RTA Legislation Crafted with Three Principles  Keep it simple  Provide maximum local flexibility  Utilize existing law whenever possible

KEY DEFINITION Regional Transportation System: “Means all land, shops, structures, equipment, property, franchises and rights of whatever nature required for the transportation of passengers or freight within the boundaries of, and under the jurisdiction of, the Regional Transportation Authority and includes but is not limited to, surface rail, elevated railroads, subways, underground railroads, motor vehicles, motor buses and any combination thereof, and any other form of mass transportation.” “Means all land, shops, structures, equipment, property, franchises and rights of whatever nature required for the transportation of passengers or freight within the boundaries of, and under the jurisdiction of, the Regional Transportation Authority and includes but is not limited to, surface rail, elevated railroads, subways, underground railroads, motor vehicles, motor buses and any combination thereof, and any other form of mass transportation.”

Creating a RTA Decisions Left to Local Governments Governance Governance Powers, duties and limitation of the Authority Powers, duties and limitation of the Authority Method of financing both the formation and operation Method of financing both the formation and operation Boundaries of the RTA Boundaries of the RTA

A Regional Transportation Authority Can Consist of a Single Municipality (defined as a city, county or village) or any combination of municipalities

How to Create a Regional Transportation Authority Pass an authorizing resolution that spells out: Governance Governance Powers of Duties Powers of Duties Financing of Formation & Operations Financing of Formation & Operations

Options for Approving Authorizing Resolution  Majority vote of local legislative body  Two-thirds vote of legislative body  Referendum

Powers of the RTA Impose a sales tax of up to half a cent Impose a sales tax of up to half a cent Issue revenue bonds Issue revenue bonds Contract with existing transportation systems for the operation of those systems (much of this language is drawn from current law) Contract with existing transportation systems for the operation of those systems (much of this language is drawn from current law) Coordinate specialized transportation services Coordinate specialized transportation services

Obligations to employees of transit systems acquired by an authority: “ An authority acquiring, constructing, controlling or operating a transportation system shall negotiate an agreement protecting the interests of employees affected…” “preserve existing rights under an existing collective bargaining agreement or other agreement” (existing statute)

Provisions for Release in Membership in the Authority Must be accepted by a majority of members in the RTA Must be accepted by a majority of members in the RTA Financial obligations must be met Financial obligations must be met

The Road Ahead Legislative Approval – No Easy Task Legislative Approval – No Easy Task Need Must be Based on Primarily Three Arguments: Need Must be Based on Primarily Three Arguments: 1. Insufficient Property Tax 2. Economic Development 3. Environmental Benefits

REASON I: Property tax revenue is not sufficient to meet current and future needs - critical in the Fox Cities urban area

Once the adjusted urbanized area reaches a population of 200,000 Valley Transit will be losing a large portion of federal operating funds

Legislators need to know this and they need to hear it from you through a coalition representing all stakeholders, including Green Bay

Property Tax Revenue Replacement Key Questions: Can revenue generated by a sales tax of up to one-half cent be used to replace property tax revenues now used to fund transportation?

How much of your local levy is now used to finance public transportation?

Southeast Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority “The plight of the Milwaukee Transit System, and to a lesser extent, its Racine and Kenosha counterparts, as competition for limited property tax revenue continues a cycle of fare increases and service cuts. Some public officials, riders and bus drivers have pressed for a dedicated revenue source to protect the buses that tens of thousands of people ride to work and school every day.” “The plight of the Milwaukee Transit System, and to a lesser extent, its Racine and Kenosha counterparts, as competition for limited property tax revenue continues a cycle of fare increases and service cuts. Some public officials, riders and bus drivers have pressed for a dedicated revenue source to protect the buses that tens of thousands of people ride to work and school every day.” Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

The Southeast Wisconsin RTA calculated the property tax savings by imposing a bus tax and a rail tax…can you demonstrate that a sales tax dedicated to transit will reduce property taxes?

Reason II: Economic Development Benefits of KRM Commuter Rail

Station area land development and redevelopment – estimation of potential land development and redevelopment around rail stations, and additional employment, property tax and sales tax - Minneapolis Station area land development and redevelopment – estimation of potential land development and redevelopment around rail stations, and additional employment, property tax and sales tax - Minneapolis

Improved access to jobs and labor force – connection of population and jobs

Key Question Can you make the case that a unified transportation system stretching from Green Bay to Oshkosh will provide economic development benefits?

Reason III: Environmental Benefits Can you Demonstrate: A reduction in automobile use? A reduction in automobile use? A reduction in emissions? A reduction in emissions? Increased safety of travel? Increased safety of travel? Increased reliability? Increased reliability?