Jan
13
Jan
10
Nov
21
Wisconsin DOT To Reconsider Highway 23 Widening
A "busy" section of Highway 23 that WisDOT would like to see widened
As a result of a lawsuit filed by 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has agreed to reconsider its earlier decision to widen Highway 23 between Fond du Lac and Plymouth. The agreement, which was approved by District Court Judge Lynn Adelman, calls for Wis DOT to reconsider a “Super Two” lane alternative, to re-examine the impacts of the project on property owners and the environment and to hold new hearings on the project.
The agreement calls for WisDOT to complete its review within 12 months. (See the agreement here.)
This development is a significant victory for the environment and for taxpayers. While it does not necessarily mean that the four lane project is dead, it does mean that the public will have a new opportunity for real input in what any reconstruction of the highway will look like.
1000 Friends has fought the projects for many years, contending that the 4 lane highway was not justified by traffic counts or safety considerations. We also opposed the project on the grounds that it unnecessarily destroyed wetlands, took away farmland and cost too much. We also argued that the DOT never conducted appropriate hearings on the project.
The agreement addresses all of the concerns that 1000 Friends brought forth in the lawsuit. We are pleased that WisDOT has agreed to address our concerns and look forward to working with WisDOT over the next 12 months to develop a better highway 23 project.
Oct
26
1000 Friends Slams Permit Bill as Costly to Environment and Builders
Legislation would lead to costly delays while limiting public participation
Legislation developed by builders to speed up the permitting of structures in public waterways would do the exact opposite according to 1000 Friends of Wisconsin.
“Special Session AB 24 is billed as a way to get permits faster for projects that are built in public waterways. In reality, the legislation would curb public input and pose harm to natural resources and actually slow down the permitting of projects in Wisconsin,” said Steve Hiniker, Executive Director.
SS AB24 would, among other things, limit the time the Department of Natural Resources has to review a permit application for a project that would be built in the public waterway. If the agency didn’t act on the permit within a specified time period, the project would be deemed approved.
“If the DNR is forced to act on a permit before an adequate review of the proposed activity can be complete, the agency could simply deny the permit. This means that the permit applicant would have to start over with a new permit application (and fees) which will lead to costly delays. Or, if the agency approved the project without due consideration, natural values of the lake or river could be compromised,” added Hiniker.
“While permit applicants will be experiencing new delays because of this legislation, the public will be denied a fair opportunity to participate in the review of projects that are constructed in the public waterways of Wisconsin. The legislation places strict time limitations on the opportunity for public comment on proposed projects.”
“Special Session Assembly Bill 24 should be scrapped as costly and ineffective,” concluded Hiniker.
1000 Friends Testimony can be found here:
