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April 25, 2010

Comments

Scott Thinnes

I made this comment three days ago on a different post, however, it's much more appropriate here.

Want to know who benefits from the I-94 / Drexel Avenue Interchange... follow the money.

Who's willing to 'kick-in' the most funds to pay for it. Oak Creek, $3.75 million. Oh yeah, I'd say they benefit plenty (Howell, Delphi, Urban Village...). Then, NML, $1.6 million. They have plenty to benefit too. (Their campus access, Urban Village; I believe they are the current land owners). Franklin???...not so much (27TH Street).

Maybe the 27TH Street Corridor will benefit marginally. But, for commercial to be sucessful along the corridor, wouldn't they like to have traffic? Why make it so easy for that traffic to get back to I-94 without even having to pass by the potential merchant locations? The DOT doesn't think the interchange is necessary. That's why they aren't putting it in (and paying for it) as part of the I-94 rebuild.

A lot of comparisons are made between 27TH Street and Bluemound Road. They are similar, except Bluemound has a far end destination; Waukesha. 27TH Street really doesn't. Bluemound is a traffic nightmare, but it's a commercial success. Why? Could the reasons for both of those be... only two Interstate access points (Moorland Road and Barker Road)? We all hate driving there, but we also all shop there.

NML came into the deal with their $1.6 million at the last minute. But that's good business. Why commit anything until you see what the stupid governments will kick in first. NML wants the interchange, but at the least expense to them; $0 if at all possible. I don't fault them for that. Again, good business. After all it's 'the quiet company'.

I wonder if Franklin officials even tasted the bait as they went hook, line and sinker into that MOU double talk. The majority didn't even understand it, and still don't; even as it unfolds in front of their faces. The DOT obviously isn't buying it. They just want the $500,000 and don't really care if Franklin understands the workings or not. I asked back in September why the DOT wasn't a signatory to the MOU agreement; after all, they had responsibilities under it. Even if those responsibilities were only to accept the $500,000 payment.

One more reason why... Government has no business being in business.

John Michlig

Your comment is just as good the second time around. :)

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