March 27, 2009 

NEWS FROM THE MAYOR

Dear Friends, 

Earlier this week I appeared at the Joint Finance Committee’s state budget hearing. My testimony focused on Milwaukee’s fiscal needs, including the challenges we have in maintaining and repairing our local streets.

This is not just a City of Milwaukee issue.

I urged Committee members to re-align the state’s transportation funding strategy so that an emphasis is placed on maintaining our existing infrastructure. Local roads and bridges are vital connections in delivering goods and services for economic growth and must be given a higher priority in the state’s transportation budget.

I also submitted a letter to the Committee requesting a delay in the construction of the Pabst Farms Interchange and asking that the reconstruction of the I – 94 N/S Freeway from the Mitchell Interchange to the state line proceed without additional lanes. By taking these two actions, $221 million would be available for local roads; roads that are traveled on everyday and that are in need of repair. You can read my letter by visiting my Web site.

Since I have become Mayor, I have increased the City’s commitment to local road maintenance. In 2005, the City Local Streets Capital budget was $4.2 million. In 2008, it was $5.5 million, an increase of more than 31%.

Given our fiscal constraints, it’s now time for the State Department of Transportation to reprioritize how it spends our gas tax dollars and start investing more in local streets and our existing infrastructure.

Sincerely,

Mayor, City of Milwaukee  

Visit my website at: http://www.city.milwaukee.gov/mayor