1000 Friends Objects to Widening

I-94 in City of Milwaukee

1000 Friends of Wisconsin joined with the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin, Sierra Club Great Waters Group, Midwest Environmental Advocates, the and the NAACP of Milwaukee in opposing Wisconsin Department of Transportation plans to widen I-94 in the city of Milwaukee.  Comments were filed on May 5, objecting to the DOT's environmental impact statement.  1000 Friends and the other groups said that the DOT had not adequately addressed concerns regarding public health impacts in Milwaukee, had not adequately evaluated alternatives taht would have rebuilt but not added lanes in the City of Milwaukee and ignored any impact of added greenhouse gas emissions.

2008 Comprehensive Planning Grants Announced

Governor Doyle announced comprehensive planning grants for 149 local governments throughout Wisconsin. This funding will help communities develop and adopt locally-created plans to address long-term needs, promote economic development, and guide future land use decisions. Grants were awarded to eleven applicants that included participation of 149 counties, cities, villages, towns, and tribes, as well as a regional planning commission.

The Comprehensive Planning Grant Program began in 2000, and since that time 1,113 local and regional governments have received grants to develop comprehensive plans.

Home Prices Drop Most in Areas with Long Commute

National Public Radio Story

Median home prices across the nation continue to decline, but some experts are noting a link between falling housing prices and commuting distances. Suburbs where commuters drive an hour or more to work are seeing some of the sharpest drops in prices.

More Riders Hop the Bus

Despite shortages in state and federal funds, more people are taking transit than ever before --- except in Milwaukee where County Exectuive Scott Walker has shortchanged the bus system.



1000 Friends of Wisconsin is promoting the creation of Regional Transit Authorities to allow local units of government to raise revenues locally to fund the operation of transit systems.

We are proposing the creation of Regional Transit Authorities on our Global Warming Task Force work as well as our involvement in a working group of municipal leaders, legislators and private enterprise.

Legislature Fails Transit

Billions for Highways, Nothing for Regional Transit

Despite bus systems that desperately need funding, the legislature is going to wrap up its current session without passing legislation that would allow local units of government to form regional transit authorities that could raise funds to improve transit.  At the same time, the state is moving ahead with plans to spend billions for new highways. 

2007 Growth and Transportation Survey

Three-fourths of Americans believe that being smarter about development and improving public transportation are better long-term solutions for reducing traffic congestion than building new roads, according to a survey sponsored by the National Association of Realtors® and Smart Growth America. The 2007 Growth and Transportation Survey details what Americans think about how development affects their immediate community.

Full Press Release (148kb PDF)
Graphics and Tables (785kb PDF)
Full Questionnaire (114kb PDF)

WIDENING I-94 WILL ADD TO GLOBAL WARMING

OVER 7 MILLION TONS OF ADDITIONAL CO2 IN 50 YEARS

 

As the state of Wisconsin works to find ways to curb the causes of global warming by limiting carbon dioxide emissions, the proposed widening of I-94 in southeast Wisconsin would significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions, according to an analysis by 1000 Friends of Wisconsin.

The land use organization claimed that widening the road from 6 lanes to 8 lanes for 35 miles will result in more than 7 million additional tons of CO2 emitted from cars on that portion of the interstate over the next 50 years.  For comparison purposes, each Wisconsin resident is responsible for about 20 tons of C02 emissions a year. 

1000 Friends based its findings on an analysis undertaken by the non-partisan Sightline Institute in Seattle, Washington.  According to the Sightline Institute, each new lane mile of Interstate Highway will result in the emission of more than 100,000 additional tons of CO2 over the next 50 years. (http://www.sightline.org/research/energy/res_pubs/climate-analysis-gge-new-lanes-10-07 )

The analysis included the following assumptions:

· Adding lanes to a highway will increase total global warming emissions over the long term -- even if it reduces congestion over the short term.

· Specifically -- each extra lane-mile built will increase emissions of carbon-dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, by more than 100,000 tons over 50 years.

· Any short-term fuel savings from congestion relief are quickly overwhelmed by increased traffic volumes on the roadway.

· This estimate takes into account the potential for major increases in vehicle fuel efficiency over 50 years. Even assuming major mpg improvements, we still find that total emissions rise when congested highways are widened.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement prepared by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation does not mention Carbon Dioxide or global warming in its discussion of the environmental impacts of the proposed widening.  Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that carbon dioxide is a pollutant that the Environmental Protection Agency is required to regulate.  Several organizations, including 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, have pointed out the shortcomings of the draft environmental statement.

1000 Friends of Wisconsin renewed its calls for funding transit options and rebuilding the highway in its current six-lane configuration.

Read Transportation Fast Facts Here

TOP TEN REASONS TO OPPOSE I-94  EXPANSION

As the state moves forward on its plans to spend nearly two billion dollars to expand I-94 in southeast Wisconsin, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin has developed a top ten list of reasons to oppose the plan.

Among the Top Ten:

1)  Its not needed

2)  We can't afford it

3)  It will increase property taxes

4)  It will add to the problems of global warming

For the rest of the list and the press release go here.

1000 Friends Comments on I - 94 Draft Environmental Statement

1000 Friends of Wisconsin joined the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin, Midwest Environmental Advocates and the Great Waters Group of the Sierra Club in criticizing the Draft Environmental Impact Statement prepared to address the impacts of the project in southeast Wisconsin.

Specifically, in their comments, the groups pointed out the Draft EIS: 

  • Fails to Comply with NEPA requirements

  • Fails to Comply with the Clean Air Act

  • Fails to adequately address Environmental Justice Issues

The Gaylord Nelson Circle

Less Auto-Dependent Development Is Key to Mitigating Climate Change

Growing Cooler: Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change

A new publication from the Urban Land Institute demonstrates that we have to find a way to sharply reduce the growth in vehicle miles driven across the nation’s sprawling urban areas, reversing trends that go back decades. This publication is based on an exhaustive review of existing research on the relationship between urban development, travel, and the CO2 emitted by motor vehicles. It provides evidence on nd insights into how much transportation-related CO2 savings can be expected with compact development, how compact development is likely to be received by consumers, and what policy changes will make compact development possible.

Growing Cooler Executive Summary (pdf - 465 KB)

Growing Cooler Full Report (pdf - 4.42 MB)

Wisconsin Property Taxpayers Shoulder $1.3 Billion in Road and Highway Costs Annually


Transit costs on the property taxes comparatively small

1000 Friends of Wisconsin has released a report showing Wisconsin property taxpayers shoulder $1.3 billion in road and highway costs each year. The report destroys the myth that roads and highways costs are covered by ‘user fees’ such as gas taxes and registration fees. This report also shows that less than $50 million in transit costs are covered by property taxes statewide each year.

“The widely held belief that Wisconsin drivers pay the full costs of road and highways through their gas taxes and registration fees is wrong,” said Steve Hiniker, Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Wisconsin. “Each year, roughly 40% of road and highway costs – totaling $1.3 billion - are shouldered by property taxpayers.”


Press Release

1000 Friends Partners on Solve Global Warming Web site

5-3-07 - 1000 Friends has partnered with other groups around Wisconsin to support a web site dedicated to solving global warming.  Visit this resource at www.solveglobalwarmingwisconsin.org

 

  Community Planning

Transportation

Where Do We Go From Here Released

1000 Friends has released its second transportation briefing booklet - "Where Do We Go From Here." It is intended to educate citizens, policy makers, business interests, transportation providers, and the media and elevate the public discussion of key transportation challenges and opportunities we face in Wisconsin today. To receive a copy in the mail, email ward@1kfriends.org, or read it online in a pdf format.

 

Government & Policy

 



Member Agency

 

1000 Friends of Wisconsin
16 N. Carroll Street, Suite 810   Madison WI 53703    608.259.1000