This is dumb, dumb, dumb

by folkbum

State plans to add new lanes to I-94 in a 35-mile stretch from the Illinois border to Milwaukee's south side are in line for federal approval this week, and a construction start within a year. [. . .]

According to the Final Environmental Impact statement, there would be very little difference in travel times in Racine and Kenosha counties whether lanes are added or the road is rebuilt with its current six lanes.

In the one-month comment period that ended May 5, statements in opposition to the expansion outnumbered those in favor by nearly 3 to 1, based on a review of those submitted in writing and via telephone.

So this summer, when gas is over $4 a gallon, we're talking about expanding a highway for no good reason with construction to begin next summer when gas is $6 a gallon and to be completed in a few years when gas is $12 a gallon. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

We must be the only region left in the nation that is banking on the automobile as the future of transportation.

UPDATE: See Milwaukee Rising and The Political Environment (whose post aptly names this project: "planning for yesterday").