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The Bottom Line: History shows commuter rail could really take us places
By Michael Burke
What a fascinating time and place to be covering business and economic development. We are living in times when Racine County is being economically reshaped in momentous ways.
Some of the greatest changes include:
* The decline of traditional manufacturing.
* The extension of sewer and water to Interstate 94 and the development that will bring.
* The revival of Downtown Racine and growth of housing there.
* The prospect of getting commuter rail here, through the KRM (Kenosha to Racine to Milwaukee) project.
Eugene Skoropowski was chief railroad services officer for Boston's sprawling commuter rail system when it was extended to Haverhill, Mass., in 1979. He used Haverhill to show what commuter rail can do for a community after 10, 15 or 25 years. We won't regurgitate his presentation here but will share a few quotes and impressions.
First, a point of geography. Boston's commuter rail network is like a spider, with Beantown as the spider's body, and the various rail lines as its segmented legs, radiating outward.
Haverhill lies at the very end of one of those lines. That fact suggests that commuter rail's potential should be even greater here, as KRM would link the Racine area to a major city on both ends.
With that said, a few quotes and impressions from Tuesday's talk: Skoropowski - Commuter rail "will most likely improve the quality of life."
* Commuter rail brought young professionals and empty nesters to live in what had been a decrepit downtown area.
* Haverhill's median income was $15,044 in 1980, and Racine's was $18,437.
By 2000 Haverhill's median income was $49,833 and Racine's was $37,164.
* Commuter rail "can be a deciding factor in attracting or retaining a business. That's one reason companies love to be in the Loop (of Chicago); they can draw talent from the whole area."
* The lineal population development from Milwaukee to Racine, Kenosha and Chicago is ideal for a commuter rail operation.
* The existing railroad corridor is a "blessing."
"Most communities would have to assemble a fortune to do something like that - if they could do it at all."
* Haverhill started with six passenger round-trips per weekday. Now it runs 13.
* Haverhill's population grew by 15 percent during the 1990s, more than triple the state average.
* Metra is considered to be one of the best commuter rail services in the nation.
* Cost comparisons: Rebuilding the Marquette interchange will cost $810 million; rebuilding I-94 from Milwaukee to the Illinois line will cost about $1.2 billion; and KRM would cost $152 million.
"Think of it as one good highway rebuilding project," Skoropowski said.
(Why not just delay the I-94 project for a couple of years and build this first? It would relieve freeway congestion during that hideous mess of a project.) * California passenger trains carry bike racks so one can bike to the train and bike home after work.
* To get federal funding, "You must be able to convince the your politicians ... the region is reasonably unified on the desire for it. You need a political champion."
(See below for another word about political leadership on KRM.) * On the ability of a railroad line to handle both passenger and freight trains: In California, where Skoropowski now directs the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority, they run 24 passenger and 42 freight trains per day on the same tracks.
* "In Europe they have built choices in travel for their people. If there is no choice, you're condemned to the road, period."
Unsolicited testimonial - An audience member who said she'd lived in Elmhurst, Ill., for five years extolled, at some length, the benefits of what commuter rail did for that community.
"And I picked this community," she said, "because of the possibility of the same thing happening here."
Audience - The Rondelle held a near-capacity audience of 286 people.
The best gauge of their enthusiasm and curiosity was this: Skoropowski breezed through his presentation in 30 minutes. The audience then kept him busy with questions for 45 minutes - and Skoropowski was anything but long-winded.
I can't remember the last time I saw something like that happen.
Elected officials - Unfortunately, that curiosity and enthusiasm was apparently not shared by most local and county elected officials. I and my companions noticed that only four or five of them attended.
They included Racine Mayor Gary Becker, one city alderman, one county supervisor, one Caledonia supervisor and former Racine County executive Jean Jacobson.
Wouldn't the rest of our elected officials want to learn more about something that has the potential to transform the Racine area and improve its quality of life?
That's what I thought, too.
To learn more about KRM, visit http://www.krmonline.org. You can also register comments there, to help convince the powers that be that KRM should or should not be built.
Retail roundup We have lots of restaurant appetizers today.
* Mexican food comes to the north side with Monday's opening of Laura's Kitchen at 3739 Douglas Ave. That's where the La Gondola restaurant used to be.
The name Laura's Kitchen doesn't sound particularly Mexican, but the food will be.
More coming soon in The Journal Times.
* Now here's a Mexican-sounding name: El Jalapeņo Dog. That's what the former Tooty's Ice Cream, 1949 State St., will become in a couple of weeks. It'll be a Chicago-style hot dog stand.
* As promised by the new owners, Piglet's Ham `n Egger reopened Friday right on schedule. The formerly popular New Orleans-style restaurant at 1401 N. Main St. is now non-smoking.
* Also reopening right on schedule Friday was Sugar Shack Sweet Shoppe, 530 Monument Square. The six new owners snatched Downtown's 1-year-old ice cream parlor when it was on the brink of closure.
Business reporter Michael Burke can be reached at (262) 631-1716 or by e-mail at: mburke@journaltimes.com
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