Gov. Jim Doyle's recent announcement that he plans to move up the preliminary engineering work for the Zoo Interchange may have been designed to appeal to nearby Waukesha County Republican legislators.

But one former leading Waukesha County GOP leader remains unimpressed.

Former Lt. Gov. Margaret Farrow said in a recent interview that she believes the state will need to begin rebuilding the interchange right after the Marquette Interchange work is completed, sometime in 2012. Doyle recently announced that he would seek about $28 million in the 2007-'09 biennial budget to begin preliminary engineering for the work, at the intersections of I-94, I-894 and Hwy. 45. that is several years earlier than originally planned.

While Farrow said that was a good start, she added that considering that the interchange it handles about 330,000 vehicles per day, the work simply cannot wait another until the scheduled construction start date, which Doyle said would move up from 2016 to 2014.

But the state Department of Transportation has no such plans and Gov. Jim Doyle has said he cannot find the funds to rebuild the Zoo Interchange that early.

Farrow said she recognizes it will be a difficult road to follow, as the state is already committed to rebuilding Interstate 94 from the state line to the Mitchell Interchange as soon as the Marquette work is completed. But she is answering that challenge by resurrecting a plan she first publicly advocated just a few years ago.

"I still support the idea of creating a congestion-priced lane," she said.
Like a toll, people wanting to use the special lane would pay extra for the privilege. In return, the lane would be expected to be a much faster route, like the bus lanes on many major freeways.

Farrow sees the east-west corridor between the Zoo and Marquette interchanges as a logical place to put such a lane. The toll-like proceeds could be used to accelerate the Zoo project, she suggests.

"As more and more people take drives to places like Chicago, they see some form of this," she said.

A private sector civic group Farrow leads, called the Waukesha County Action Network, released a letter last week that "encourages accelerated Zoo Interchange improvements to stop regional job losses now."

Calling the Zoo Interchange the "essential connection in the flow of product and people through a large part of the state," it claimed that the increasing logjam will spark employers to "move to other locations to create products and services. Jobs and revenues will be lost. The region will face an uphill battle in the competition for new jobs."

It also cited that from 2003 through 2005, there were a total of 2,298 crashes in the Zoo Interchange, including crashes on ramps and connecting streets.

Farrow said she will also push for the so-called "Milwaukee Seven" regional group to consider such a plan.

Critics say the plan would mean either altering the bus lanes operation or adding an extra lane to any freeway widening plans. They also attack the plan as widening the schism between the affluent and lower-to-middle income driver.

Gov. Jim Doyle has already said he will not support such a plan. But Farrow, who is helping to run Mark Green's gubernatorial campaign, said she hopes there might be a change in that post after the Nov. 7 election.

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Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by OMCreader on Nov. 13, 2006 at 10:36 p.m. (report)

Mark said: Milwaukee needs to be much more aggressive in its freeway development. We have the most pathetic freeway system of any major city I've been to. C'mon a two lane freeway (with CURBS no less) running through the North Shore. Milwaukee has scores of Blvd's that are larger capacity. Were I king for a day: I'd double the capacity of nearlt every existing freeway, build a North side bypass; and then a beltway that runs from Port Washington, out to Waukesha and down to Racine.

Posted by OMCreader on Nov. 5, 2006 at 12:45 p.m. (report)

bob said: The congestion toll road has got to be the worst, most short sighted idea I've heard to solve our highway budget problems.

Posted by OMCreader on Nov. 3, 2006 at 8:52 a.m. (report)

Brian Manthey said: Some important corrections. The Marquette Interchange Project is scheduled to be completed in November 2008, not 2012 as stated in the article. The project is on or in some areas ahead of schedule. The Governor's announcement was that the goal was to start construction in 2012, not 2014 as stated in the article. Brian Manthey Communications Officer Marquette Interchange Project

Posted by OMCreader on Nov. 3, 2006 at 8:40 a.m. (report)

Darlene said: The highway system is now a scapegoat for job loss? Try high healthcare costs, taxes and a million other factors! What a joke.