Coalition Plans On Demanding More Road Repair Funding At Friday Budget Hearing

Some transportation advocates want state lawmakers to steer tens of millions of dollars out of major road projects and into local street repairs.

At Friday’s Joint Finance Committee hearing in Milwaukee, the Coalition for More Responsible Transportation plans to ask lawmakers to amend the governor’s budget proposal. Coalition member Steve Hiniker said Gov. Scott Walker and the state Department of Transportation want to spend too much money on interstates and state highways, and not enough on helping cities fix potholes and crumbling streets.

“Our local roads are in terrible shape. And while people have a jarring experience getting to and from work, they shouldn’t get in touch with city hall. They should get in touch with the people in the state Capitol,” he said.

Hiniker said the slight increase in road repair money that went to communities two years ago wasn’t enough to offset a bigger cut in 2011 and major decreases in the last 15 years.

The State DOT did not respond to a request for comment.