MADISON, Wis. -- The Dane County Board of Supervisors on Friday approved the idea of creating a countywide Regional Transit Authority.

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Board members voted to support the RTA in a meeting lasting until the early-morning hours by a 22-13 vote. The board approved a significantly shorter version of the original proposal to create an RTA, but the measure still includes several key components.

The final resolution that was approved features provisions creating a countywide transit system, including commuter rail beginning with a line from Middleton through the Isthmus to Madison's East Side. The resolution also calls for a half-percent sales tax to fund its operation, which must receive approval from the state Legislature, and a referendum vote before plans move forward, WISC-TV reported. Leaders would also apply for federal funding to create an RTA.

The board approved an altered version of original RTA proposal that was put forward. Unlike the original, the final resolution made no mention of trolleys and removed specifics on where tax money would go.

Although the board approved the resolution, the question of whether commuters will skip the bus to ride the commuter rail remains.

Savorn Doth said his workday takes him to the East Side then back home on the West Side of Madison.

"It takes a while for me to get home from the bus. (It takes) an hour or two hours for me to get home," Doth said.

Doth said he doesn't know much about the RTA debates, but he said that if the commuter rail can get him home faster, he would take it.

"Yeah, if it’s quicker. If I don't have to get up too early for the bus, I'd consider taking it," Doth said.

Other commuters like Jessica Blanchard of Oregon said the rail would simplify her commute.

"It would just make a lot more sense. I drive my car to get to the bus so I can get downtown to where I work, instead of parking in the parking ramp where I can't find a spot and it costs $10 a day," Blanchard said.

Madison Metro officials said that buses would be a part of any transportation changes with an RTA.

"What you'll see is the sum of the bus lines changing to circulator and feeder routes into the rail stations. And the main bus routes, many of them stay," said Chuck Kamp, transit general manager at Madison Metro. "I'm excited this is happening. What it tells me is the community is asking themselves this question, 'Is the world changing, and are we preparing for it?'"

But other commuters said they have their doubts when it comes to funding.

"There are just not enough people in Dane County to support this. It just seems to be an image thing for the City Council. Just seems to be an image thing for the rich suburbs, if anyone knows anything about suburban sprawl," said Luke Stearns, a Madison commuter.

Transit officials said that developments like the commuter rail are still years in development. One of the big issues for lawmakers to decide is how to govern both transit systems in the city and the ones that reach further out into the county, WISC-TV reported.

The RTA proposal is now in the hands of the Madison City Council, which will take up the measure on Sept. 4.

Some City Council members said that the county's approval of an RTA bodes well for the resolution to pass through the City Council. The council president said that the mayor's decision to drop the streetcar proposal also helps the resolution's chances.

"Bottom line, having streetcars off the table, the county board's action last night, and then allowing us the opportunity in the next couple of weeks to amend the document in the resolution will hopefully maximize the number of votes," said Mike Verveer, City Council president.

Verveer said he hopes to organize discussions in the coming weeks for council members to learn more about the RTA proposal.