Mayor Soglin Seeks Multi-Model Transportation Options for I39/90

Madison Mayor Paul Soglin has reached out to area transportation planning organizations seeking a regional solution for Janesville to Madison commuters on the Interstate 39/90 corridor. He is asking for a meeting with the organizations to discuss specific courses of action.

Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is planning a multi-year, one billion dollar-plus I-39/90 roadway capacity expansion project between Madison and the Illinois state line. In his letter to the Madison Area Transportation Planning Board, the Janesville Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the State Line Area Transportation Study, Mayor Soglin acknowledged the project will improve tourism travel as well as freight transportation. However, he noted, that the lack of multimodal options available to travelers through the corridor strikes him as highly unbalanced.
 

"It is important to note that the lack of travel options through this corridor will disproportionately affect low-income, elderly and transit-dependent populations," said the Mayor. "I feel that this raises serious equity issues, not only with regard to the I-39/90 project but also the Department’s mission to ensure that all residents of Wisconsin are able to access and benefit from the State’s transportation system."

Recent studies indicate there are roughly 9,000 commuters traveling between Rock and Dane County every day