Statutory Responsibilities

The SERTA legislation is set forth in Section 59.58(7) of State Statutes. In summary, SERTA has the following responsibilities:

• Authority to construct, operate, and manage a KRM commuter rail line
  • Sole authority to apply to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for approval to advance to preliminary engineering and potentially obtain a Federal discretionary grant, with the application to be submitted by June 29, 2010
• Authority to enact up to an $18 vehicle rental fee per transaction (indexed to inflation) in Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Racine Counties
  • Up to $2 of fee may be used for administrative expenses
• Authority to use remaining balance of funds from the former “temporary” and “limited authority” Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority to assist in KRM commuter rail planning
• Authority to issue up to $50 million in bonds to provide the local share of funds necessary to initiate KRM commuter rail service
• Kenosha and Racine County transit operators are required to provide their annual and long-term transit plans to SERTA as they become available