Infrastructure & Environment
Waukesha County’s economic vitality depends on modern, safe and efficient infrastructure networks, from our transportation systems, to technology, to our water supply. In particular, we recognize the need for a sustainable funding solution to meet the critical transportation infrastructure needs of our state. The effective flow of goods, services and people is fundamental to business growth and a vibrant economy.
2020 Policy Priorities:
- Advocate for statewide, sustainable, long-term transportation funding solutions.
- Advocate for completion of the I-94 East-West corridor between 16th Street and 70th Street.
- Support cost-effective, efficient, flexible transportation to connect employees with jobs in Waukesha County.
- Support the evaluation of intermodal facilities for Wisconsin that could enhance freight rail service for Wisconsin shippers.
- Advocate for policies that support and streamline the deployment of 5G (5th generation) networks and educate municipal leaders on the benefits of 5G to businesses and the economy.
- Support the City of Waukesha in the implementation of borrowing and returning water from Lake Michigan.
Talking Points:
- It’s time for Wisconsin to create a long-term transportation plan that aligns transportation project priorities with predictable funding to ensure projects are completed in a timely manner.
- A good, well-maintained and operated transportation infrastructure leads to more jobs, a strong economy, increased public safety and improves the quality of life in Wisconsin.
- Access to a robust transportation system is consistently one of the top issues we hear from businesses – both those already doing business here and those looking to relocate or expand in the region.
- The Legislative Fiscal Bureau reported that the transportation fund is at least $940 million short per year to fund all of the existing approved projects.
- The proportion of Wisconsin state highways rated in good condition decreased from 53.5% in 2010 to 41% in 2015, according to WisDOT’s pavement condition index.
- The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released a report giving Wisconsin roads and bridges a D+. According to the report, Wisconsinites pay an average of $640 per year in car repairs because of bad roads.
- The East-West corridor, which connects the Marquette and the Zoo interchanges, carries between 140,000 and 160,000 vehicles per day – 30,000 more than its 1950s-era design intended.
- There are nearly 21,000 businesses and 310,000 jobs located within a 5-mile radius of the I-94 East-West project.
- 5G will elevate the mobile network to not only interconnect people, but also interconnect and control machines, objects and devices. It will deliver new levels of performance and efficiency that will empower new user experiences and connect new industries. The United States led the adoption of 4G, and the country that leads the world in adoption of 5G will have a distinct technological, economic and national security advantage over other countries.
- The FCC passed rules that speed up state and local review of small cells needed to deploy 5G. Nonetheless, municipalities play a significant role in approving or disapproving small-cell siting applications.
- Lake Michigan water is the only long-term, sustainable and environmentally friendly water supply source for the City of Waukesha service area.
Alliance supports worker safety and energy security bill signed by Governor Evers
November 21, 2019The Alliance has worked with a broad coalition to support Assembly Bill 426 (Worker Safety and Energy Security Act), which passed the Senate and the Assembly and was signed by Governor Evers on November 20, 2019. In recent years, critical infrastructure worksites in the Midwest have seen millions of dollars of construction equipment set […]
Alliance continues advocating for completion of the I-94 East-West corridor
October 23, 2019One of the Alliance’s policy priorities for 2019 is support for completion of the critical I-94 East-West corridor between 16th Street and 70th Street.
Alliance supports regional cooperation and approval of Waukesha water pumping station
September 30, 2019Economic and environmental problems are not limited by geographic boundaries and solutions often take regional cooperation and provide regional benefits. We are thankful for a long history of working closely with public officials in Waukesha County communities to find those solutions.
Transportation funding solutions
September 3, 2019Earlier this year, Governor Evers signed Wisconsin’s biennium budget, which added $393 million additional dollars to the Department of Transportation.
2019-21 Wisconsin state budget passes
July 16, 2019With 78 partial vetoes, Governor Evers officially passed the Wisconsin 2019-21 state budget on July 2. The $82-billion budget included important priorities for Alliance members, including investments in transportation funding and K-12 education, as well as the proposed cuts to income taxes. The approved budget included a moderate income tax decrease, property tax levy limits […]
Alliance outlines priorities in state budget
July 1, 2019Now that the Wisconsin legislature has sent the state budget to Governor Evers, he has six days (not including Sunday, but including the Fourth of July) to either approve the budget as-is, line-item veto portions of it or veto it entirely.
Infrastructure Committee
Andy Kowske
Chair
HNTB Corporation
Stan Sugden
Vice Chair
Ruekert & Mielke, Inc
Jeff Bauer
Jacobs Engineering
Jennifer B. Zierer
We Energies
John Burgan
raSmith
Joshua Davenport
KPRG & Associates Inc.
Tom Dieckelman
Wisconsin Coach Lines / Coach USA
Tom Fotsch
EmbedTek LLC
Don Gallo
Axley Brynelson, LLP
Troy Giles
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.
Mark Gorski
Judson & Associates S.C.
Mike Gryczka
National Exchange Bank & Trust
Pat Hawley
raSmith
Jeff Hoffman
Cushman & Wakefield | Boerke
Sean Leppert
Interstate Sealant & Concrete, Inc
Lori Lorenz
American Transmission Company
Susan Marshall
Backbone Institute, LLC
John McGinnis
ProHealth Care Foundation
Andrew Narr
Tri City National Bank
Mike Payant
Ayres Associates
Joe Pieper
Westbury Bank
Mike Pjevach
Wisconsin Coach Lines / Coach USA
Bill Schilling
AECOM
Tom Schreibel
Michael Best
Pat Stevens
Axley Brynelson, LLP
Tim Stewart
DeWitt LLP
Fred Stier
Stier Construction, Inc.
Stan Sugden
Ruekert & Mielke, Inc.
Todd Taves
Ehlers & Associates Inc
Tim Walker
GRAEF
Charlie Webb
Jacobs Engineering