Access to transportation is the top site selection criteria for businesses and a top priority for the CARW legislative agenda. Last week, Senator Darling and Representatives Kooyenga and Sanfelippo introduced legislation that would put funding for I-94 East-West back on the table by allocating surplus in the DOT budget for the enumeration of the project. The funding was cut in the 2017-2019 budget. CARW President and CEO, Tracy Johnson presented, along with leadership from MMAC and WCBA at a press conference for the introduction of the legislation.
“Southeast Wisconsin is in the midst of a commercial real estate boom. Not just new construction, but companies locating to our region from other States and even other countries.
These business owners require consistency and reliability. The exercise of moving forward on this vitally important I-94 project is an important measure that shows certainty and commitment by leadership to attract these employers to our region.
With the rising demand for logistics and transportation access, the I-94 East-West corridor is the most traveled vein connecting Racine to Waukesha, Kenosha to the Wausau, and Milwaukee to the Fox Valley. If business owners must calculate the cost of their employees and product sitting in the 3.5 miles of I-94 East-West, the proposition of business in Southeastern Wisconsin becomes less attractive.
The public support for this project and the state’s investment is high – riders have first-hand experience with this clogged and inefficient corridor and will embrace the prospect of efficiency and economic development investment.
Our commercial real estate industry believes that the time to get this project back on track is now. We encourage broad support for and passage of this vitally important legislation and applaud the legislators who have boldly introduced it.”
See joint support letter HERE.