transportation
Other transportation
This bill creates, or authorizes the creation of, three regional transit authorities: a southeast regional transit authority (SE RTA), a Dane County regional transit authority (DC RTA), and a Fox Cities regional transit authority (FC RTA). Upon creation, each transit authority is a public body corporate and politic and a separate governmental entity.
The SE RTA is created if the governing body of Milwaukee County or Kenosha County, or of any municipality located within that portion of Racine County east of I 94, adopts a resolution authorizing the county or municipality to become a member of the SE RTA. If any of these counties or municipalities fails to adopt a resolution creating the SE RTA, these counties and municipalities, as well as Racine County, may also join the SE RTA after it has been created by one or more other counties or municipalities. If Milwaukee County or Kenosha County joins the SE RTA, all municipalities located within Milwaukee County or Kenosha County, respectively, become members of the SE RTA. Any of the counties of Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington may join the SE RTA upon adoption of a resolution by the county's governing body and any municipality located within the county may join the SE RTA upon adoption of a resolution by the municipality's governing body and approval of the SE RTA's board of directors. The jurisdictional area of the SE RTA is the geographic area formed by the combined territorial boundaries of counties and municipalities that are members of the SE RTA.
The DC RTA is created if the governing body of Dane County adopts a resolution authorizing the county to become a member of the DC RTA. Once created, the members of the DC RTA consist of Dane County and all municipalities located within the Madison metropolitan planning area (MMPA). Any municipality located within Dane County but not within the MMPA may join the DC RTA upon adoption of a resolution by the municipality's governing body and approval of the DC RTA's board of directors. The jurisdictional area of the DC RTA is the geographic area formed by the MMPA combined with the territorial boundaries of all municipalities outside the MMPA that join the DC RTA.
The members of the FC RTA consist of Outagamie County, Calumet County, and Winnebago County and all municipalities located within the urbanized area of the Fox Cities metropolitan planning area (UFCMPA). Any municipality located within Outagamie County, Calumet County, or Winnebago County but not within the UFCMPA may join the FC RTA upon adoption of a resolution by the municipality's governing body and approval of the FC RTA's board of directors. The jurisdictional area of the FC RTA is the geographic area formed by UFCMPA combined with the territorial boundaries of all municipalities outside the UFCMPA that join the FC RTA.
An RTA's authority is vested in its board of directors. Directors serve four-year terms. An RTA's bylaws govern its management, operations, and administration and must include provisions specifying all of the following:
1. The functions or services to be provided by the RTA.
2. The powers, duties, and limitations of the RTA.
3. The maximum rate of the sales and use tax, not exceeding the statutory limit, that may be imposed by the RTA.
An RTA may do all of the following:
1. Establish or acquire a comprehensive unified local transportation system, which is a transportation system comprised of bus lines and other public transportation facilities generally within the jurisdictional area of the RTA. "Transportation system" is defined to include land, structures, equipment, and other property for transportation of passengers, including by bus, rail, or other form of mass transportation. The RTA may operate this transportation system or provide for its operation by another. The RTA may contract with a public or private organization to provide transportation services in lieu of directly providing these services and may purchase and lease transportation facilities to public or private transit companies. With two exceptions, an RTA may not directly or by contract provide service outside the RTA's jurisdictional area.
2. Coordinate specialized transportation services for persons who are disabled or aged 60 or older.
3. Own or lease real or personal property.
4. Acquire property by condemnation.
5. Enter upon highways to install, maintain, and operate the RTA's facilities.
6. Impose, by the adoption of a resolution by the RTA's board of directors, a sales and use tax in the RTA's jurisdictional area at a rate of not more than 0.5 percent of the gross receipts or sales price.
7. Incur debts and obligations. An RTA may issue tax-exempt revenue bonds, secured by a pledge of any income or revenues from any operations or other source of moneys for the RTA. The bonds of an RTA are not a debt of its member political subdivisions and neither the member political subdivisions nor the state are liable for the payment of the bonds.
8. Set fees and charges for functions, facilities, and services provided by the RTA.
9. Adopt bylaws and rules to carry out the powers and purposes of the RTA.
10. Sue and be sued in its own name.
11. Employ agents, consultants, and employees, engage professional services, and purchase furniture, supplies, and materials reasonably necessary to perform its duties and exercise its powers.
12. Invest funds not required for immediate disbursement.
13. Do and perform any authorized acts by means of an agent or by contracts with any person.
14. Exercise any other powers that the board of directors considers necessary and convenient to effectuate the purposes of the RTA, including providing for passenger safety.
The board of directors of an RTA must annually prepare a budget for the RTA. Rates and other charges received by the RTA must be used only for the general expenses and capital expenditures of the RTA, to pay interest, amortization, and retirement charges on the RTA's revenue bonds, and for specific purposes of the RTA and may not be transferred to any political subdivision. The RTA must maintain an accounting system in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and must have its financial statements and debt covenants audited annually by an independent certified public accountant.
An RTA must provide, or contract for the provision of, transit service within the RTA's jurisdictional area. An RTA that acquires a transportation system for the purpose of operating the system must assume all of the employer's obligations under any contract between the employees and management of the system to the extent allowed by law. An RTA that acquires, constructs, or operates a transportation system must negotiate an agreement with the representative of the labor organization that covers the employees affected by the acquisition, construction, or operation to protect the interests of employees affected, and that agreement must include specified provisions. Employees of the RTA are participatory employees under the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) if the RTA elects to join the WRS.
A member political subdivision for which joinder into the SE RTA is optional may withdraw from this RTA if the governing body of the political subdivision adopts a resolution requesting withdrawal from the RTA and the political subdivision has paid, or made provision for the payment of, all obligations of the political subdivision to the RTA. A member of the SE RTA that must become a member as a result of the membership of the county in which the municipality is located must withdraw from the SE RTA if the county in which the municipality is located withdraws from the SE RTA.
Current law provides limited immunity for cities, villages, towns, counties, and other political corporations and governmental subdivisions, and for officers, officials, agents, and employees of these entities, for acts done in an official capacity or in the course of employment. Claimants must generally follow a specified claims procedure and liability for damages is generally limited to $50,000 except that no liability may be imposed for performance of a discretionary duty or for punitive damages. If a person suffers damage resulting from the negligent operation of a motor vehicle owned and operated by a county, city, village, town, school district, sewer district, or other political subdivision of the state in the course of its business, the person may file a claim for damages following this claims procedure and the amount of damages recoverable is limited to $250,000. This bill specifies that this provision related to claims and liability for negligent operation of a motor vehicle by a political subdivision applies to an RTA.
The bill also allows RTAs to participate in organizing municipal insurance mutuals to provide insurance and risk management services.
Under current law, the counties of Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee must create a Regional Transit Authority (KRM RTA). The KRM RTA is responsible for the coordination of transit and commuter rail programs within these counties but has no authority to manage or operate any transit system. The KRM RTA may receive funding by imposing a rental car transaction fee within these counties, but the fee may be used only to hire staff, conduct studies, and prepare a report to the legislature and the governor, due by November 15, 2008. The report must include certain information, including a recommendation as to whether the responsibilities of the KRM RTA should be limited to collection and distribution of regional transit funding or should also include operation of transit service and a recommendation on whether the KRM RTA should continue in existence after September 30, 2009.
This bill terminates the KRM RTA and modifies the rental car transaction fee so that it provides a funding source for the SE RTA if the SE RTA is created.
For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 20.566 (1) (gc) of the statutes is created to read:
20.566 (1) (gc) Administration of transit authority taxes. From the moneys received from the appropriation account under s. 20.835 (4) (gc), the amounts in the schedule for the purpose of administering the transit authority taxes imposed under s. 77.708. Notwithstanding s. 20.001 (3) (a), at the end of the fiscal year the unencumbered balance in this appropriation account shall be transferred to the appropriation account under s. 20.835 (4) (gc).
****NOTE: This SECTION involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
SECTION 2. 20.835 (4) (gc) of the statutes is created to read:
20.835 (4) (gc) Transit authority taxes. All moneys received from the taxes imposed under s. 77.708, and from the appropriation account under s. 20.566 (1) (gc), for the purpose of distribution to the transit authorities that adopt a resolution imposing taxes under subch. V of ch. 77, except that 1.5 percent of those tax revenues collected under subch. V of ch. 77 shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.566 (1) (gc).
****NOTE: This SECTION involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
SECTION 3. 20.835 (4) (gh) of the statutes is amended to read:
20.835 (4) (gh) Regional transit authority fees. All moneys received from the fees imposed under subch. XIII of ch. 77, and from the appropriation account under s. 20.566 (1) (gh), for distribution to the regional transit authority created under s. 59.58 (6) 66.1039 (2) (a), except that 2.55% of the moneys received from the fees imposed under subch. XIII of ch. 77 shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.566 (1) (gh).
SECTION 4. 32.02 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:
32.02 (11) Any housing authority created under ss. 66.1201 to 66.1211; redevelopment authority created under s. 66.1333; community development authority created under s. 66.1335; local cultural arts district created under subch. V of ch. 229, subject to s. 229.844 (4) (c); or local exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229; or transit authority created under s. 66.1039.
SECTION 5. 32.05 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
32.05 (1) (a) Except as provided under par. (b), a county board of supervisors or a county highway committee when so authorized by the county board of supervisors, a city council, a village board, a town board, a sewerage commission governing a metropolitan sewerage district created by ss. 200.05 or 200.21 to 200.65, the secretary of transportation, a commission created by contract under s. 66.0301, a joint local water authority created by contract under s. 66.0823, a transit authority created under s. 66.1039, a housing authority under ss. 66.1201 to 66.1211, a local exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229, a local cultural arts district created under subch. V of ch. 229, a redevelopment authority under s. 66.1333 or a community development authority under s. 66.1335 shall make an order providing for the laying out, relocation and improvement of the public highway, street, alley, storm and sanitary sewers, watercourses, water transmission and distribution facilities, mass transit facilities, airport, or other transportation facilities, gas or leachate extraction systems to remedy environmental pollution from a solid waste disposal facility, housing project, redevelopment project, cultural arts facilities, exposition center or exposition center facilities which shall be known as the relocation order. This order shall include a map or plat showing the old and new locations and the lands and interests required. A copy of the order shall, within 20 days after its issue, be filed with the county clerk of the county wherein the lands are located or, in lieu of filing a copy of the order, a plat may be filed or recorded in accordance with s. 84.095.
SECTION 6. 32.07 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
32.07 (2) The petitioner shall determine necessity if application is by the state or any commission, department, board or other branch of state government or by a city, village, town, county, school district, board, commission, public officer, commission created by contract under s. 66.0301, joint local water authority under s. 66.0823, transit authority created under s. 66.1039, redevelopment authority created under s. 66.1333, local exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229, local cultural arts district created under subch. V of ch. 229, housing authority created under ss. 66.1201 to 66.1211 or for the right-of-way of a railroad up to 100 feet in width, for a telegraph, telephone or other electric line, for the right-of-way for a gas pipeline, main or service or for easements for the construction of any elevated structure or subway for railroad purposes.
SECTION 7. 40.02 (28) of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act 20, section 756, is amended to read:
40.02 (28) "Employer" means the state, including each state agency, any county, city, village, town, school district, other governmental unit or instrumentality of 2 or more units of government now existing or hereafter created within the state, any federated public library system established under s. 43.19 whose territory lies within a single county with a population of 500,000 or more, a local exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229, a transit authority created under s. 66.1039, and a long-term care district created under s. 46.2895, except as provided under ss. 40.51 (7) and 40.61 (3) and subch. X. "Employer" does not include a local cultural arts district created under subch. V of ch. 229. Each employer shall be a separate legal jurisdiction for OASDHI purposes.
SECTION 8. 40.02 (28) of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act 20, section 757, and 2009 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:
40.02 (28) "Employer" means the state, including each state agency, any county, city, village, town, school district, other governmental unit or instrumentality of 2 or more units of government now existing or hereafter created within the state, any federated public library system established under s. 43.19 whose territory lies within a single county with a population of 500,000 or more, a local exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229, a transit authority created under s. 66.1039, and a long-term care district created under s. 46.2895, except as provided under ss. 40.51 (7) and 40.61 (3). "Employer" does not include a local cultural arts district created under subch. V of ch. 229. Each employer shall be a separate legal jurisdiction for OASDHI purposes.
SECTION 9. 59.58 (6) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
59.58 (6) (a) 1. "Authority" means the regional transit authority created under this subsection.
SECTION 10. 59.58 (6) (cg) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 66.1039 (15) and amended to read:
66.1039 (15) The ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SOUTHEAST REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY. In addition to any other funding authorized under this section, an authority created under sub. (2) (a) may impose the fees under subch. XIII of ch. 77.
SECTION 11. 59.58 (6) (cg) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
59.58 (6) (cg) 2. The authority shall retain all revenues received under subd. 1., 2007 stats., except those expended as authorized under par. (cr), until the authority has submitted the report specified in par. (e) and action on the report is taken by the legislature.
SECTION 12. 59.58 (6) (cg) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
59.58 (6) (cg) 3. The authority may not use any revenues received under subd. 1., 2007 stats., for lobbying activities or to contract for lobbying services.
SECTION 13. 59.58 (6) (f) of the statutes is created to read:
59.58 (6) (f) The authority shall terminate on the first day of the 3rd month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].
SECTION 14. 66.0301 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
66.0301 (1) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), in this section "municipality" means the state or any department or agency thereof, or any city, village, town, county, school district, public library system, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district, sanitary district, farm drainage district, metropolitan sewerage district, sewer utility district, solid waste management system created under s. 59.70 (2), local exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229, local professional baseball park district created under subch. III of ch. 229, local professional football stadium district created under subch. IV of ch. 229, a local cultural arts district created under subch. V of ch. 229, transit authority created under s. 66.1039, long-term care district under s. 46.2895, water utility district, mosquito control district, municipal electric company, county or city transit commission, commission created by contract under this section, taxation district, regional planning commission, or city-county health department.
SECTION 15. 66.1039 of the statutes is created to read:
66.1039 Transit authorities. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section:
(a) "Authority" means a transit authority created under this section.
(b) "Bonds" means any bonds, interim certificates, notes, debentures, or other obligations of an authority issued under this section.
(c) "Common carrier" means any of the following:
1. A common motor carrier, as defined in s. 194.01 (1).
2. A contract motor carrier, as defined in s. 194.01 (2).
3. A railroad subject to ch. 195, as described in s. 195.02 (1) and (3).
4. A water carrier, as defined in s. 195.02 (5).
(d) "Comprehensive unified local transportation system" means a transportation system that is comprised of motor bus lines and any other local public transportation facilities, the major portion of which is located within, or the major portion of the service of which is supplied to the inhabitants of, the jurisdictional area of the authority.
(e) "Madison metropolitan planning area" means the metropolitan planning area, as defined in 23 USC 134 (b) (1), that includes the city of Madison.
(f) "Municipality" means any city, village, or town.
(g) "Participating political subdivision" means a political subdivision that is a member of an authority, either from the time of creation of the authority or by later joining the authority.
(h) "Political subdivision" means a municipality or county.
(i) "Transportation system" means all land, shops, structures, equipment, property, franchises, and rights of whatever nature required for transportation of passengers within the jurisdictional area of the authority and, only to the extent specifically authorized under this section, outside the jurisdictional area of the authority. "Transportation system" includes elevated railroads, subways, underground railroads, motor vehicles, motor buses, and any combination thereof, and any other form of mass transportation, but does not include transportation excluded from the definition of "common motor carrier" under s. 194.01 (1) or charter or contract operations to, from, or between points that are outside the jurisdictional area of the authority.
(j) "Urbanized Fox Cities metropolitan planning area" means the urbanized area, as defined in 23 USC 134 (b) (6), of the metropolitan planning area, as defined in 23 USC 134 (b) (1), that includes the city of Appleton.
(2) CREATION OF TRANSIT AUTHORITIES. (a) Southeast regional transit authority. 1. The southeast regional transit authority, a public body corporate and politic and a separate governmental entity, is created if the governing body of Milwaukee County or Kenosha County, or of any municipality located in whole or in part within that portion of Racine County east of I 94, adopts a resolution authorizing the county or municipality to become a member of the authority. Once created, this authority may transact business and exercise any powers granted to it under this section.
2. After an authority is created under subd. 1., any of the counties of Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Racine, and any municipality located in whole or in part within that portion of Racine County east of I 94, if the county or municipality is not already a member of the authority as provided under subd. 1., may join the authority created under subd. 1. if the governing body of the county or municipality adopts a resolution to join the authority.
3. If Milwaukee County or Kenosha County adopts a resolution under subd. 1. or 2., any municipality located in whole or in part within Milwaukee County or Kenosha County, respectively, shall be a member of the authority.
4. Any of the counties of Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington may join the authority created under subd. 1. if the governing body of the county adopts a resolution to join the authority.
5. Any municipality located in whole or in part within Waukesha County, Ozaukee County, or Washington County may join the authority created under subd. 1. if the governing body of the municipality adopts a resolution to join the authority and the board of directors of the authority approves the municipality's joinder.
6. The jurisdictional area of the authority created under this paragraph is the geographic area formed by the combined territorial boundaries of any county or municipality that adopts a resolution under subd. 1., 2., 4., or 5.
(b) Dane County regional transit authority. 1. The Dane County regional transit authority, a public body corporate and politic and a separate governmental entity, is created if the governing body of Dane County adopts a resolution authorizing the county to become a member of the authority. Once created, this authority may transact business and exercise any powers granted to it under this section.
2. If Dane County adopts a resolution under subd. 1., any municipality located in whole or in part within the Madison metropolitan planning area shall be a member of the authority.
3. Any municipality located in whole or in part within Dane County that is not located in whole or in part within the Madison metropolitan planning area may join the authority created under subd. 1. if the governing body of the municipality adopts a resolution to join the authority and the board of directors of the authority approves the municipality's joinder.
4. The jurisdictional area of the authority created under this paragraph is the geographic area formed by the Madison metropolitan planning area combined with the territorial boundaries of all municipalities that join the authority under subd. 3.
(c) Fox Cities regional transit authority. 1. There is created the Fox Cities regional transit authority, a public body corporate and politic and a separate governmental entity, consisting of the counties of Outagamie, Calumet, and Winnebago and any municipality located in whole or in part within the urbanized Fox Cities metropolitan planning area. This authority may transact business and exercise any powers granted to it under this section.
