2015-1184 RESOLUTION NO. 2015 -1184
A resolution calling on the Governor and Legislature of the State of Wisconsin to remove
from the proposed State 2015 -17 budget as well as 2015 AB 21 and SB 21 the provision
that prohibits the Department of Transportation from funding Community Sensitive
Design on state highway projects.
WHEREAS, Governor Walker and the State Legislature have made the transportation
system a high priority, and
WHEREAS, the state highway system is vital to the transportation system at both a local and
state wide level, and
WHEREAS, the state has traditionally provided funds for context sensitive design elements
on state highway projects, and
WHEREAS, Community Sensitive Design elements such as unique form liners in bridges
and walls, attractive bridge railings and sound barriers, and lighting and landscaping treatments
used to help projects blend with the environment in which they reside, and
WHEREAS, the 1 -39/90 project in the City of Janesville has a number of these Community
Sensitive Design elements proposed in the current plans that help form our community identity,
and
WHEREAS, improving the aesthetics of a project helps to broaden community support for
controversial transportation projects,
WHEREAS, the overall appearance of the highway system is important to Wisconsin
because tourism is an essential part of the state 's economy, and the City of Janesville is
significantly impacted by a major expansion to 1 -39/90 programmed for construction between
2015 -2021, and
WHEREAS, Community Sensitive Design represents a very small percentage of the total
cost of projects, and
WHEREAS, in many instances, communities will be unable to fund Community Sensitive
Design elements on State Highway projects because of their limited resources and ever
increasing needs.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that City of Janesville in Rock County, Wisconsin,
urges the Governor and the Legislature of the State of Wisconsin to remove from the proposed
State 2015 -17 budget and 2015AB 21 and SB 21 the provision that prohibits the Department of
Transportation from funding Community Sensitive Design on state highway projects.
RESOLUTION NO. 2015 -1184
PAGE 2
ADOPTED: April 13, 2015 Motion by: Gruber
Second by: Fitzgerald
APPROVED: Councilmember Aye Nay Pass Absent
Bobzien X
Farrell X
Fitzgerald X
Mark A Freitag, City Manage Gruber X
Liebert X
ATTEST: Marklein X
Severson X
"1-/ ../6.."(
Jea Ann Wulf, City Clerk- reas
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Wald Klimczyk, City Attorney
Proposed by: Public Works Department
Prepared by: Public Works Department