[milwaukee-electric] Roads v. Rail.

[Louis Rugani]

Forwarded here at Don Leistokow's request:


-----Original Message-----
From: Don L. Leistikow
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 6:06 PM
To: jdl896 at wi.rr.com
Cc: X779 at webtv.net, emory1522 at wi.rr.com
Subject: Re: [milwaukee-electric] Re: This and that ~ Speedrail

jdl896 and list:    Your comments appreciated by me and I'm sure by
others, too!   You missed the Whitehouse on Third Street .. how many
seats were in there?                                                       

As for the Marquette Interchange, we've been had.   Governor Jim Doyle
put his stamp of approval on rebuilding it to original imprint/status.
No expansion was to be considered as contained in Plan 2, nor an
expanded Cloverleaf imprint, which would have required condemnation of
much additional private property.  A scare tactic, I am sure.                                       

The key to what was to happen, was the Aldrich Bullding at 940 W.
St.Paul Avenue.  Originally built by TMER&L to house their new Freight
Terminal, the basic property extended eastward from 10th street to 8th
street and was approximately a half block wide for the most part.  This
building was to remain intact with the reconstruction of the Marquette
Interchange.                             

Some unusual happenings took place, such as Aldrich moving out to a
north sid property, vacating the 940 building, why?   

Other properties were affected by relocations or private property
reductions, why?                                                        

Bottom line, Plan two was to be built as it became evident that the 940
building was being demolished.   WisDOT had their way, regardless of
Governor Doyle's absence of approval.   IMHO, WisDOT has its way
regardless of the consequences, of which there are non!      

As it now stnads, way up there in the air, the Marquette Interchange was
built without regard for coating the Rebar with some form of plastic or
like commodity, to enhance the life of the Rebar for a long extended
life.  Later on, I read that the project had come in under budget, well
hooray!  Sometime later, I read that the Rebar was not coated as
specified, thus saving a great amount of money, which is why the project
came in under budget.  I suppose that had the Rebar been coated, the
project may have come in over budget.    Conjecture, of course.                

Another example;  I 94 was proposed to be widened between the Illinois
State Line and the Airport Interdhange, necessitating the removal of
many small businesses along its borders.  WisDOT had its way despite
overt criticism of lack of funding.  Well, they found a way to do it.                  

On the other hand, we still seem to be unable to get a new electric rail
transit line off the ground.  Can it be that WisDOT simply does not
favor Transit?     

I recall a meeting with SEWRPC way back in the late '80's or early '90's
where our committee of some 40 persons visited in search of the
development of Rail Transportation, o/t than Amtrak.  We were told that
such a program would come when it would be needed.  Nothing has happened
so far and I would guess that nothing will be coming in the future.           

Sprawl continues to grow and the CBD continues to lose population and
industry.  

We still need balanced transportation and funding for it.  The Freeway
should be converted to a Tollway, which would be less attractive to
local drivers.  Half of the ramps should be removed in our Metro area.
This combination would reduce travel on the Freeway thus, reducing the
continuing need for resurfacing it on an average of every ten years...
at a cost of over a million dollars per mile.                   

Understand something... no one can tell us of the true impact of traffic
on the freeway.  Big 18 wheelers carry fuel tanks capable of supplying
enough fuel to pass through our State, without dropping a dime in our
coffers.  And we pay for that!   Ever wonder why those big trucks come
through here, and not Madison?  Could it be that I 90 is a Tollway?                          

There is nothing Free, about the Freeway! 

Don L. Leistikow                                       

ps:  Someone please forward this to the milwaukee-electric list.  dll