Listen: Kerkman Continues To Weigh KRM Options

Kenosha, WI (WLIP)–Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman continues to study the need for Kenosha County to be actively involved in discussions about the potential Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee rail line.

Kerkman told the WLIP Morning Show that her team has been delving deeply into existing data, some of which dates back to 2009-2011 when the legislature had created a regional taxing authority board.

Her office has accumulated a substantial amount of information, and she has been collaborating with the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) to update and analyze this data.

Despite these efforts, she expressed frustration that the City of Racine did not initially reach out to local county officials before moving forward with a resolution, as this might have addressed many concerns earlier.

She discovered that the steering committee for the project consists solely of city representatives, even though Kenosha and Milwaukee counties will be significantly impacted by the rail line.

Kerkman highlighted that while the rail lines already exist for freight, there are misconceptions about their proximity to key locations like the airport.

She also pointed out the importance of focusing rail investment on areas that would benefit Kenosha County, particularly in regions where economic development is concentrated, such as the central part of the county along the interstate corridor.

Listen to the full interview: