State DOT proposes two-year delay in Interstate widening project
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JANESVILLE — Improvements to a key transportation link through Rock County could be delayed by two years.
The state Department of Transportation is requesting to delay a project to widen Interstate 90/39. A variety of interests have said the project could spur economic growth here.
The request must pass through the state budget process, where Gov. Scott Walker and the Legislature will ultimately decide the project’s fate.
A Walker spokesman confirmed the department asked for the delay but did not say whether the governor will support it.
Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said in an email to The Gazette on Friday that the state’s transportation fund has been raided in the past, resulting in shortfalls that the Department of Transportation is now dealing with.
“With that said, agency budget requests are the first step. The governor will introduce a complete budget next year, and one of his priorities will be investing in the state’s infrastructure,” Werwie said.
Governors usually reveal their biennial budget proposals in February.
Sen. Tim Cullen, D-Janesville, hadn’t heard of the proposal, but he noted that the department has been campaigning for increased funding.
Cullen said he suspects the request to delay this and other major highway projects is calculated to convince the Legislature to give the department more money.
“I would not take what they saying very seriously until we know what the budget looks like (in February),” Cullen said.
Businesses and local governments have supported the project as a way of boosting the area’s economic fortunes.
The project would address traffic congestion by widening I-90/39 from two lanes in each direction to three, except for the Avalon Road-Highway 26 stretch, which would grow to four lanes in each direction.
The 45-mile widening of I-90/39 from the Illinois border to the Beltline in Madison had been expected to start in 2015 and end in 2021. Officials have estimated the project’s cost at more than $1 billion.
Cullen said he does not support shifting money from the general fund to the DOT, as was done in the last legislative session, because that would cut into money available for education, health care and other important services.
Cullen suggested the state should scrutinize all of the department’s projects and proposed projects and decide which are truly needed. He cited the now-scrapped proposal to link Highway 11 to Highway 14 on Janesville’s west side as one questionable project.
“You have to wonder who is watching the candy story here,” Cullen said.
While the Republicans control the Legislature, Cullen said the Interstate project might not be a partisan issue because the Interstate is vital to the whole state, since it is part of the major route between Chicago and the Twin Cities.
Cullen noted the Department of Transportation has its own funding sources, including the gasoline tax and federal highway funding, which is another reason he opposes a shift of money from the state’s general fund.
Walker opposes an increase in the gas tax, Werwie said, but “addressing the deficit facing the fund will require a healthy public debate in the months ahead.”
Werwie declined to comment on the possibility of toll roads, a potential source of new revenue. Assembly Speaker Rep. Robin Vos, R-Burlington, recently raised that possibility.
The DOT also is proposing to delay other major projects, including the Zoo Interchange reconstruction in Milwaukee.
Dec 1, 2012 at 1:19 p.m.
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I travel the Wisconsin interstate alot. I wouldn't be inconvenice by a Toll System over higher taxes. This is the reason why the interstate isn't being completed. Where is all the money that we are being charge at the gas pump going?To get on the interstate at the boarder of Wi. and Il.it will now cost you $1.90 enwitch was just $1.00 befor the new construction had been started in thier state. This is how well manage State pays for thier new roads. Governor Walker says it's an inconvenice for the Wisonsin public,but it's okay to keep raise taxes on the Wisconsin public.Look at the revenue that is being lost, because this state does not have a toll system.
Nov 29, 2012 at 6:28 a.m.
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Threatening projects to demand more money... I think in the real world that is called extortion and usually ends up with some people getting fired maybe doing some jail time etc. This section of interstate is in dire need of this expansion and needs to be done on schedule, if not sooner.
Nov 25, 2012 at 8:03 p.m.
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Spent too much on the "much-needed" Milton by-pass, did they?
The highways - US, state, and county - in our little slice of WI Hell are in terrible shape and have not been properly attended to for years. What's the difference if one lousy N-S interstate is just as bad - at least Milton has a fine set of traffic circles and the by-pass includes an exemplary collection of useless, money-wasting bridges to show for it. Now that's progress!
Nov 25, 2012 at 2:41 p.m.
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In a vast cow pasture a warm lump of moist manure is almost certain to draw a multitude of hungry flies. But will a nexus of roads going nowhere attract businesses to our area? The aroma of success can only attract interest if core business infrastructures and supporting industries already exist in a locale. Perhaps, in this case, we've put the cart before the horse and the horse apples. What is the guarantee that "if we build it, they will come?" It is probably better to proceed slowly with great caution at this time.
Nov 25, 2012 at 10:36 a.m.
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Scott Walker is employing the shock doctrine in order to get his state highway funding plan passed. What a responsible Governor would have done is raise the minimum threshold for getting a highway project funded in 2011 so that there would have been enough money to complete the projects already set up for funding in 2013. Instead, Walker green-lighted the I39/90 expansion from Madison to Illinois and other costly projects. The proof of Walker’s intention to increase revenue is the fact that he has had a transportation finance and policy commission loaded with pro-highway lobbyists working on a plan to raise new taxes for highways.
Instead of caving to Walker's shock doctrine, we should calmly step back and ask how many permanent jobs are going to be created by having taxpayers pay more toward highways. Sadly, the answer is probably negative. See, the ROI on highways has probably dropped below the return of leaving the money in the private sector:
Look up a federal highway study entitled: "Production, Consumption and the Rates of Return to Highway Infrastructure Capital"
See page 22 for the graph of the return of highways versus private investment. As you can see, the return in the 50's and 60's was excellent, producing an overall benefit for every taxpayer dollar. Today, the two lines have converged, meaning there is little benefit to expanding highway funding.
Nov 25, 2012 at 10:31 a.m.
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Gray-Ghost......O'Bamma is away from Washington most of the time and gets his check the same as Walker....so whats the problem.
Nov 25, 2012 at 10:23 a.m.
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Truth usually is.
Nov 25, 2012 at 8:53 a.m.
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YaDa: So boring!
Nov 25, 2012 at 6:28 a.m.
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RE: "Mr. Werwie" ---> "Governor's Spokesman Granted Immunity" in John Doe Investigation.
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/13045...
I am sure he has much to share...
and
"Walker Aide Granted Immunity In John Doe Investigation"
http://www.wisn.com/Walker-Aide-Granted-...
Nov 25, 2012 at 1:47 a.m.
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On what basis do you believe this project will "cost vastly more in two years"? Yes, costs tend to increase over time, but not in two years. And the workers, right now, would probably like to eat instead of living on ramen noodles for two years.
.
Anyway, the state's transportation infrastructure is in need, and the construction business as well, and gosh, guess who turned down a billion in federal money that could have been spent here on just that.
Nov 24, 2012 at 9:12 p.m.
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why is it that Mr werwie answers all walkers questions? i wasn't aware we elected him....oh crap i forgot, walkers never in Wisconsin. but yet he receives a check from Wisconsin, for being the governor.
Nov 24, 2012 at 6:46 p.m.
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I think a two year wait will be even better for the economy and contractors as thing will cost vastly more in two years than they do now. That will greatly help the workers at the time to make more money.
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