As cities and counties around the country pass us by, Milwaukee and Milwaukee County continue to drag out, discuss, debate and generally do nothing about transportation in our region. Oh sure, officials throw around ideas but nothing gets done. It's a shame.

Transportation isn't a Republican or Democratic issue; it's a simple, quality of life improvement, like the Marquette Interchange project that we so easily dumped millions into.

I love my car; actually, I really love it. But, I love my city more and this is why I urge you to attend the public meetings on the next phase of the Milwaukee Connector transit study this week. It's not too late to offer your input about the proposed study area, routes, vehicles and more.

The open house style meetings will be held, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., on the following dates at the following locations:

Tuesday, Feb. 10 -- Northwestern Mutual Franklin Campus, 1 Northwestern Mutual Way, Franklin (South 27th Street between Drexel and Rawson)

Wednesday, Feb. 11 -- Milwaukee County Research Park, Room 162, 10437 Innovation Dr., Wauwatosa

Thursday, Feb. 12 -- O'Donnell Park, Harbor Lights Room, 910 E. Michigan St.

Under review is bus rapid transit (BRT) and streetcar. BRT corridors under study include: (1) Bayshore Town Center in Glendale south via 27th Street to the Northwestern Mutual Franklin Campus, (2) the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee south to downtown and west to the Milwaukee County Research Park, and (3) Midtown Center to Downtown and south to General Mitchell International Airport.

The study will also examine a Downtown streetcar loop.

Milwaukee lags behind in the modern transportation game. Visit any large and many medium-sized city in America and you can expect to see an efficient, modern and innovative transportation system of roads, rail and busses in action. Milwaukee has buses ... that's it.

It's time for action, Milwaukee. And it starts by you getting off the sidelines and attending one of these important sessions.