facts101, I'm not sure what your point is. There was a public clamor for this, it has zero political risk for Doyle, and Sheridan and Hixson were doing their jobs lobbying for the interests of their districts. Oh, did you accidentally see the sausage being made, and now you're queasy? So what?

gmaof3, I'm glad it's not just me thinking those van drivers need driving lessons.
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btw, I'm sure we've seen each other. My daily route is JVL to the same exit you take.

facts.. so I care? Not really. Just make this stretch safer with more lanes, don't know / don't care... just do it!

PanamaRed Pretty sure since I was in Madison 5 months ago and was told the the project did not even have a number. And was pretty far down on the list. Without a number a project does not even get looked at. All of a sudden out of the blue it has a number and is "OKd" by the transportation board which was called into session by Doyle for the first time since he became Gov. Coincidence? I think not. Sheridan and Hixson begged Big JIM to move this so they could keep their names in the press and help get them re-elected.

frusion... You're right about the drivers of those vans. I also drive I90 everyday, from Milton to Sun Prairie. If they aren't speeding like idiots, they'll just hang in the passing lane, tooling along and slowing down traffic flow. There is no rhyme or reason to how they drive.

As far as I am concerned, build the expansion! This is an insane stretch of highway. When the snow flies, the jerks seem to think 80 miles an hour works well on black ice! I hate driving during the winter. The tailgating is so out of control, tap your brakes, and the car behind you is "on your hood"... (ever so slight exaggeration...)

The state vanpool riders pay fees based on number of riders in the van and miles driven.

See http://www.doa.state.wi.us/section_detai...

"Sheridan and Hixson being democrats and being in the majority hammered this. If this were not an election year this would have went no where." Are you sure about that facts101.
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According to the Sentinal/Journal, “Walker has received the backing of many road builders. The Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association held a fund-raiser for him in February in Florida. The road-building group also gave $25,000 this year to the Republican Governors Association, which has been running ads critical of Barrett.”
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It was also reported, “During his time in office, Doyle shifted $1.3 billion from the transportation fund to the general fund, drawing protests from the transportation industry. Republicans who controlled the Legislature during his first term signed off on more than $800 million of the transfers.” "Walker told the transportation group's convention he supported the I-39/90 project - and thought the lanes should be expanded all the way to Wisconsin Dells. That would more than double the size of the project."
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What part of Walkers claim that he would cut State spending did we miss?

THE PUBLIC SUBSIDIZES ROADS AND OIL COMPANIES. I figured I better shout so you would be sure to hear me, not that it will help you understand.

I understand. If the public does not build roads, who will? I believe that there is a significant majority who favor having roads in this country.
The government should not subsidize oil companies in any way, other than clearly defined R&D tax breaks.

That revenue source is evaporating as more fuel efficient and electric powered vehicles hit the roads.
Then there is no need to worry about running out of gas, as we will be using less and less, unless you factor in more and more people living and driving on the planet.
You also need to believe that oil came from carbon life forms. There must have been a lot of dinosaurs on Saturn’s moon Titan. Enormous amounts of hydrocarbons there.
Proven reserves are usually low estimates and when the first estimate is pumped out and there is still oil coming out the well, the estimate of reserves is increased.

The EIA reports the United States "Dependence on Net Petroleum Imports" as 58.2%.
Maybe we should open up more drilling areas and decrease this dependence. Or maybe when we fight oil wars we should plant the flag and call it ours.

Olderandornerier, you must be a member of the "frapachino (sic) drinking commie pinko's, who think they are being progressive and trendy while the public subsidizes every trip they take on it" since you favor roads and cheap gas. THE PUBLIC SUBSIDIZES ROADS AND OIL COMPANIES. I figured I better shout so you would be sure to hear me, not that it will help you understand. According to the WI DOT, gas taxes make up 54% of their revenue. That revenue source is evaporating as more fuel efficient and electric powered vehicles hit the roads. Based on the development and implementation of new energy sources, our transportation habits must change, just as they did with the advent of the interstate road system and cheap gas. The cost to build and maintain our roads will only become more of a financial burden.
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According to NationMaster.com, the world consumes (approx.) 85million barrels/day x 365 days = 31 billion barrels / year. As the whole world has only proven reserves of (approx) 1,300 billion barrels / 31 billion barrels consumption = 42 years from now we have no oil left! If there is plenty of oil, why are US troops sent to fight and die in the Middle East? Why does the US provide millions of dollars worth of military aid to Saudi Arabia each year? Net imports of oil and products account for nearly half of the US trade deficit. As of 2007, the US consumed 20.68m bbls of petroleum products/day and imported a net 12.04m bbls/day. The EIA reports the United States "Dependence on Net Petroleum Imports" as 58.2%.

Great News , let the construction begin!!!!!!

PJGnyc - OK, I finally get to communicate to someone that uses those vans. Leaving the benefits out of the discussion for right now, do the speed limits not apply to those state vans? On many occasions I have witnessed speeds in the neighborhood of 75-80. Is this acceptable within the use guidelines of these vans? A couple other questions: As a taxpayer, am I paying for fuel and maintenance on these vans?
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Looking forward to your reply.

SarahB1 My point was that this project did not have legs 5 months ago. Sheridan and Hixson being democrats and being in the majority hammered this. If this were not an election year this would have went no where.Don't get me wrong I support the project. I just find it quite disturbing that two of the democrats who voted to raid the transportation fund trying to balance the budget can with a straight face say 750 million.And according to the democratic party they are not worried about these two seats they consider them safe. If the state has to borrow for this project which they most likely will. Think of how much less we would have to borrow and pay interest on if the transportation fund had been left alone.

wouldnt it be great?.... park some where between madison and milwaukee, and ride to down town milwaukee? to a ball game? state fair park?, zoo? thats what we do when we go to chicago. park at harvard and ride the rail. For every body on the train, there will be one car on the road, in the way of those who hate the rail, or is it just because its a democate in office, it was a great idea when thommy was running the state.

Dwight,

Spend much time on commuter trains? They get pretty crowded. After we have a rail link to Madison, let's start begging Chicago to extend the Metra line in Harvard up to Janesville. There's a lot of opportunity only two hours away.

I'm happy to take my paycheck from my high paying job in Illinois and spend it right here in Wisconsin, and certainly would mind some of my tax money making that easier.

do like some southern states?.. like when the fire department puts of your neighbor's lawn and watches your house burn ?... btw, if the neighbor was not home, the fire would have spread and burnt the house of a "fee paying" house too !

I like roads,cars and cheap gas, I don't like trains.

You think highways and cheap gas are not subsidized?

Wow. Everytime you get into your car and drive on any road--it is because it is subsidized by government.

Your blinders are quite convenient for your views.

djs4464 I agree with you.Moved to Texas and have been down to the gulf,there are tar balls all over the place down there.Motels put tar removing rags in the rooms.Oil seeps from the gulf floor allt the time,and has been doing so for along time.

The road is in terrible condition and overcrowded. This is a need and a worthwhile use of money, because we are going to be driving cars for a long time, and no one will take a train. Well maybe some frapachino drinking commie pinko's, who think they are being progressive and trendy while the public subsidizes every trip they take on it.

And since we will have oil and gas pretty much forever. Cars are not going anywhere.

DJS - nice to hear someone else besides the Russians acknowledge oil is abiotic and only contrived shortages will ever exist.

DwightKSchrute--

Did you know that there are 8 vans that leave J-ville everyday with the state van pool? That translates to up to 112 people, and that is just the organized state vanpool program. There are other car pools that go as well, and then there are the many many cars from j-ville on that freeway with only one person inside...there are hundreds of people in J-ville alone that leave everyday to work up in the Madison area. If they can make the train convenient, people will use it. And I am talking about rail between Madison and Janesville, not Madison and Milwaukee (which thankfully is moving forward--you remember Wisconsin's motto, don't you? --yup, it is FORWARD!)

Don't be so short-sighted. I am talking about doing BOTH projects--one is more geared towards commerce (freeway expansion) one is about commuters/tourism/safety. The easier you make it for people to live in Janesville/Beloit/Edgerton/Milton and be able to commute to their higher wage jobs in Madison, the better for all the communities.

Sure, you've then alleviated the problem for the 1/2 dozen people that would actually ride a commuter rail somewhere between Madison and Milwaukee.

True economic development and infrastructure building hint that this project would be a plus for Rock, Dane, Jefferson, Walworth counties.

HOWEVER...for the project to truly meet the goal of extending the life/capacity of the interstate, it should include a commuter rail line right down the median all the way from Beloit to Madison.

I-90/39 is a disaster waiting to happen. I commute everyday from j-ville to madison--using the state van pool program, and there are simply way too many single occupant cars on there, and too many semis that clog this road. Build the extra lanes and you have alleviated the problem for a few years. Build the extra lanes and the commuter rail, and you have alleviated the problem for a much much longer time.

gogreen61, you don't see a need? Have you ever driven on I90? I drive it everyday and the times it's NOT heavy traffic is 7PM-6AM. The rest of the day I90 is packed. And you reference Janesville commuters as creating the traffic? Sorry, you are out of touch.

So if I did the math correctly that comes to $22.5 million per mile? Does that road come paved in gold?

Do like some southern states do approach business community for money before raising taxes. Doesn't federal government provide right-offs for such donations. You'd get some if not most back. Plus there is always international investors who might be interested!

I would also like to know where the money is going to come from. Earlier this year when in Madison we were told there was no money to do this. In fact this project did not even have a number. Without a number the project does not even get looked at. Now since its an election year we have given it a number and called the commission into session (for the first time since he has been gov). The plan I am sure it to push this through and let the next governor worry about how to pay for it. Good bye Doyle and don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out you waste of a human being. All of this could not have been done this fast without Sheridan and Hixson being up for re-election. Funny how when their cushy government job is on the line how they throw the tax payer under the bus to make themselves look good.

So the State wants to spend over 1 billion dollars to relieve traffic congestion that lasts a period of 6 hours on Friday and 6 hours on Sunday on a 45 mile stretch of Interstate. That averages out to be 2.2 million per mile or 16k per hour for 10 years (12hrs x 52 wks x 10 yr life expectancy before major repairs). This is a waste of tax money!
Building more roads is a losing proposition. Too often the easiest approach is used to solve problems. It’s easier to build roads instead of systematically addressing transportation needs and finding long-term sustainable solutions. The money used to build, then maintain roads and bridges, takes away funding for more important needs that have a greater impact on our quality of life such as improving our schools. Even if the State comes up with the necessary funding, we will still lack the billions of dollars needed to build our way out of traffic congestion. We need to be more creative in finding ways to alleviate traffic congestion and begin applying our resources toward long-term relief instead of simply building more roads. I heard someone say once, “We have run out of money. Now it’s time to think.” Here are some links to people and organizations that think.

http://bicycleuniverse.info/transpo/road......
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http://www.infrastructurist.com/2010/09/......
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http://pedestrianfriendly.com/2006/12/27......

Proartist There is enough oil under Gull Island off Alaska to last 200 years.All gas shortages that have been brought about since the early 1900s have been a hoax. The oil company's use it as a way to jack up the price of gas. Oil is constanly being made in the earth 24 7 There never will be a shortage.

2016????? Seriously? We will have road construction for 4 years? Ugh. I think 90% of the interstates life has been road construction. This sucks.

There are two people who could be governor in a few weeks. Might be nice to know their positions on funding this project. Maybe I missed it in the article.

QwertyToo, the TPC's authority covers the entire state. I think the word "southeastern" was a cut-and-paste error. In other versions of this wire story it describes Highway 38.

http://www.sprawlingfromgrace.com/

If "the TPC approves only transportation projects outside of southeastern Wisconsin," then why did they approve Highway 38 in Racine and Milwaukee counties? Have Racine and Milwaukee counties moved to a different area of the state?

There was NO reason to add another lane to 94 in Racine and Kenosha counties....NONE!!......they already had 3 lanes each direction which was more than sufficient to handle the traffic in those counties....A horrendous boondoggle where construction was wasted where it wasn't needed.