[Reprinted from the September 20, 1997 The Capital Times.]
By Mike Ivey
For those dreaming that Wisconsin might inject some sanity into its transportation system during our lifetime, this was a good week to visit the therapist.
First, as part of its budget bill, the state Assembly deleted any planning dollars for light rail during reconstruction of the 1-94 Milwaukee highway system.
With a $ 1.1 billion pricetag-- that's a B-- the East-West Corridor project is the largest public works venture in state history. Unfortunately, it is looking like asphalt as usual.
If the Senate and Gov. Tommy Thompson agree with the Assembly version of the budget, no state monies could go for even studying the light rail option. The Assembly also eliminated any study money for adding additional special lanes for buses or car pools to the highway between Waukesha and Milwaukee.
Light rail is in doubt mainly because of opposition from Waukesha County Republicans, led by Assembly Majority Leader Steve Foti of Oconomowoc who has called electric trains "a pig on a poke."
The study money for the special lanes, which have the support of the pavement crowd, was nixed as part of a compromise. Once Republicans got their way on killing light rail, Milwaukee's urban Democrats insisted on killing the special lanes, which would rip through established downtown neighborhoods and businesses.
The planning deletion will save some $10 million in engineering costs. But that is small change compared with the long-range cost of not addressing Milwaukee's suburban sprawl, white flight transportation problems.
Sen. Brian Burke, D-Milwaukee, says he plans to restore planning for light rail and additional lanes when the budget reaches the Senate. Although Burke backs light rail and opposes more highway lanes, he didn't want to give Gov. Thompson a chance to use his veto pen to restore special lanes and kill light rail by not including both options.
Tommy? Pull a fast one to build more highway lanes at the expense of mass transit alternatives? C'mon.
The other disturbing transportation news came from a report which showed that Wisconsin has been diverting its road repairs money into new highway construction, leaving drivers paying the costs of rattled automobiles and frazzled nerves. This public money sleight of hand shouldn't surprise those who drive on the pothole-filled urban highways through Sheboygan, La Crosse, Milwaukee or Wausau.
Here are the dirty numbers, compiled by the Environmental Working Group, a Washington-based think tank:
Since 1992, Wisconsin's Department of Transportation has diverted 20 percent of federal highway money available for repairs into construction of new urban highways - $14.35 million out of $73.03 million to be exact.
Over that same period, Wisconsin spent nearly 30 percent less on urban roadway repairs than other states-- $147,623 per mile on repairs vs. $210,695.
Those numbers ranked Wisconsin No. 14 on the "Pothole Index," a measure of states that are failing to fix urban highways in need of repair.
So perhaps Wisconsin was making up the maintenance gap with its state highway dollars? Hardly. Over the last 10 years, state spending on new construction increased 98 percent in real dollars while spending on maintenance increased only 15 percent.
Unfortunately, city ordinances require a $250 fee to install something in the terrace next to the sidewalk. The city also wants to tag on a $100 annual "maintenance charge" that the neighborhood association says basically makes their offer unfeasible.
The City Pedestrian/Bicycle/Motor Vehicle Commission is looking at a solution.
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