or Madison to Chicago) rail but putting a train in a city just doesn’t make sense for protecting the environment.  A train running through Madison would increase congestion (and corresponding carbon emissions) and the engines themselves are huge polluters.  High speed rail that can run at high speed from city to city might make sense.  But a train starting and stopping across Madison is quite possibly the worst way to use a train from an environmental impact perspective.  Clearly they’ve chosen to put politics above the environment here.  So much for the façade of protecting our natural environment, their true colors are shining through now. 

It’s the ultimate irony that the “Call to Action” support the Dane County RTA is coming from the local chapter’s “Global Warming Team”.  Given their apparent support of putting this train in Madison, you have to wonder if they are in fact supporters of global warming?  Or perhaps better stated, they’re supporters of whatever is most politically expedient.

If you’re curious about how we might truly make a positive impact on the environment, check out this interesting and informative article from the Cato Institute.