The latest proposal to provide local funds for the proposed Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail line — boosting the sales tax — doesn’t seem to be getting a very good reception from state legislators.

“Non starter,” said Sen. Bob Wirch, D-Pleasant Prairie.

Only if her constituents approve it in a referendum, said Rep. Samantha Kerkman, R-Randall. Others made similarly discouraging remarks.

Well, we couldn’t expect them to jump up and down and cheer for a new tax, even for a worthwhile project.

But, there is such a thing as missing the train, literally and figuratively, and if the Legislature doesn’t find a way to pay the local share of the costs of building the commuter line in the next state budget, it might be a big miss.

The proposed rail line would cost about $198 million. It would run on an existing 33-mile line of tracks from Kenosha to Milwaukee that need to be upgraded for passenger traffic. Planned stops include Somers, Racine, Caledonia, Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, and Cudahy-St.Francis.

As this type of project goes, the KRM is considered relatively inexpensive, because the tracks are already in place. It is considered likely to be successful because of the relatively high population density along the route.

The project’s proponents tout it as an important economic development tool for the region, and I share that conviction.

The KRM has been a good idea on paper for more than two years and nothing has happened because the Legislature has not approved a funding mechanism for the local share of the costs. Federal and state funds are expected to pay more than 80 percent of the construction and development, but a local source must be found for 10 to 17.5 percent.

The latest idea is a sales tax, but the previous plan of adding $13 to the current $2 fee for car rentals (excluding rentals needed for cars being repaired) would also work.

That’s the background, now here’s the potential opportunity that won’t be around forever: the Olympic Games in Chicago.

If Chicago is successful in its bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games, the economic impact will spread though a wide area around the Windy City. If Southeastern Wisconsin has a commuter rail line in place by then, it would be in position to take maximum advantage of that huge event.

If a tax is approved for the KRM, it needs to be part of the state budget. The next one goes into effect in July 2009. Budgets last two years. If the KRM doesn’t make this budget, the next one won’t take effect until July 2011.

That might be too late. According to the Regional Transit Authority, applications for this kind of projects are only taken in the fall. Best case, that means September 2009. Assuming the application is approved, the preliminary engineering, final engineering and construction will take four and a half years.

That means the trains wouldn’t be operating until some time in 2014, probably summer 2014 at the earliest.

Delay the whole process two years, and the construction will run right up to the start of the Olympics. That means no one will be able to plan on the train being available. The opportunity will be missed.

Chicago is competing with Madrid, Spain; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Tokyo, Japan for the Summer Games of 2016. The decision is expected to be announced on Oct. 2, 2009, in Copenhagen, Denmark.

It’s hard to evaluate Chicago’s chances of being host city for the 2016 Olympics, but I have to think the world’s fascination with Barack Obama will help.

The KRM project doesn’t need the Olympic Games to be worthwhile, but the Olympics would enhance the train line’s economic value to the region in a big way.

If you want this train to eventually get on track, you’d better let your state representatives know. The Legislature has to approve the funds, and it won’t be an easy vote.

As we’ve already seen, the legislators’ immediate reaction is “no tax, certainly not now.” But if politicians again put off funding the KRM, they stand to derail an enormous economic opportunity. Steve Lund’s column runs on Thursdays. Send e-mail to slund@kenoshanews.com.