I-94 Can Be Rebuilt Responsibly

A recent opinion piece in Urban Milwaukee by the representatives of four labor unions seemed to imply that opponents of WisDOT’s plan to rebuild I-94 would undermine economic recovery and deny thousands of people jobs.

Quite the contrary. Opponents are not disputing that this 1960’s buildout of a 1950’s era design is due for reconstruction. What the project’s opponents are pushing back against is expansion – increasing the size of the current freeway from six to eight lanes. Their argument, which has been made in other Urban Milwaukee pieces, points to the environmental, economic, and health costs of expansion, which will be borne most heavily by low-income residents and communities of color.

Transportation is a major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, and experts around the world are calling for a reduction in single automobile use to address climate change before it results in irreparable damage to our planet. In light of research showing that expanding freeways leads to more traffic, greater congestion, and higher levels of carbon emissions – a phenomenon known as “induced demand” – it does not make sense to plan for expansion.

But what if the experts are wrong and traffic does not increase? That’s possible. In its original Environmental Impact Study WisDOT based its traffic projections on data from 2009. But traffic is declining. While some people have no choice but to use transit, demographic trends indicate that millennials and boomers are voting with their feet, foregoing cars and opting for transit, biking, and walking. Multiple studies show that the availability of transit and active modes of transportation strongly affect young professional’s decisions about where to live. Finally, changes in driving patterns brought on by the pandemic are expected to continue as work-from-home becomes a permanent option for many workers.

Either way, expansion appears to be a poor choice. But other options provide a middle ground that can address the concerns of both parties.

WisDOT’s original Environmental Impact Study referenced the option of reconstructing I-94 without expanding its footprint — while also updating local arterial streets. Although WisDOT dismissed this option, it was endorsed by WISPIRG, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that advocates for the public interest. WISPIRG also recommended using the cost savings to expand transit service along the corridor. This would reduce the load on the freeway and better serve the neighboring areas, which account for 75% of traffic on this section of the freeway according to WisDOT’s own analysis.

Depending on one’s perspective, the $1 billion dollar taxpayer price tag is either an opportunity — or an opportunity lost. Claims that funding for the I-94 expansion cannot be used for other projects are inaccurate. Some funding may be transferrable and money can come from multiple sources for transit. Milwaukee Alderman Robert Bauman estimates that approximately $200 million could be saved and applied to transit or street upgrades.

According to a study by Cornell University, public transit produces 31% more jobs per dollar spent than money expended on highways. Many of these jobs, which last long after a construction project has ended, are more varied and pay a living wage without requiring advanced degrees. And whereas freeways are designed to bypass commercial districts along their path, public transit and active transportation modes support local businesses and create economic opportunity for residents.

Do we want a quick cash grab, or a thoughtful process to design our infrastructure so that it addresses carbon emissions and meets the long-term needs of everyone in our communities, including those who don’t drive? The best way to determine how to go forward is for WisDOT to conduct a new Environmental Impact Study.

Jennifer Ann Evans, member of 1000 Friends and the Coalition for More Responsible Transportation.