Support for the KRM line between Milwaukee and Chicago has been growing for years and is starting to expand beyond political parties and traditional “conservative vs. liberal” boundaries.
Three prominent Southeastern Wisconsin business leaders – Tim Sheehey, Todd Battle and Roger Caron – write about the need to move forward on the KRM line in today’s Racine Journal Times:
Our organizations are responsible for increasing the economic vitality of the surrounding community, and while each city faces unique challenges, we share a common goal of fostering business development, job creation and capital investment.
None of our cities is unique in its work to support the efficient and continued operation of transit systems at a time when state and federal funds for transit are stagnant. We all agree that frequent, reliable transit is critical to ensuring that all residents can access jobs. Conversely, reliable transit is critical in assuring businesses that they are accessible by employees.
Timothy Sheehy represents the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Roger Caron represents Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce and Todd Battle is with the Kenosha Area Business Alliance.
The business community is on board in support of mass transit and they’re a welcome passenger in the push for economic development, connecting workers to jobs and connecting Milwaukee to the global marketplace.
I live in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Milwaukee, WI with my wife Jen, our daughter Emerson, and sons Carter and Colton.
(This is a genuine question, even though I can’t figure out a way to phrase it without it sounding like I’m taking a jab.) Do you think they believe that Chicago citizens will commute to their Milwaukee businesses to work rather than the other way around? Given the population densities and the collapse of the financial sector (of which Chicago is heavily invested), I find it unlikely that there would be an abundance of jobs in Chicago such that they would need to import Milwaukee citizens. However, I could see how a sudden merging of the two job markets would put downward pressure on the wages of Milwaukee jobs, since there would be a larger pool of labor.
No, that’s a fair question Matt… I can’t say with 100% certainty obviously how people in Chicago would react or if the scenario you paint would happen.
What I can say is I know a fair number of couples who split jobs between Milwaukee and Chicago and that a good commuter rail option would open up the possibilities to where they could live and raise their kids. I think there would be people from Chicago who would look at moving closer to Milwaukee if they could commute easily to their jobs in Chicago or on the north side.
That would be a big win for Milwaukee, as I think we have clear quality of life advantages of the Chicago suburbs. If we could draw a few thousand people to the Milwaukee area and let them and their families plant roots here, that’s a positive and something every city is trying to do.
Would people go the opposite way? I’m sure there are some who would, but I think if you look forward, the fates of Chicago and Milwaukee are linked and we should start making plans to benefits from that eventual megalopolis.
If you look at it that way, Milwaukee doesn’t win or lose and Chicago doesn’t win or lose. The region as a whole wins.
Dan, thanks for the response. I think you make some great points there regarding the expansion of Chicago city limits, if you will. I believe that is currently the case with areas to the south and east of Chicago, yes? I’ve ridden a train from Michigan City to a Cubs game once before.
Timothy Sheehy may represent the MMAC, but he doesn’t represent me. At times, I question how well the MMAC truly represents regional businesses. What Timothy says in the article is true regarding the need for business development, but his statements do not make any logical connection to how a KRM line is going to spark this development.
Is everyone “united” in believing that a KRM line will accomplish this? I think not. KRM is an expairiment, not a proven solution.
I cannot blame the MMAC whatsoever for getting on board (no pun intended) with an “investment” program created by liberal idealogues who wish for Milwaukee to mimmic Boston, because any support for business in WI is hard to come by from state government.
I question if its actually light rail, or even subsidized public transportation, thats truly holding regional business back, and I don’t think KRM is a solution that addresses this problem.