The Milwaukee Post

By DAN MUCKELBAUER Post Editor MILWAUKEE — When Gov. Scott Walker delivered his 2017-19 budget address last week, he didn't deliver much about two major inter- state projects in Milwaukee County. Instead, he touched on the Interstate 94 project through Racine and Kenosha coun- ties and an I-39 project stay- ing on time. He did not men- tion funding for the north end of the Zoo Interchange project or the $1.1 billion I- 94 east-west project from 16th to 70th streets in Milwaukee County. Transportation is just part of Walker's proposed two- year budget that would increase spending 4.2 per- cent, and includes nearly $600 million in tax cuts. After relying heavily on bonding for recent road con- struction, legislators and other interested parties are debating funding options and changes in the state Department of Transportation projects. Suzanne Kelley, president of the Waukesha County Business Alliance, said, "We look forward to working with the Legislature to find a solution to Wisconsin's transportation funding chal- lenge. The solution is likely to include reforms, such as those identified by the DOT audit, and additional rev- enue if the reforms are insufficient to fill the gap." A Legislative Audit Bureau report last month revealed that 19 major high- way projects in the past decade cost $1.5 billion, dou- ble the $772 million they had been projected to cost. In addition, 16 ongoing major highway projects more than doubled from $2.7 billion to $5.8 billion. After all that money, the state's roads are in worse shape than roads in six other Midwestern states, signifi- cantly deteriorating in the past five years, the report said. State Rep. Josh Zepnick of Milwaukee, whose 9th Assembly D i s t r i c t includes a m a j o r chunk of the I-94 e a s t - w e s t p r o j e c t , s a i d , " N o w would be a s m a r t time for the DOT to revisit the $1 billion plan." Savings could come from scaling back the I-94 east- west project from four lanes in each direction to three lanes each way with creative use of extended off-ramps and eliminating left-hand exits, particularly at Miller Park, Zepnick said. The pro- posed DOT project includes reconstructing the Stadium Park Interchange. "I think we can get federal approval without causing a four-year delay," said Zepnick, who represents neighborhoods that would be the most affected. Besides scaling back, dis- cussion has arisen around revenue increases, whether direct or hidden taxes, including raising the gas tax, upping registration fees or implementing a toll sys- tem. Between borrowing still more money or raising rev- enues, Zepnick said he favors gas or sales taxes because they don't carry interest, which just makes projects more costly. Time translates into money Waukesha County Board Chairman Paul Decker said that delaying the project also adds to the total cost. "Every delay will cost more. Every year of delay will put more constraints on moving people, goods and services efficiently," he said of the I-94 east-west corri- dor. "If it were a business, it would be seen as very poor project management." While the choices are hard, Decker said he's heard "several people want adult conversations coming out of Madison" on both M i l w a u - k e e C o u n t y f r e e w a y projects. T h e p a r t i c u - lars are a little hard to define in what a p p e a r s to be a moving political tar- get. "We are digging into the details," Decker said. "The two-year delay seems to be part of the discus- sion," he said about the north leg of the Zoo Interchange from I-94 to Mayfair Road. In Milwaukee County, financing remains an issue. "We simply want to receive an equitable share of county tax dollars to pay for our roads, our parks, work- force development, our tran- sit system, public safety and public health. Milwaukee County cannot afford to sub- sidize the rest of the state with our tax dollars," Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said in a statement. "It's important that the final budget address trans- portation funding in a fair and sustainable way. I know that Milwaukee County stands ready to work with the state on how to get there and I'm sure other munici- pal leaders do, too." Statewide impact With thousands crossing the Milwaukee County line for commerce, jobs and play, Decker said the Zoo Interchange and I-94 east- west projects have a great effect. "We're concerned with any delay in completing the Zoo interchange because it's vital to the state's economy," Decker said. "It's an eco- nomic issue in Waukesha County. "In Waukesha County, we are very manufacturing-ori- ented, and getting those items out of those business- es is very essential to our bottom line." Kelley said, "Maintaining and modernizing the Southeast Wisconsin free- way system is important to our member businesses and their employees, as well as other things like a qualified workforce, reduced regula- tory red tape, and a level playing field in terms of taxes." The importance of rebuilding the freeways, which are more than half a century old, goes beyond southeastern Wisconsin. "Fox Valley and Green Bay are just as concerned as we are that we not have delays through that inter- change because of the rever- beration that it will have," Decker said. While the project affects the rest of the state, Abele made clear the role his coun- ty plays in the overall impact. "Milwaukee County is the economic engine of the state," he said. Email: dmuck@conleynet.com "It's important that the final budget address transportation funding in a fair and sustainable way." — Chris Abele Milwaukee County Executive February 17, 2017 • Milwaukee County Post • 3 PACKARD PLAZA MALL - In Cudahy 5656 S. 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I-94, Zoo Interchange projects up in the air Funding mechanisms, delay accelerate debate about major work Zepnick Abele

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