SALEM — The Salem Town Board is giving a thumbs down to the KRM.

The board voted Monday to voice its opposition to the plan to extend commuter rail from Kenosha to Racine and Milwaukee.

“The town itself is not going to benefit from it, (but) eventually there will be some kind of taxes in some way on the citizens of our town,” Chairman Linda Valentine said. “I am just not of the mind that the western part of Kenosha County would benefit from it.”

Valentine said she does not believe western county residents would use commuter rail, saying it would be too inconvenient to drive more than 20 miles to the train station in Kenosha.

“We would rather our money be spent on transit buses” that could link residents of the western part of the county with services.

“The train itself is going to serve only those people who are in business.… It wouldn’t serve me,” she said.

Valentine said the board voted 4-0 on the resolution. Supervisor Patrick O’Connell was absent.

The Paddock Lake Village Board voted on a similar resolution in opposition of the KRM in February.

Proponents of the KRM, including large businesses in the region like SC Johnson, Roundy’s Supermarkets and Bucyrus International, have been promoting the commuter rail extension for years, saying it would promote economic development and better link workers to jobs in the region.

Dueling plans

Lawmakers are hashing out dueling plans to fund transit in the tri-county area as they prepare to seek federal funding for the commuter rail line, with two separate proposals to improve bus service in the region and to find dedicated funding sources. Having an efficient busing system in place is a key to winning federal funds for commuter rail.

The 33-mile commuter line has an estimated cost of more than $200 million

John Antaramian, the former Kenosha major who now serves as the city’s delegate to the Southeast Regional Transit Authority board, said the KRM would drive economic development for the region.

“You’re seeing huge numbers of the business community all pushing for KRM, and the reason is they understand the economics,” Antaramian said, saying areas without access to transit lose a competitive edge. “It is literally going to be a major driver for the whole corridor, and that includes all of us.”

Revamped transit plan

Last week lawmakers from southeastern Wisconsin proposed a revamped regional transit plan that would create a tri-county transit plan to oversee bus systems. An earlier proposal, promoted by Gov. Jim Doyle, would allow Kenosha and Racine counties to oversee their own bus transit services.

Transit advocates agree on the need to remove bus service from the property tax levy, particularly in Milwaukee County, where funding shortages have accompanied significant recent service cuts and fare hikes.

Both the original bill and the substitute amendment allow for Milwaukee County to implement a 0.5 percent sales tax to fund its bus system. Kenosha and Racine voters would have to pass amendments before they could impose similar taxes.

There is a hearing on the original bill Thursday before the Assembly Transportation Committee.