UPDATED 6:30p
When it comes to transportation funding, State Senator Van Wanggaard is accusing Gov. Walker of a double-cross.
Wanggaard represents the western halves of both Racine and Kenosha counties. Both he and Walker are Republicans.
Wanggaard is upset that Gov. Walker's proposed transportation budget for the next biennium fails to include any financing to complete the I-94 expansion and reconstruction project through Kenosha and Racine counties. "On a snowy night 5 and-a-half years ago, I was told that work on I-94 in Racine and Kenosha counties would be prematurely halted so that work could start on the Zoo interchange," Wanggaard said in a news release issued Thursday. "I was promised at that time and repeatedly since that the I-94 N-S expansion would be completed in the 17-19 budget."
But Walker's new budget for the upcoming biennium fails to include any funds for the project.
What's more, it calls for new delays in completing the Zoo interchange while at the same time includes funds for a brand new project: The rebuilding of a portion of I-94 west of Milwaukee.
At the core of the issue is a dispute over the amount of transportation borrowing, and how to pay for it.
According to a report in the Journal Sentinel, the D-O-T hasn't said when it intends to complete the I-94 work down here.
So what's Wanggaard going to do about the broken promise? "I intend to hold people to their word," Wanggaard said in his release. "Taxpayers deserve nothing less."
Walker, meanwhile is defending his road-funding proposal, saying that the DOT had to prioritize and place safety and maintenance first. His plan provides $65 million more for local governments and commits $605 million for county and state road maintenance efforts, about $70 million more than the last budget.
Walker is also getting heat on the stalled I-94 project from Democratic State Senator Bob Wirch, who represents the eastern halves of both Kenosha and Racine counties. "I-94 is the gateway to Wisconsin, and completion of this project is a key to economic development in the entire region," Wirch said in a news release.
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