Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the support of further study of an interchange at Interstate 94 near Milwaukee street, east of Sprecher Road. No City appropriation is required. City costs and obligations associated with the eventual study will be subject to Common Council.
Title
Support for further study of an interchange at Interstate Highway 94 near Milwaukee Street, east of Sprecher Road
Body
Preamble
Construction of a new Interstate Highway 94 interchange east of Sprecher Road at Milwaukee Street has been addressed in concept in the City of Madison’s Northeast Neighborhoods Development Plan and the Sprecher Neighborhood Development Plan. An Interchange Justification Study and approval from the Federal Highway Administration are required as part of the process to approve a new interchange. The impact of the interchange on existing and future residents, the environment and property must be studied as part of planning for the potential interchange. An Interstate Highway 94 interchange would potentially have significant economic impacts in the form of employment and tax base. Any additional access to Interstate Highway 94 will require development of an acceptable cost sharing agreement. The City supports the concept of an interchange at Interstate Highway 94 subject to additional study to determine the impacts of the project on the City, the environment and planned City growth areas.
WHEREAS, the Interstate Highway system is an essential part of the regional transportation system; and
WHEREAS, construction of an interchange at Interstate Highway 94 in the vicinity of Milwaukee Street has been discussed for a number of years; and
WHEREAS, an interchange at Interstate 94 at or near Milwaukee Street east of Sprecher Road would be the first Madison interchange when approaching the city westbound on Interstate Highway 94; and
WHEREAS, the City of Madison’s Northeast Neighborhoods and Sprecher Neighborhood Development Plans recommend studying the technical feasibility, and projected benefits, impacts and costs of constructing a new interchange on Interstate Highway 94; and
WHEREAS, an interchange could foster substantial economic development in terms of jobs and tax base near the potential interchange; and
WHEREAS, an interchange would help implement land use and transportation recommendations in the Northeast Neighborhoods Neighborhood Development Plan and the Sprecher Neighborhood Development Plan; and
WHEREAS, the interchange would help the City implement a large planned Community Mixed-Use area recommended in the Northeast Neighborhoods Development Plan; and
WHEREAS, the adopted land use plan for the area east of Interstate Highway 39, the Northeast Neighborhood Development Plan, includes a large area of residential development in addition to office uses, and the recommended land uses and their locations may need to be adjusted to insure that compatible uses are positioned in close proximity to the interchange; and,
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), in collaboration with the City of Madison, identified and evaluated a number of potential Interstate interchange locations throughout Dane County; and
WHEREAS, WisDOT recommended further evaluation, refinement and consideration of a potential new Interstate 94 interchange, located just to the east of Sprecher Road; and
WHEREAS, while the City has communicated to WisDOT its potential support for a full interchange at this location, primarily to improve access and connectivity to development on both sides of Interstate Highway 94, the City feels strongly that the full impacts and benefits of access/traffic circulation changes (including impacts on existing and planned neighborhoods in the area) need to be understood before the City could take a formal position; and
WHEREAS, any additional access to the Interstate will require the approval of the Federal Highway Administration; and
WHEREAS, City of Madison support for the interchange will require the development of an acceptable cost sharing agreement; and
WHEREAS, analysis of the feasibility of the proposed interchange shall include environmental due diligence on the project;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the City of Madison supports in concept the construction of an interchange at Interstate Highway 94 in the vicinity of Milwaukee Street east of Sprecher Road.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Madison supports further study of the feasibility, cost, impacts and desirability of constructing an interchange at Interstate Highway 94 east of Sprecher Road and in the vicinity of Milwaukee Street.