October 17, 2008

NEWS FROM THE MAYOR

Dear Friends,

Earlier this week, Amtrak announced record setting ridership numbers. Every Amtrak route in the country saw ridership gains as 28.7 million people took to the rails for business and vacation travel. This is the sixth year of ridership and revenue growth for Amtrak.

The Hiawatha Service between Chicago and Milwaukee carried 750,000 passengers last year, a 26 percent increase. Several other Illinois routes also posted double-digit gains.

As a person who is committed to the economic success of the Milwaukee region, you understand the importance of having the necessary infrastructure to compete in the global economy.

A comprehensive transit system is an important piece of that infrastructure, and a key component to the quality of life needed to attract and retain a talented workforce. In an era of increased gas prices, having alternatives to automobile transportation is particularly important, as the increased Amtrak ridership numbers show.

More than 18 months ago, I developed a comprehensive transit strategy for Milwaukee. You can read details about my plan at www.city.milwaukee.gov/transit.

On that site, you can also sign up to receive further notifications of transit news, volunteer to help promote transit in Milwaukee and express your support for my plan to move transit forward in Milwaukee.

Last month, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and I discussed transit in Milwaukee as part of Mike Gousha’s “On the Issues” series at Marquette University. I argued that a successful comprehensive transit system should include a mix of different transit options and that the $91.5m in available federal funding should be used for two bus rapid transit routes and a starter streetcar system connecting downtown jobs, residents and attractions. You can listen to the entire discussion by clicking here.

After the discussion, the Marquette Tribune editorial board stated that my plan “has a clear idea of where transit needs to go” and is “a picture of what Milwaukee's future should look like”. You can read the full editorial here.  I hope you will join me in moving Milwaukee forward by supporting my plan for comprehensive transit.

Sincerely,

Mayor, City of Milwaukee 

Visit my website at: http://www.city.milwaukee.gov/mayor