With opponents like these, an RTA must be a good idea
August 23, 2007
If you’ve ever thought that mass transit districts were part of a deliberate, high-level conspiracy by “pro-tax advocates” to force people into “high density housing” (*), price working class folks out of the city, and otherwise “control how we live” (seriously!), you’ll love Eileen Bruskewitz’s absurd and dishonest column in today’s Wisconsin State Journal.
It is no coincidence that new county zoning changes were introduced recently by supervisors from the city of Madison to more tightly control residential and business growth in the towns.
No doubt construction will be permitted within a half-mile of train tracks, but prohibited beyond.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that, yes, it was a coincidence that the county board considered new zoning regulations in the very same decade that other local governing bodies were considering a regional transportation authority.
I’m going to go even further out on a limb and bet that the county board is not, in fact, considering the prohibition of all construction further than a half mile from the railroad tracks. And as long as we’re discussing the finer points of delusional conspiracy theories, wouldn’t it make more sense to force the proletariat to live close to train stations, not close to train tracks?
This is just crazy. Bruskewitz sits on the county board. Doesn’t she have some obligation to her constituents, and to the rest of the county, to not spread bogus lies in the region’s biggest newspaper?
For that matter, doesn’t the Wisconsin State Journal have an obligation to its readers to not print bogus lies, even under the guise of an opinion column? Could they find no one to write a piece opposing the creation of an RTA without resorting to “arguments” like:
This horror show is now playing in Denver and Sacramento where Regional Transit Authorities are lusting after additional 1-cent and half-cent sales taxes to keep their zombie train and trolley systems alive.
Oh my God! A metro area of over 2.1 million people wants to support its urban transportation infrastructure with a half-penny tax! The end times are near! Roads, by contrast, are obviously free, and require no tax dollars to maintain.
(*) Opponents of anti-sprawl measures want to conjure up the image of Soviet-style apartment complexes, but we’re far more likely to see an increase in the popularity of pre-war neighborhood designs: straight streets, smaller lots, community parks, sidewalks, mixed residential and commercial neighborhoods, the corner store, and so on.
The success of New Urbanist neighborhoods in the area, the premiums commanded by homes in Old Urbanist neighborhoods compared to homes in more traditionally suburban neighborhoods, and the fact that we all keep electing proponents of mass transit to office, suggest to me that the demand for “high density” subdivisions is outstripping the supply, and that, all things being equal, people want the choices offered by local rail networks and by more sustainable development policies, and like the lifestyle they afford.
August 24th, 2007 at 7:34 am
Ben,
While I tend to support the RTA, with out Dave Trolley Follies of course, I do think the “price working folks out of Madison” have a point.
By far, most of the development downtown is directed at a particular class of society, or their rich brats. It does not take a brain scientist to realize that ‘tourism” is code word for gentrification policy.
All transit is not created equal. Dave’s trolley, if you looked at the maps, did not truly serve the city and was the blueprint for a gentrification policy. The county plan I am more in favor of. Its aim is the county and its citizens, rather than terrorists, I mean tourists.
There was a reason RTA could not pass the council with Dave’s trolley follies. Much of that opposition came from left of center quarters who are concerned about class issues.
But, just got a look Eileen and boy I can’t stand that women. I think the concern is on target, but its sort of like Bush making an argument in favor of civil liberties.
August 24th, 2007 at 9:44 am
I agree that a trolley system that runs only from Hilldale to the Union Corners development is a waste of time, and won’t provide legitimate transportation alternatives to city residents.
Trains that connect downtown, and the area’s commercial and industrial centers, with residential neighborhoods and the suburbs, offer a much better solution to future transportation needs.
The jury is still out on whether the numbers work, but it’s a pretty clear starting point. The anti-tax hysteria about the cost seems more like an artifact of selectively interpreting the data, especially with regards to not including the full cost of road-building and a continued reliance on car-only transportation, than on an evaluation of the system as a whole.
August 24th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Perhaps people would be more comfortable with the tax increase if it were permanently earmarked for the RTA. We’re talking about a new and permanent tax, and it should go to the new transit system and it’s upkeep. But it seems likely that after it is built, the money from the new tax will not go to the RTA, but rather into the regular road spending.
I think that’s what most of the anti-tax hysteria is about. Why should we increase taxes to pay for more transit solutions when so much transit money is already wasted?
August 28th, 2007 at 11:20 am
I like this RTA idea. Could it pay for some of the UN’s black helicopters, in furtherance of our upcoming invasion of the United States? BB-G
August 29th, 2007 at 4:26 am
The reason many people oppose this. They wonder is there really a need for it? The question is will the board memebers be elected or appointed? Will this help or deepen the TAX HELL Wisconson already is.
November 9th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
[…] I’ve said mean things about them in the past (and sometimes they’ve even deserved it), but the Wisconsin State Journal’s editorial board is right on the money in arguing that Dane County’s current transportation infrastructure is unsustainable, that an RTA is needed, and that the health of the entire region depends on the strength of Madison’s economy. […]