Schedule at a Glance
12:30PM - Keynote: What can Wisconsin Learn from Illinois’ Big Transit Win?
1:15PM - Fireside Chat: The Present and Future of Milwaukee Transit
2:15PM - Panel Discussion: Charting Transit Policy at the State Level
3:00PM - Panel Discussion: Effective Advocacy Strategies
3:45PM - Special Announcement. A new grassroots coalition for transit in Wisconsin
4:30PM - Adjourn
summit agenda
Welcome
Dave Steele, MobiliSE Executive Director
Special Guest: Wisconsin State Senator LaTonya Johnson
Keynote: What Can Wisconsin Learn from Illinois’ Big Transit Win?
Amy Rynell, Active Transportation Alliance
In 2025, Illinois advocates achieved a groundbreaking transit funding and reform package. How did they do it? What can we learn from their experience?
Hear from one of the leaders of Illinois’ successful campaign with the inside scoop of what it takes to reimagine transit funding in the 21st century.
Fireside Chat: The Present and Future of Milwaukee Transit
Steve Fuentes, President & CEO, Milwaukee County Transit System
Joe Lamers, Director, Milwaukee County Department of Transportation
Moderated by Dave Steele, MobiliSE Executive Director
Milwaukee County Transit System has recently been a focus of attention, as budget shortfalls and route cuts have gotten headlines.
In this “fireside chat,” we’ll hear from the two leaders of Milwaukee’s transit system about what to expect in the near term, plans for funding, and what the long term future holds for this vital community institution.
Panel Discussion: Charting Transit Policy at the State Level
Tyler Byrnes, Wisconsin Policy Forum
Trevor Jung, City of Racine
Jennifer Sarnecki, Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
Moderator:
Cinthia Tellez Silva, Michael Baker, Chair, MobiliSE Transit Advocacy Steering Committee
Wisconsin is an outlier in terms of how transportation, and public transit, is funded. Hear from a panel of transportation policy experts about how State policy impacts local transit systems and which State policies are of the highest priority for transit advocates.
Panel Discussion: Effective Advocacy Strategies
Kirsten Finn, Wisconsin Bicycle Federation
Debby Jackson, TDA Wisconsin
Micheál Podgers, Climate Cabinet
Moderator:
Raphie Torralba, 1000 Frends of Wisconsin
Learn from the experts who know how to get things done in the State Capitol, working across the aisle and gaining meaningful, lasting support for alternative transportation. We’ll hear about the “unwritten rules” of the legislature, the power of stories, and more.
SUMMIT AGENDA
12:00PM Welcome Remarks
12:30PM Keynote
12:00PM
Welcome remarks
Wisconsin State Senator Latonya Johnson
Keynote: What can Wisconsin Learn from Illinois’ Big Transit Win?
Amy Rynell, Active Transportation Alliance
Fireside Chat: The Present & Future of Milwaukee Transit
Steve Fuentes, President & CEO, Milwaukee County Transit System
Joe Lamers, Director, Milwaukee County Department of Transportation
Panel Discussion: Effective Advocacy Strategies
Kirsten Finn, Wisconsin Bicycle Federation
Debby Jackson, TDA Wisconsin
Micheal Podgers, Climate Cabinet
Moderator: Raphie Torralba, 1000 Frends of Wisconsin
Panel Discussion: Charting Transit Policy at the State Level
Tyler Byrnes, Wisconsin Policy Forum
Trevor Jung, City of Racine
Jennifer Sarnecki, Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
Moderator:
Cinthia Tellez Silva, Michael Baker, Chair, MobiliSE Transit Advocacy Steering Committee
12:00PM
Welcome remarks
Wisconsin State Senator Latonya Johnson