Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog.net

Scott Walker Wants to Eliminate Complete Streets in Wisconsin

There's nothing conservative about what prospective GOP presidential candidate Scott Walker is proposing for transportation in Wisconsin.

Scott Walker, who has been busily campaigning across the country, has a transportation plan that is more stimulus-style spend-thrift than conservative. Photo: Scott Walker via Instagram
Scott Walker, who has been busily campaigning across the country, has a big-spending transportation plan for highways but nothing for complete streets. Photo: Scott Walker via Instagram
false

Matt Logan at Network blog Forward Lookout reports that the governor is once again dipping into the general fund to support his seemingly insatiable appetite for highway building. He's also proposing a big round of borrowing. And on top of all that, he's attacking the tiny pool of money that goes to walking and biking -- the most cost-effective form of transportation available. Walker's proposal to cut active transportation programs would save just $7.4 million over 10 years, while expanding total transportation spending by a much larger degree:

Governor Walker’s budget address on February third is getting a lot of press for the $1.3 billion of borrowing for transportation, but there is also a rollback of the complete streets policy formalized in 2010.

It is important to note that current law provides many exceptions to this requirement in the event of disproportionate  cost, physical constraint, lack of need in semi-urban districts, or an unwillingness of a community to maintain the facilities.

Given that the Governor’s budget also calls for more than $200 million in additional transfers from the General Purpose fund to Transportation, the supposed savings of $7.4 million seems insignificant.

This type of penny-wise, pound-foolish approach to transportation budgeting has become standard among the GOP's Tea Party wing. A coalition of Koch brothers-backed groups, many of which also have strong ties to Walker, is pushing the same ideas at the federal level.

Elsewhere on the Network today: The Overhead Wire ponders why big picture issues like poor transit and job sprawl don't motivate people as much as individual stories like the Detroit bus rider who has to walk 21 miles a day to work. The Dallas Morning News' Transportation Blog reports that the neighborhood of Oak Cliff is gearing up to welcome streetcars in April. And Transportation for America has the news about a proposal from two House Democrats to increase the gas tax to pay for infrastructure.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

In a ‘Tough-On-Crime’ Nation, Why Is Car Crime Everywhere?

Why do we treat car crime so differently from other forms of law-breaking — and who benefits?

April 15, 2025

How to Build a Better Sustainable Transportation Pilot

Pop-up projects and trial runs can build support for new street safety ideas and new alternatives to driving — or they can turn the public against a project before it even gets off the ground. A new study outlined how to avoid the most common pilot pitfalls.

April 15, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines Ship Carbon Restrictions

The International Maritime Organization agreed to the first-ever global tax on carbon emissions. The U.S. is not participating, of course.

April 15, 2025

Monday’s Headlines Can’t Afford Trump’s Tariffs

If you take a walk he'll tax your feet. Cause he's the taxman. Yeah, he's the taxman.

April 14, 2025

Free Buses Would Mean 12% Faster Rides And 20% More Riders: Study

Want faster buses? Make them free. The benefits will end up paying for themselves, says Charles Komanoff.

April 14, 2025
See all posts