[ [link removed] ]Francesca Hong for Governor[ [link removed] ]Francesca Hong for Governor



Jack,

Spring break is all about getting away. But here in Wisconsin, just
getting from Point A to Point B is a challenge. Because the transit
infrastructure we need doesn't exist. 

For over a decade, Republicans in the Legislature have starved public
transit while pouring money into highway expansion. They repealed Regional
Transit Authorities in 2011 — meaning bus routes end at county lines even
though jobs and lives don't. State transit funding peaked at $118 million
that year and has never recovered. Milwaukee still doesn't have a
dedicated transit taxing authority. And private transportation costs have
risen 83% since 2000 while public transit costs have risen just 24%. The
cheaper, smarter option is the one our state has refused to invest in.

[ [link removed] ]Here's what I'm going to do about it.

First, I'm going to right-size a grossly unfair revenue sharing model that
leaves cities and towns scrambling for the tax dollars they generate.
Right now, local governments are boxed into property taxes — one of the
only tools the state lets them use. My Tax the Rich package will reduce
property taxes by 41% by making the ultra-wealthy and big corporations pay
their fair share to fund our public schools — taking that burden off
homeowners. And I'll restore the basic tools communities need — including
the ability to form Regional Transit Authorities with dedicated funding
and local governance — without adding to your property tax bill. RTAs let
regions collaborate across county lines and build transit that connects
people to jobs — the way our economy already works.

But transit can't just be a city solution. Rural and suburban Wisconsin
needs it too. My administration will launch state-supported microtransit
pilots where fixed routes aren't viable — on-demand service so people can
get to work, get to the doctor, and live their lives. And we'll build
complete streets that are safe for everyone — not just drivers.

And we need to address medical transit: Right now, our medical
transportation systems are fragmented and unreliable — and the people who
pay the price are seniors, disabled residents, and anyone in rural
Wisconsin. We're going to expand Medicaid's non-emergency medical
transportation and build transit systems with paratransit in mind from the
start, because whether you get your dialysis treatment shouldn't depend on
whether a bus is running.

People want to work. And they deserve better ways to get there. Investing
in transit means more workers, more economic activity, and less strain on
roads we're already paying to maintain. And by letting communities raise
their own dedicated transit revenue through RTAs, we're not asking for a
blank check from the state — we're getting out of their way.

[ [link removed] ]Learn more about our transit policies here. 

None of this happens without a governor willing to fight for it. And none
of it happens without you. 

[ [link removed] ]Chip in today to keep this campaign moving forward!

[ [link removed] ]Together, we make better (transit!) possible.



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With gratitude, 

Fran







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