Let the Dane County Regional Transit Authority debate begin (again).

County Board Chairman Scott McDonell on Thursday introduced a resolution that would create an RTA board to coordinate transit planning in the Madison area.

The resolution would create a new governmental body with the power to levy a sales tax and to determine whether local mass transit will focus on rail or bus. The resolution itself doesn't make those decisions.

McDonell said that because the RTA issue has been discussed for so long, the County Board could vote on the resolution by mid-November. "This is an important step, but the bigger things are later," he said.

He and other elected officials reiterated their commitment to the RTA board holding a referendum in the affected communities before creating a sales tax, even though a referendum is not required by state law.

Opponents have called for a referendum on whether the County Board should create the RTA.

"Everyone knows the whole basis for this is commuter rail, and I'd like to hear some more regarding buses and the ability to move other transportation, including roads," Sup. Jack Martz, of Fitchburg, said. "There's a lot to have resolved before this resolution should be introduced."

If the County Board approves the resolution, seven cities, five villages and 15 towns would come under the RTA jurisdiction. The membership, established by the state, is based on the boundaries of the federally designated Madison metropolitan planning area.

Included would be the cities of Madison, Middleton, Monona, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Verona and Fitchburg; the villages of Cottage Grove, Maple Bluff, McFarland, Shorewood Hills and Waunakee; and the towns of Blooming Grove, Burke, Madison, Middleton, Bristol, Cottage Grove, Dunkirk, Dunn, Pleasant Springs, Rutland, Springfield, Sun Prairie, Verona, Westport, and Windsor.

The RTA board would have nine members - two appointed by Madison, two appointed by Dane County, one appointed by the governor, one appointed by each city with more than 15,000 people (currently Fitchburg, Middleton and Sun Prairie), and one appointed by the Dane County Cities and Villages Association from a city or village with less than 15,000 people.

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