Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Streetsblog

Wisconsin DOT Raises the Cost of Fighting Highway Projects

11:23 AM EDT on April 11, 2014

"Wasteful and unnecessary." That's how citizens of Waukesha and Washington counties in Wisconsin have described a state plan to fill in wetlands for an 18-mile road widening project on Highway 164.

Highway 164 in Wisconsin, as you can see, is in desperate need of widening. Photo: State Truck Tour
Highway 164 in Wisconsin, as you can see, is in desperate need of widening. Photo: State Truck Tour
false

But the Highway J Citizens Coalition isn't taking it lying down. Along with an environmental group, they took the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to court and the judge sided in their favor recently, finding that the state's documentation, studies, and hearings for this project had serious flaws.

James Rowen at the Political Environment reports that now the "tone deaf," "arrogant" state agency appears to be making it punitively expensive for these citizens to challenge its actions:

The Highway J Citizens Coalition, (HJCG), had won a significant victory in federal court, but despite the ruling and direction it gave to WisDOT legal project construction and planning, WisDOT is picking a further fight with the coalition by charging it more than $10,000 in advance for public records as the case continues.

The coalition says in a major filing Monday with Madison prosecutors that WisDOT is withholding the records in part because it doesn't like how highway critics have portrayed WisDOT.

So much for transparency. No wonder the Wisconsin Department of Transportation keeps getting sued by state residents.

Elsewhere on the Network today: The State Smart Transportation Initiative explains how Virginia DOT is rethinking some of its core assumptions, and how it could have a big environmental, social and fiscal impact. People for Bikes reports the state of California will endorse the NACTO street design guide. And A View from the Cycle Path argues that "shared space" street designs prioritize drivers over pedestrians and cyclists.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Pols Detail ‘Road Map’ For Safe Streets in Western Queens

A group of western Queens lawmakers released a plan for street safety projects they want to see before 2030.

November 28, 2023

Tuesday’s Headlines: Restorative (Traffic) Justice Edition

Two stories highlighted a restorative justice program that allows traffic crash victims and perpetrators the chance to meet face-to-face. Plus more news.

November 28, 2023

Top NJ Lawmaker Proposes Major Reforms to Fight Temporary License Plate Fraud

The new legislation follows a seven-month Streetsblog investigation that found widespread fraud involving temp tags, with car dealers abusing weak state regulations and selling paper plates illegally to drivers using them to evade accountability on the road.

November 28, 2023

Fed Panel Wants to Confront the Role of Aggressive Auto Advertising in U.S. Road Deaths

A horrific car crash has federal safety officials calling for systematic responses to traffic violence — including the aggressive car ads that may inspire motorists to hit the gas.

November 28, 2023

A ‘Giving Tuesday’ Streetsblog Primer

Before we ask for your donation, let us prove to you that we're worthy of it!

November 28, 2023
See all posts