Kenosha---A plan to greatly expand municipal bus service is on track, and on an unrelated matter, a funding mechanism for a new "super" fire station has been identified, according to Mayor Antaramian.
Antaramian spoke to reporters following an appearance Thursday afternoon at a forum on transit issues. The session--held at the Civil War Museum--was organized by CUSH--Congregations United to Serve Humanity.
Antaramian--elected six months ago--told the group that he expects final approval soon on a plan to divert the $8.5 million that was originally obtained for streetcar expansion to fund an expansion of the bus service. The streetcar project was scuttled after We Energies put in place more stringent construction guidelines.
Bus service expansion would include longer hours and new routes that would extend into neighboring municipalities within the county such as Pleasant Prairie, Somers and even Paris, making it easier for workers to get to jobs in the outlying areas.
There is a big catch. The grant would cover only three years of the expansion. After that, a new funding formula would have to be found. Antaramian urged CUSH to vigorously support the creation of a Regional Transit Authority that would have the power to fund mass transit through taxation.
On the fire station issue, Antaramian said he's proposing to fund the construction of a new station by borrowing $4.7 million from the federal government's Housing and Urban Development. The city would borrow another $907,000 through its capital improvement program.
Antaramian says he fully supports a fire department plan to merge two stations into a new fire house that would be built on the site of the old Bain Elementary School at 52nd St. and 22nd Ave. The school--vacant for years--would be demolished, eliminating a neighborhood white elephant.
The catalyst for the plan is the immediate need to replace the station at Washington Road and 22nd Ave. The building no longer can handle the modern rigs that are bigger and heavier.
The Plan Commission will consider the funding proposal next week.
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