2013-974 RESOLUTION NO. 2013 - 974
A resolution supporting the inclusion of the widening of I- 39/1 -90 in the current state
transportation budget.
WHEREAS, Janesville was and is part of a public /private coalition in Rock County,
Wisconsin, that individually and collectively provided significant input and effort in 2009-
10 to promote the expansion of Interstate 39/90 between the state line and Madison;
and
WHEREAS, the 1 -39/90 NOW Coalition was established to mobilize businesses and
citizens in support of modernizing this critical corridor to address safety and economic
development needs in our region; and
WHEREAS, the 1 -39/90 NOW Coalition and the City of Janesville stressed that rapid
time line expansion and improvement of the 1 -39/90 corridor was a primary way that
state government could help bolster Rock County's and the City of Janesville's
economic development efforts; and
WHEREAS, under the leadership of the Honorable Scott Walker, Governor of the State
of Wisconsin, this essential project was recommended by the State Transportation
Projects Commission and enumerated as part of the current state budget; and
WHEREAS, Janesville has already begun to see the benefits of this planned
improvement, as several businesses have chosen to locate or expand in Rock County;
and
WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Janesville find the immediate
modernization, improvement, and expansion of the 1 -39/90 corridor an essential
transportation project and way that state government could help bolster Rock County's
and the City of Janesville's economic development efforts and address pressing safety
concerns; and
WHEREAS, the 2013 -15 budget proposed by the Wisconsin Department of
Transportation would reduce funding for this Major Highway Program by nearly Forty
Percent (40 %) percent, potentially delaying the 1 -39/90 improvement project by two (2)
or more years. This would cause a severe setback to the above efforts to promote
Rock County and attract businesses and jobs to Wisconsin, and provide needed
highway safety; and
WHEREAS, we fear that safety concerns and congestion are a threat to this
"Commerce Corridor," so named because freight experts at the University of Wisconsin
estimate it carries $650 to $800 million in economic activity each and every day. The
projected direct and indirect employment as a result of this project is estimated at
almost 14,000 jobs; and
.
WHEREAS, the Honorable Scott Walker and his administration have made this
transportation infrastructure investment one of their five (5) priorities for the upcoming
state budget process; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Janesville desire to keep this project on
schedule by encouraging the state and Governor Walker to continue to prioritize this
particular highway infrastructure investment as it develops within the Executive Budget
Proposal for the 2013 -15 biennium; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council are aware of the significant transportation funding
challenges currently facing Wisconsin and desire to expressly notify and inform
Governor Walker and the State that they will support the Governor's and State of
Wisconsin's efforts to generate the necessary funding to keep critical projects like the 1-
39/90 expansion on schedule; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council hereby find that this project and funding are in the
best interest of and of benefit to the City of Janesville, the community, its residents,
businesses, taxpayers, County of Rock, as well as the surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, this Resolution and its terms, provisions, and content are authorized by
law, pursuant to Wis. Stats. §§ 62.11(5), 64.07, and other pertinent Wisconsin Statutes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of
Janesville that:
1. Each and every of the above recitals are reiterated and incorporated herein by
reference as if fully set forth verbatim; and
2. The Common Council stand of record in full support behind the inclusion of the
immediate widening, improvement, and expansion of 1- 39/1 -90 from the state -line
to Madison as set forth in the current state transportation budget; and
3. The Common Council hereby respectfully request all State Legislative and
Executive actions and support in furtherance of this immediate funding inclusion
and project; and
4. The Common Council hereby pledge to fully support all State Legislative and
Executive actions and support in this regard;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of Janesville that the
City Manager and /or his designees are hereby authorized to negotiate, renew, amend,
execute, and enter into such documents, papers, agreements, and forms, and to take
whatever other actions, that the City Manager may, from time to time, find necessary,
desirable, and /or beneficial to effectuate the intent of this Resolution.
Motion by: Steeber
ADOPTED: January 14, 2013 Second b :Don.arra -Adams
Councilmember Aye Nay Pass Absent
APPROVE i'
i ' / Dongarra -Adams X
Farrell X
Kealy Liebert X
Eric J.evitt, � M a n a g er Severson x
/ Steeber X
ATTEST: Voskuil X
lir 1 /i .4(..06/�.0 L
-an Ann Wulf, City Clerk -T -asurer
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Wald Klimczyk, City Attorney
Proposed by: Economic Development
Director _-
Prepared by: City Attorney ,