Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Transit Strategy Planning Meeting Tonight In Milwaukee

On the heels of Monday's Zoo Interchange transit win:

What: Planning and Strategy Meeting
      Campaign for an East-West Transit Corridor in Milwaukee
When: Wednesday, May 21, 6pm
Where: Milwaukee Environmental Consortium Building Conference Room,
      1845 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, WI

RSVP to Bruce Speight at bspeight@wispirg.org by Monday, May 19th

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WISDOT) is considering a $1.2 billion widening of Interstate 94 between N. 70th Street and 25th Street (between the Zoo and Marquette Interchanges).  If approved, this costly highway widening project through the heart of Milwaukee would have devastating impacts on the urban fabric of the city and push the Milwaukee’s transportation system in the wrong direction.

This is another costly highway proposal that does nothing to incorporate transit or ensure that those that are unable to or can't afford to drive will still have access to work, school, shopping, etc. Alternatively, using highway expansion dollars to develop an East-West transit corridor would boost urban redevelopment, strengthen the city’s urban core, and have a potentially transformative effect on Milwaukee’s future transportation plans.

Join us for a Planning and Strategy Meeting to learn more and to discuss developing a campaign that stops this destructive highway widening, and calls on WISDOT to adopt a new, 21st century scope for the project that repairs the existing highway – without widening it – and integrates a central public transit corridor into the project plan.

This meeting is being organized by Wisconsin Voices, WISPIRG, the Sierra Club, and 1000 Friends of Wisconsin.

1 comment:

Gareth said...

Meanwhile, in the non-confederate state of Minnesota a light rail system linking Minneapolis with St. Paul is about to open:

With Green Line ready to roll, stakes and hopes are high | Star Tribune

Demonstrating the economic impact of light rail:

"Even as construction crews and transportation officials juggle last-minute tasks and test runs, the nearly $1 billion development, the most substantial transportation link between the downtowns since the building of I-94, is already making an impact: Officials are crediting the project with spurring $2.5 billion in commercial and housing development along its 11-mile route, with dozens of projects to come.

Need a job? Move to Minnesota.