Posted on 03/10/2018 10:53:40 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee drivers will deal with orange barrels on the freeways for the next 10 years even if Congress passes a trillion-dollar infrastructure plan, the head of the a Wisconsin transportation group said.
Pat Goss, executive director of the Transportation Builders Association, says the state hasn't put itself in a position to use the federal money for two Milwaukee County freeway projects eliminated in 2017. That year, Gov. Scott Walker delayed construction on Interstate 41 north of the Zoo Interchange and abandoned plans to rebuild Interstate 94 past Miller Park because of a funding shortfall.
Don't expect a $1.5 trillion federal plan to be Wisconsin's white knight, Goss says.
"Even if this (federal plan) does pass, are we going to have anything in the cupboard or is the cupboard bare?" Goss said of Walker's decision to shelve the I-41 and I-94 projects.
Under President Donald Trump's plan, states would shoulder a significant percentage of the construction costs. Of the $1.5 trillion, only $200 billion would come from the federal government, according to news reports about the proposal.
Nevertheless, after the president announced his plans during the State of the Union address last week, two Republican lawmakers and a coalition of Milwaukee businesses tried to get state officials to revive the I-94 project.
"We're not going to go away because the issue, the need and the crisis isn't going away," said Steve Baas of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
Walker says he won't restart the project because of local infighting over it. He said local officials in Milwaukee had not been advocating for the roadwork.
The governor said during a campaign stop this weekend that he would be open to raising the gas tax to pay for road projects, but only if certain conditions are met.
"I want to be absolutely clear. I will never approve a gas tax (increase) unless there's an equal or greater reduction of taxes," Walker said.
Walker said he had not shifted his position in the past year. In 2017, he threatened to veto any gas tax increase in the state budget.
Goss said without more funding and a total rebuild, Milwaukee's aging freeways will have to be repaved more frequently.
"So we're going to have a decade of barrels constantly out there rather than doing the right thing. Get it rebuilt now. Get the barrels out there for two to three years, and then get out," Goss said.
A time to tax
A time to save
A time to defund
A time to cave.
A time to restructure it all
A time to help President Trump build his Wall!
Raise tax then cut tax at same time so why raise tax at all. Just cut spending.
There is no need to raise the gas tax. Our roads, bridges, etc. are not in bad shape because of a lack of money. They are in bad shape because unethical and irresponsible political hacks rape the highway trust fund to pay for things other than highways, roads and bridges.
These hacks syphon off money for subways, light rail, busses, and bike paths. Drivers pay their own way plus they subsidize these so called public transportation entities that are unable to sustain themselves. Now the same politicians want drivers pay more money to fix roads that should have been fixed with the money the drivers paid but the politicians diverted.
Its been over a year... and you still think he’s building it? Well maybe after he eradicates due process he might have time.
Hope your right.
Anything else is a dysfunctional give me to the road builders and their lobbyist...
if they can build roads in northern European climates that last 20 yrs, what the frig are we doing wrong, this is an engineering problem not money, I am living this pot hole disaster here in Michigan, same freaking problem...
Correct me if Im wrong but truckers pay a road use tax where is this money, , tolls for bridges tunnels and highways where is this money?. I have been told by relatives and friends that It cost 13 dollars now to use a bridge or tunnel in NY? Do the numbers cars and trucks X volume = billions in a day! where is this money????
lotto is used for the re education of our children lets not get into this one
SC roads are in lousy shape due to the poor management and brain-dead politicians.
Trouble with gas taxes and license fees for road maintenance are Demonrats steal itis for other things.
The state lotteries are the same way. They were supposed to be strictly for “education” or other genuine needs...but nobody buys it anymore because they wonk their way around it. Just more boondoggle money.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.