It is clear that families and businesses have been feeling the effects of a weak national economy here in south central Wisconsin. Now, more than ever, it remains important to continue working together to foster economic development and create jobs in our area.
One long term way to improve the economic climate of south central Wisconsin is to ensure our transportation infrastructure is sound and attractive to businesses looking to grow or locate in our area. Through the efforts of many local businesses, governments and organizations, we have been working hard together to draw the attention of state officials at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to our regional transportation infrastructure needs.
To that end, I recently received some positive news from WisDOT. Because of the work we did together at the local level, we have persuaded WisDOT to prepare two official studies for the Highway 11 corridor from Janesville to Dubuque. The studies are designed to produce a safety and operation assessment report of the Highway 11 corridor from Dubuque to Janesville. The first study will start in 2010 and will include the 38.39 miles from Monroe to Janesville. The other will begin in 2012 and look at Highway 11 from Monroe to Dubuque.
While many of us wish the timeline would be sooner and the studies more comprehensive along the path to achieving a four lane Highway from Janesville to Dubuque, this is significant step. Just a few years ago, WisDOT had no plans in place regarding Highway 11 and appeared more interested in the major highways and interchanges in Milwaukee and Madison than they did Green, Lafayette and Rock counties. Plus, WisDOT can be pushed again to speed up the timeline and make the study more comprehensive during the next legislative session.
WisDOT has confirmed with me that they will undertake a great deal of data gathering with these studies looking at such items as environmental issues as well as existing local plans and traffic patterns and said all of this information will provide useful if a four lane highway is eventually approved.
The economic impact of improved transportation infrastructure, such as Highway 11 is significant. In a global economy it is important that we invest in a quality transportation system that can reduce business costs, increase efficiency, and act like a magnet for economic growth. From 1990 to 2001, new or expanding businesses in Wisconsin created 80,000 jobs; 90 percent of those new jobs were located within four miles of key "backbone" highways.
In fact, last decade, the state invested $450 million to build a four lane Highway 29 from Eau Claire to Green Bay. The result was from 1996 to 2001, new and expanding businesses created nearly 5,000 jobs - more than twice the number created in the previous six years.
Investing in our transportation infrastructure will help create much needed jobs and is vital to the long term economic well-being of our area. The WisDOT studies are a welcome next step in the process and I want to thank all the local businesses, governments and organizations for their support is moving this issue forward. It could not have been done without everyone speaking as a region. I will continue to work with everyone involved to advocate for transportation infrastructure improvements so we can help get our economy moving again.
One long term way to improve the economic climate of south central Wisconsin is to ensure our transportation infrastructure is sound and attractive to businesses looking to grow or locate in our area. Through the efforts of many local businesses, governments and organizations, we have been working hard together to draw the attention of state officials at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to our regional transportation infrastructure needs.
To that end, I recently received some positive news from WisDOT. Because of the work we did together at the local level, we have persuaded WisDOT to prepare two official studies for the Highway 11 corridor from Janesville to Dubuque. The studies are designed to produce a safety and operation assessment report of the Highway 11 corridor from Dubuque to Janesville. The first study will start in 2010 and will include the 38.39 miles from Monroe to Janesville. The other will begin in 2012 and look at Highway 11 from Monroe to Dubuque.
While many of us wish the timeline would be sooner and the studies more comprehensive along the path to achieving a four lane Highway from Janesville to Dubuque, this is significant step. Just a few years ago, WisDOT had no plans in place regarding Highway 11 and appeared more interested in the major highways and interchanges in Milwaukee and Madison than they did Green, Lafayette and Rock counties. Plus, WisDOT can be pushed again to speed up the timeline and make the study more comprehensive during the next legislative session.
WisDOT has confirmed with me that they will undertake a great deal of data gathering with these studies looking at such items as environmental issues as well as existing local plans and traffic patterns and said all of this information will provide useful if a four lane highway is eventually approved.
The economic impact of improved transportation infrastructure, such as Highway 11 is significant. In a global economy it is important that we invest in a quality transportation system that can reduce business costs, increase efficiency, and act like a magnet for economic growth. From 1990 to 2001, new or expanding businesses in Wisconsin created 80,000 jobs; 90 percent of those new jobs were located within four miles of key "backbone" highways.
In fact, last decade, the state invested $450 million to build a four lane Highway 29 from Eau Claire to Green Bay. The result was from 1996 to 2001, new and expanding businesses created nearly 5,000 jobs - more than twice the number created in the previous six years.
Investing in our transportation infrastructure will help create much needed jobs and is vital to the long term economic well-being of our area. The WisDOT studies are a welcome next step in the process and I want to thank all the local businesses, governments and organizations for their support is moving this issue forward. It could not have been done without everyone speaking as a region. I will continue to work with everyone involved to advocate for transportation infrastructure improvements so we can help get our economy moving again.
