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Home > BizTimes Daily > Archives > June 19, 2009
Bauman decries budget handout for Drexel interchange
Published June 19, 2009 - BizTimes Daily
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Milwaukee Alderman Robert Bauman today denounced the state Senate's insertion of a $3.75 million grant in the state budget to help cover the proposed development of a new Drexel Avenue interchange on Interstate 94 in Oak Creek.
Despite the fact that the state Department of Transportation deemed the proposed Drexel interchange unneeded and a threat to older commercial areas in the City of Milwaukee, the Senate's adopted state budget includes a DOT grant to help push the project to fruition, Bauman said.
Bauman, chair of the Milwaukee Common Council's Public Works Committee, said the grant essentially nullifies the will of Oak Creek officials and citizens, many of whom have opposed the interchange.
"The Senate's budget generosity shouldn't stop at the Oak Creek doorstep – I'm asking that it be extended to include funding the local share of KRM (Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail project), in my opinion a true transportation improvement that will actually benefit a much larger portion of our population," Bauman said.
The Drexel interchange had originally been a part of the $1.9 billion reconstruction and expansion of I-94 from Milwaukee to the Illinois border. However, Oak Creek officials have so far declined to commit to paying the 25 percent local share for the $15.2 million project.
The Oak Creek City Council will meet on Monday, June 29, to reconsider the Drexel interchange.
Final action on the proposed 2009-2011 state budget is expected in the next few weeks, as Doyle has said he wants to sign a final version by July 1.
"I'll be waiting for the amendment to include DOT funding for the local share of the KRM," Bauman said.
