How Weston, Wisconsin saved its buses

Truthdig: "Hanley pointed proudly to the union’s outreach to community and church groups to save bus service last year in Weston, Wis., a town of 15,000. Weston’s Village Council, as part of austerity cuts, had voted to eliminate local bus service. A broad coalition of groups organized to get an advisory vote put on the ballot to block the council’s decision. It was the same ballot on which Gov. Scott Walker, a foe of organized labor and a proponent of the austerity cuts, faced recall. Walker won his fight in the state and in Weston to stay in office. But about 65 percent of those who went to the polls in Weston, many of whom voted not to recall Walker, voted to protect their bus service."

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Koch-puppet wants to cut #publictransit. No surprise there.

The Badger Herald · Metro faces cuts in Walker’s new budget: "Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed two-year budget will cut the funding of public transit systems around the state, including Madison Metro Transit, if it is passed unchanged.

General Manager of Madison Metro, Chuck Kamp, said the proposed budget will restrict Madison Metro’s ability to keep up with the demand of the public transport service’s riders."

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If #freetransit is so expensive, why can beer companies afford it?

Free Milwaukee County bus rides on St. Patrick's Day: "A 20-year St. Patrick's Day tradition returns this year when Miller Lite Free Rides again partners with the Milwaukee County Transit System to provide free bus rides to the public on March 17

The free service will be on all MCTS routes beginning at 6 p.m. and continuing until the end of that day's service."

Wisconsin Koch-puppet uses #publictransit funding as bait for big sellout

Scott Walker's transportation budget might rely on sale of state power plants:

Walker's plan would increase transportation funding over two years by about $500 million, Webster said. In addition to borrowing money, he would boost transportation spending by using money from the state account used to pay for schools, health care for the poor and other programs.

Walker wants to fund mass transit with money from the state's main account instead of its separate transportation fund, as has happened for years. Walker tried that in 2011, but failed to get the proposal passed. Transit advocates say keeping their funding in the transportation account provides them more protection in the long term.K

Oshkosh, free buses for UWO staff and students triples ridership

Public transportation use by UWO staff, students reaches all-time high | The Oshkosh Northwestern | thenorthwestern.com: "UWO began offering free bus rides to its students and staff in 2000. Since then, ridership has more than tripled."

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Europe and China moving to free transit while Wisconsin just cuts

Wisconsinites fight for mass transit! | Fight Back!: "Madison, WI - Unions and community groups, including the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998 (ATU), Disability Rights Wisconsin and Community Action Now (CAN) gathered inside the Capitol Building here, Jan. 23, for a press conference demanding a reversal of a 10% funding cut, increased funding for transit and the creation of a Regional Transit Authority with elected members. A Regional Transit Authority would allow for better localized coordination and organization of mass transit."

GOP is party of sprawl

Republican Road Rage:
As statistics in the accompanying graph by researcher Ruy Teixeira show, Romney won 68 percent of the vote in areas with just 10 people per square mile, about 57 percent of areas with 170 people per square mile and 51 percent of areas with 600 people per square mile. But he lost any districts with more than 800 people per square mile, with his percentage dropping to as low as 20 or even 15 percent in areas with 36,000 people per square mile.