Zac Schultz:

The next billion-dollar road construction project in Milwaukee is moving forward. But there’s still time for the public to provide input to the state and opponents are hoping to change the plan. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced last fall their plan to expand the Interstate 94 corridor to eight lanes. That stretch runs from West Allis past American Family Field towards the downtown. The state has studied expansion for the last decade, but former governor Scott Walker killed off the project in 2016, then Governor Tony Evers revived it. That has angered a coalition of groups who oppose expansion and would prefer to see the road stay at six lanes. Joining us now is a member of one of those opposition groups, Reverend Dr. Richard Shaw, president of Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope. Thanks for your time today.

Richard Shaw:

Thank you.

Zac Schultz:

Now what is the main opposition that your group has to expanding that stretch of road to eight lanes?

Richard Shaw:

The — I would say the primary opposition would be ignoring the public transit issues that we have whereas some of that funding or a good bit of it would better benefit or benefit the residents of Milwaukee in terms of helping them get from neighborhood to neighborhood, putting those funds into that stretch from 27th to National. We’re also concerned about the environment. You’re talking about expanding to eight lanes, which will increase emissions, it will also increase salt and contaminate the land, so there are various things but for the most part, it does not benefit the residents of Milwaukee as much as it would those who live in the suburban areas, who are — who aim to get downtown to work and for entertainment. So those funds could just be better spent.

Zac Schultz:

Now, Milwaukee’s interstate system is deeply rooted in white flight from the city to the suburbs with the original highways often bulldozing Black neighborhoods. Do you see this project as a continuation of that history, of who it serves?

Richard Shaw:

Yes, yes, definitely. It’s serving those who live in the suburbs as well as the exurbs to be able to, again, get into Milwaukee and to, you know, enjoy downtown. When we disrupt neighborhoods that are already poor and those that are already facing challenges, it actually makes it harder on everyone. And so when we talk about trying to provide means for people to get to work and to get to different neighborhoods, again, those funds could be better invested in improving the transit system in Milwaukee, and so yes, it is not directly impacting in a positive way or a positive impact at all for people of color living in Milwaukee.

Zac Schultz:

Now the Department of Transportation studied a proposal to re-do that section of interstate, but to keep it at six lanes as your coalition had asked for but they determined it would have about the same cost and not provide any long-term upgrades for safety or efficiency. How do you respond to that?

Richard Shaw:

Again, it’s not just about cost. It is about what it will do to the environment as well. And from my understanding, still trying to keep that in there is not allowing adequate funds to benefit the people who live in Milwaukee and in that route.

Zac Schultz:

Now, the Department of Transportation plan does allow for $25 million to go towards upgraded transit for the construction period to help people that are impacted by that. That’s opposed to a $1.2 billion cost. If there was more money in that plan for transit, would this become more acceptable?

Richard Shaw:

You know, a temporary solution is not going to work. Yes, those funds will temporarily help the transit system, but it’s not a permanent fix. And what good is to invest this money in something that is temporary when we can do something that can make a permanent impact on the residents of Milwaukee, especially those who will be impacted directly by this construction.

Zac Schultz:

How do you feel that it was Governor Evers and his administration that gave this expansion the green light when the project was dead?

Richard Shaw:

Well, whether it was Governor Evers or any past governor, we have to advocate for those who are impacted negatively. It doesn’t matter what side of the political fence that they’re on. And so I would hope that Governor Evers would actually take a stance on this or do more, speak out on it and support this effort of “Fix at Six,” because again, this directly negatively impacts the residents of Milwaukee, especially those who are along that route.

Zac Schultz:

And the proposal that you would like to see, the so-called “Fix at Six,” still upgrades the interstate so it’s not leaving it in its current state, it’s just the expansion that’s the primary opposition here?

Richard Shaw:

Yes. And my group supports this because just bringing the highways up to standard, making the necessary repairs will still bring jobs. It will still allow persons to travel. I’ve lived in Atlanta. I’ve lived in Chicago. And I’ve experienced the eight lanes. And so all of them become parking lots. So expanding to eight lanes will not benefit transportation to and fro, Milwaukee to the suburbs. But yes, we believe that it can be done with the six lanes, just invest the money, put it into that, create other things that can benefit Milwaukee residents.

Zac Schultz:

Just a couple seconds left. What do you want the public to say during this open comment period?

Richard Shaw:

I want us to say but also think, think about humanity and people. I know that it looks good from the outside. It gives the impression of advancement for a city, but at the end of the day, the marginalized who are speaking but they’re not being heard. Those who are saying, listen, we need transportation, safe transportation within our neighborhoods And so this is what I would encourage people to speak out on. Not necessarily your convenience to get again from the suburbs to downtown but consider humanity and consider the least of these.

Zac Schultz:

All right, Reverend Dr. Richard Shaw, thanks for your time today.

Richard Shaw:

Thank you for having me.