Here we go again.

Back in 2017, 1000 Friends breathed a huge sigh of relief, along with our allies in the Coalition for More Responsible Transportation, when WisDOT dropped the planned expansion of I-94 near Story Hill in Milwaukee. Their internal environmental impact statement found that the project would not decrease congestion unless a comprehensive rapid transit system was also put into place in the region. We argued that the $1 billion cost would draw funding away from crumbling local roads while simultaneously increasing vehicle emissions and disproportionately affecting communities of color along the corridor. After years of work organizing and educating lawmakers, the Coalition finally got through to the decision makers…

... until this month when Governor Evers announced his intention to restart the project. After being dismissed by Governor Walker in large part due to the cost and to lack of public support around the Story Hill neighborhood and the historic cemeteries on both sides of the highway - the I-94 project is back. After so many years of combined efforts to stop this costly expansion once again we are facing the same battle.

In 2014, the federal government found that the Zoo Interchange caused “irreparable harm,” to minority communities. This project on the same corridor is no different. Why is this project being reconsidered at a time of heightened awareness about structural racism in Wisconsin?

Expanding I-94 East-West runs counter to the Evers administration’s commitment to equitably reduce Wisconsin’s climate emissions, so why is this project being reconsidered even as the consequences of climate change become increasingly dire and very real to Wisconsinites? Why is this project being considered when we’re faced with severe economic uncertainty and we need more transit investment to get people to jobs?

The I-94 East-West expansion is a fiscal, social, and environmental mistake. The money required for this project would be far more valuable supporting local roads, walking, biking, and equitable access to transit across Wisconsin. We strongly urge Governor Evers to reconsider.

Third in Gregg May's blog series

Transportation Connection (Pt. 3) Minimum Lot Sizes

This is our third article in a series on the connection between land use and transportation in Wisconsin communities.

As Wisconsin has become more auto-dependent, local ordinances have responded to accommodate vehicles. Working under the surface, our regulations have helped mandate a land use pattern that is conducive to vehicles at the expense of all other forms of travel. Often overlooked, zoning codes and municipal ordinances like mandatory parking, minimum lot sizes, and street width requirements have shaped and now define the places we live.

This article explores minimum lot sizes, which have an outsized impact on our land use patterns.

Don't stop now - read the 4th in our Land Use & Transportation series...

Last Chance to Participate

in the Climate Change Task Force

The Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change wrapped up its final public hearing last week. However, there is still one last chance to participate. The Task force will continue to collect public comments until July 31, so let them know your thoughts here. 1000 Friends will continue to push the Task Force to support the following recommendations to be delivered to Governor Evers this fall:

Halting the I-94 East-West expansion project.
Support for Wisconsin’s public transit systems through increased funding and the return of RTA-enabling legislation.
Support for active transportation through increased funding to the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and re-implementing the Complete Streets program as it was worded in 2009.
Propose the permanent re-authorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund.

Climate Change Task Force Website

https://climatechange.wi.gov/pages/home.aspx

Outdoor Learning & Play - More Important than Ever

The Green Schoolyard Project at Leopold Community School in Madison continues to complete projects on the schoolyard. Despite cancelling our environmental after school club and in-person meetings, our team has adapted to ZOOM meetings and physically distancing schoolyard work. Project leader, Abe Lenoch, continues to engage the entire school community as much as possible as we create and manage spaces for outdoor learning and play!

Two crabapples planted in April. We planted a total of nine trees this spring with another nonprofit, Urban Tree Alliance.

Abe planted native wildflowers in the outdoor staff break area. Some of the plants like the hyssop and hoary vervain in the back have already bloomed.

The City of Fitchburg generously dropped off a load of compost at no charge this spring to fuel our vegetable and pollinator gardens.

Thanks to a Leopold parent volunteer and her family, the garden beds are feeding people and pollinators this summer. The harvest from the garden is being handed out to Leopold School families throughout the growing season.

1000 Friends of Wisconsin | 608-259-1000 | 1kfriends.org

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