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When we consider what southeastern Wisconsin will be like in 10 years, one of the items that seems likely to make a big difference is the development of commuter rail service from Kenosha to Milwaukee. Rail service north of Kenosha could have a significant economic benefit. Failure to develop that type of service would be a hindrance to developing new types of industries and high-paying jobs.

For several years, extending the Metra conmuter rail service from Kenosha to Racine to Milwaukee has been under study by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. In 1998, SEWRPC concluded that the service would be both financially and technically feasible. The plans have moved forward since then, and in December an advisory committee voted to bring a plan to the public at a series of hearings. The plan under discussion is for commuter trains to use existing freight rail lines and to stop in Somers, Racine, Caledonia, Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, Cudahy-St. Francis (near Mitchell Field) and Milwaukee.

The public hearings begin this month, and the first of them will be in Kenosha on Wednesday, April 23, at the Madrigrano Room at Gateway Technical College. Other hearings will be held in Milwaukee, Racine and Cudahy. Each hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. and be preceded by an open house from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and a presentation at 6 p.m.

Of course the plan is expensive. The projected cost to develop the service is $152 million. It is expected to cost another $10.4 million a year to operate.

It is interesting to note that at the same time the rail service is under study, a major expansion of the interstate highway system is also under consideration. The Freeway Reconstruction Study Advisory Committee will vote todav on a plan to upgrade and add lanes to 127 miles of the interstate system, including the 12 miles of I-94 through Kenosha County. The cost of that plan is expected to be more than $6 billion.

With that as a comparison, the rail service doesn't seem so expensive. However, the two items aren't mutually exclusive. The region needs both an efficient interstate highway system and an efficient commuter rail system going both north and south from Kenosha.

The benefits of the rail system to businesses and to workers could be immense. It will open up new opportunities for workers and new labor pools for employers. There are environmental and other benefits as well.

One of Kenosha's great advantages is its location between Chicago and Milwaukee. Extending commuter rail service north of Kenosha would enhance that advantage. Failure to develop the rail service would detract significantly fron the advantage of the location. It doesn't do much good to be close to two cities if it's not easy to travel between them.

Development of Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail service will help all the communities between Kenosha and Milwaukee, but it will be of particular significance for Kenosha. This city wouldn't be at the end of the line any longer. It would be in the middle of a much bigger network, with easier-than-ever airport connections. It would be good for Kenosha's economy, and it would be good for Kenosha's quality of life.

This Kenosha News editorial is posted thanks to approval by Howard Brown, president of United Communications, which owns Kenosha News and other newspapers.