Comment on WisDOT 2050 Transportation Plan

  Cross-posted from La Crosse Area Transit Advocates.

"The squeaky wheel gets the grease." 

The recent surprise announcement by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation--that it will drop its decades-long push to build a new highway through the marsh--does give hope that constant, relentless, uncompromising noisy advocacy can make a difference.

Without scrutiny and comment, projects are in the pipeline that will continue down the path of inequity, wasteful spending, unhealthy priorities, and environmental degradation. And, often, you must comment decades before a project's inadequacies are revealed, because the process is so compartmentalized and circuitous, that something decided in 1998 cannot be undone or fixed in 2023 when it is unveiled for a final review. 

Now is the time to comment on plans being made by the Wisconsin DOT for 2050. This is from Mary Pustejovsky, a Wisconsin transportation equity advocate. 

I wanted to remind everyone that Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is collecting comments on their draft 2050 plan.The website is here:

https://connect2050.wisconsindot.gov/plan

The last day to submit comments is January 24th, so there is not much time.  I am sharing my comments here in case anyone wants talking points. There is a lot more that could be said, and your comments would be helpful. The more voices they hear, the better. If it's not obvious from my comments, I think the plan is more of the same that we've gotten from them for years. It's time for them to do better.

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My comments: 

As a citizen of Wisconsin, I welcome the opportunity to provide feedback on the Connect 2050 plan.

Goal 4 states that “The department will continue to prioritize reducing congestion”. A few things: it was *not* a priority from looking at most of the comments from Wisconsites all over the state. The most common priority was “alternatives to driving”, with 700 comments mentioning it, more than any other comment type (https://connect2050.wisconsindot.gov/outreach). It’s embarrassing that WisDOT states its priority is to reduce congestion yet ignores the cheapest option: reducing vehicle miles traveled. When people have alternatives to driving alone, congestion decreases. Yet in your own documents, you show VMT continuing to go up! At least Minnesota DOT has made decreasing VMT a priority. Wisconsin should look to their plans, as our states are similar and have similar challenges.

Also on the interactive website, when selecting Goal 4, then Mobility, you tout “what we are doing now” by presenting a bicycle plan from 1998. REALLY? A 23 year old plan is what you are doing now? You should be ashamed of yourselves. It would have been better not to show it at all because it shows how little you are doing for people outside of motor vehicles.

For Objective 8b: Prioritize emissions reduction and alternative fuels to improve air quality.

Again, WisDOT ignores the most straightforward way to do this: reduce VMT. With fewer miles traveled, emissions go down, and air quality improves. Even electric vehicles won’t save us as they have tires that turn into micro particles that pollute our water (https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1131916_report-microplastic-pollution-from-vehicle-tires-is-a-serious-global-issue).

WisDOT states “Balance transportation needs with those of the natural environment, socioeconomic, historic and cultural resources.” Yet the federal guideline states: “Protect and *enhance* the environment, promote energy conservation, improve the quality of life, and promote consistency between transportation improvements and state and local planned growth and economic development patterns.”

WisDOT’s statement is NOT actually what the federal guideline calls for. What does “balance” mean here? If vehicular delay is reduced by 1 minute is that a “good balance” with the environment? It is so vague as to be meaningless, and allows for vehicular delay to be seen as equivalent with our need for a livable planet.

Federal guideline: 8. Emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system.

WisDOT:

• Pursue continuous improvement and expand data-driven decision-making processes.

• Maximize technology benefits.

This is NOT the same! WisDOT should be focused on repairing existing systems rather than expanding them. We do not have infinite money, and we need to keep our existing system in good repair. Even WisDOT states that it’s important to pay attention to funding sources (goal 1).

Your section on safety is disappointing. You use the talk of Vision Zero “zero traffic deaths” and “5 Es” yet you don’t seem to properly understand them, nor how they work in a hierarchy. The standard 5 Es are: Evaluation, Engineering, Enforcement, Education, and Encouragement. Some have swapped out Enforcement for Equity because it has been well established that the current system of traffic enforcement in our country can result in discriminatory outcomes. Still, I have NEVER seen anyone state that EMS or “Everyone” is part of the 5 Es. It is a complete abdication of your responsibility as a state transportation department to say that “everyone” is responsible. You continue to design roads that encourage speeding. You prevent ENGINEERING changes to East Washington in Madison that would provide more safety on a road where multiple people are killed each year. Yet “everyone” is responsible? That is some next level gaslighting, or maybe you truly are that oblivious to transportation research on appropriate traffic engineering measures that have measurable impact in reducing road violence. 

Your idea of safety is laughable. You state that you want to decrease traffic deaths, yet your own GOALS for 2021 were *higher* than 2020! Your scorecard (https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/about-wisdot/performance/mapss/scorecard.pdf)  stated that the goal for traffic crashes was 127,892. In the same line it states that 2020 was 114,697.  I realize that this 2050 plan does not have individual metrics, which will be found in other plans, but you can see why I am skeptical of your “goals” and “objectives”. Your goals clearly state that you will do worse than before, then if you come in under your absurdly high goal, you will get a green arrow showing what a good job you’ve done. This is unconscionable.

Finally, the second most common comment was around funding. As I’ve mentioned previously, decreasing VMT is the fastest, cheapest way to ensure that our roads are able to last longer and stay in good condition. The next area that needs to be explored and proposed by WisDOT to the legislature is increasing fees based on vehicle weight. Any engineer will tell you that more weight causes more road damage. It is simple physics. As people switch to (heavy) EVs that do not pay gas tax, they need to pay for their use of the road. As drivers choose heavier vehicles such as oversive SUVs, they need to pay for the damage they do to roads. France is doing this and it is one of the only ways to make it fair for all road users. People who do more damage to the road need to pay for funding the improvements. It is as simple as that. This needs to be considered in all your discussions around fiscal responsibility (ie Goal 1).

Join us - What IS a Climate Action Plan?

What is a CLIMATE ACTION PLAN?
(and why do we need one?)
Tuesday, January 25 at 7 p.m.  ONLINE
with guest, Ted Redmond, paleBLUEdot llc

In 2019, the City of La Crosse passed a “Ready for 100” resolution pledging to cut carbon emissions to zero and transition to 100% renewable energy community-wide by 2050. Now, the city is working on  a plan to reach those goals.

Ted Redmond is co-founder of paleBLUEdot, llc, a consulting firm which helps local governments, community organizations, and businesses understand and  improve their climate resilience through climate planning.

Ted will talk to us about what a climate action plan is? Who is making climate action plans and why they are important? What is included in the process? How organizations, businesses, governments and individuals can get started and get involved. A brief Q&A session will end the program.

Please register for the event at tinyurl.com/CRSC012522

Questions? Email CRSierraClub@gmail.com

Bird Brother

 

An Inside Look: A Falconer's Journey

Wednesday, January 19, 2022 3:00 - 4:00 PM CT

Rodney Stotts is one of America's few Black master falconers. On this webinar, Rodney will share his story as a Black child facing dangerous threats, and how he transformed his life through the healing power of nature. You will learn about the sanctuary he is building where others can be inspired by nature and wildlife. You will be reminded that no matter how much heartbreak we have endured, we still have the capacity to give back to our communities and change lives.

An online webinar hosted by the National Audubon Society. More information here: https://act.audubon.org/a/inside-look-falconers-journey

Join a Conversation with State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski and Tia Nelson on January 20th!

On Thursday, January 20, at 6:30 pm, all Wisconsin Sierra Club members and supporters are invited to a virtual conversation on government and the environment in Wisconsin with Sarah Godlewski and Tia Nelson. As State Treasurer, Sarah serves on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL) and has been its Chair since 2019. Tia Nelson was Executive Secretary of the BCPL for 11 years, until 2015. Sarah and Tia will share with us their experience stewarding our state's natural resources through their positions, and discuss what roles various levels of government can play in protecting and even restoring our environment. The conversation will include Sierra Club priority issues, such as clean energy and water.

RSVP here to receive the meeting link:

https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=7013q000002GMzwAAG&mapLinkHref=

Sarah Godlewski and Tia Nelson

January 2022 Newsletter

 TUESDAY, JANUARY 25 at 7 p.m. What is a Climate Action Plan? with Ted Redmond, co-founder, paleBluedot, llc ONLINE Register at tinyurl.com/CRSC012522     The Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 initiative supports local grassroots efforts to encourage governments, large, and small, to make the equitable and just transition to 100% clean, renewable energy. So far, more than 180 cities and towns have made that commitment, including La Crosse, which has pledged to reduce community carbon emissions to zero by 2050. As the next step in this process, the city has enlisted consultant paleBLUEdot, llc, to help create a community climate action plan.

What is a climate action plan? Who should make one? How does the process work?

Join us as we hear from Ted Redmond, co-founder of paleBLUEdot, llc. about his company’s work to give individuals and communities the tools to make a positive difference and what the process with the City and community of La Crosse will involve. We can make a difference, we can reduce carbon emissions and projected temperature rises, we can work together to rethink how our systems can support a sustainable future. Register here: tinyurl.com/CRSC012522.

If you live in the city of La Crosse you can help by completing the Climate Action Survey and sharing a climate change story. Find links at lacrosseclimateactionplan.org.

If you would like to take the survey or share your story but you do not have internet access, please call 608-315-2693 and we will send you a paper copy. 

2021 YEAR IN REVIEW    by Kathy Allen, CRSC board president     Last year, 2021, was another year of pandemic restrictions, but our Coulee Region group still found ways to be involved in environmental advocacy in our communities. Let's hope we can see each other more in person in 2022! Here are some of our accomplishments from the past year:

January - We submitted letters of support for grant applications by the recently-formed Vernon County Energy District (VCED) and WisCorps. The VCED sought a grant from the Wisconsin Public Service Commission to facilitate more comprehensive energy planning in Vernon County by bringing a wide variety of stakeholders to the table to share best practices and lessons learned. WisCorps submitted a grant to cultivate an inclusive and equitable environment within WisCorps and in the La Crosse community, specifically in the outdoor and conservation spaces, including a series of virtual workshops focused on racial equity, inclusion, diversity, and allyship. Both grant applications were successful.

February - Our group board passed a resolution in support of Transit Equity Day, a national day of action to advocate for accessible, reliable, and affordable transit powered by renewable energy.

March - We co-sponsored a "Transit Talk" with State Senator Brad Pfaff, and also held a virtual lobby visit with Senator Pfaff to advocate for Sierra Club priorities in the state budget.

April - Three of our board members hosted a virtual presentation for La Crosse Earth Week - a recording is still available at https://youtu.be/z8frLytzhDU. Board members also submitted two citizen resolutions to the Conservation Congress spring hearing in La Crosse County, one to address PFAS and another asking for no new fossil fuel infrastructure construction. Both resolutions passed.

May - Our group submitted a short video for Altra's virtual employee wellness week, describing connections between environmental and personal wellness (find it on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CRSierraClub/videos/1159634657796022). We also co-sponsored the Crawford Stewardship Project's "Farms, Factories, and the Future" virtual forum and a "Transit Talk" with La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds.

July - After a hiatus in 2020, the Sierra Club's Black River family paddling and camping trip was back! Families paddled 24 miles, visited a waterfall, and camped on a sandbar.

August - We co-hosted an art and press event asking Rep. Ron Kind to support climate action, green jobs, and environmental justice in federal infrastructure and budget legislation. Attendees decorated a banner with their handprints and messages, that was delivered to Rep. Kind's La Crosse office. We also announced a new environmental stewardship award for a Coulee Region high school senior, beginning in spring 2022.

September - Our board was asked by Senator Tammy Baldwin's office for a statement in support of climate action in the Infrastructure Bill and Build Back Better. We submitted the following: "The Coulee Region Sierra Club group leadership is grateful to Senator Tammy Baldwin for her support of the bold climate initiatives in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Senate Budget Resolution. The funding for clean energy and clean transportation incentives, weatherization and electrification of buildings, clean energy manufacturing, and climate-smart agriculture in this legislation will benefit both our environment and our local economy. It will help municipalities and businesses in Western Wisconsin strengthen our communities while battling the looming climate crisis and building a healthier, more secure future for our country."  We also co-sponsored and tabled at “Ask Me About My EV,” a National Drive Electric Week event in La Crosse to educate about and promote electric vehicles.

October - Members participated in a socially-distanced roadside clean-up along River Valley Drive in La Crosse.

November - We're co-sponsoring a campaign asking the School District of La Crosse to set a goal to transition to 100% clean, renewable energy by 2050 and to prepare a climate action plan. An online petition went live in November and will stay active into the New Year.
 
December - The La Crosse County Board passed a resolution to have an advisory referendum on the spring ballot asking if the state should "establish a right to clean water to protect human health, the environment, and the diverse cultural and natural heritage of Wisconsin". The resolution, drafted by the River Alliance, was first brought to the County Board's attention by a Coulee Region group member.

YOUR 2022 CRSC BOARD     Thank you to those who participated in December voting to elect members to serve on the Coulee Region Sierra Club board of directors. Kathy Allen, Ned Gatzke, Cathy Van Maren, and Pat Wilson were elected to serve in 2022. 

JANUARY 5 DEADLINE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANT APPLICATIONS!     CRSC is offering  grants of up to $200 each for environmental education projects to schools or community organizations involving young people at the elementary and middle school level within the CRSC region: Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties.

Applications may be completed online, emailed or mailed. The deadline has been extended to  January 5, 2022. For more information, visit sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/Education or tinyurl.com/CRSC-Students

New for 2021-2022, CRSC will recognize the achievements of and award $150 to a high school senior who demonstrates leadership, action, and environmental stewardship, and who understands the importance of civic engagement in protecting our environment. Eligible students are those graduating from high school in 2022 who reside in the CRSC region: Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties. The application includes essays and submission of a portfolio. The deadline for applications is March 15, 2022 with the award to be given by the end of April, 2022.  For more information, visit sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee/Education or tinyurl.com/CRSC-Students

Funding for these environmental grants and awards is possible thanks to an annual grant from the Paul E. Stry Foundation, shared dues from Sierra Club memberships, and donations made by community members. Email us to learn more: CRSierraClub@gmail.com.

UW-LA CROSSE CLIMATE RALLY     On December 13, UW-L students and community members, supported by Citizen Action of Wisconsin’s Driftless Co-op, gathered on campus to call on the University to hire a sustainability coordinator and prepare a climate action plan. Below is an excerpt from a speech by UW-L student activist, Abby Siakpere:

It’s official: July 2021 was the hottest month on Earth in history. Intense heat, widespread drought, historic flooding and “once-in-a-lifetime” storms have become our new normal. Current infrastructure is stressed to the brink of collapse and those, especially in low-income communities and communities of color, end up suffering the worst of the consequences. On August 7, 2021, historic flooding was seen across the Driftless region as mother nature dumped 5.59 inches of rain on the City of La Crosse, making it the wettest day ever on record.

And just this past weekend, deadly tornadoes ripped through six states, creating an over 200-mile path of destruction throughout Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Deanne Criswell, the FEMA administrator, was quoted over the weekend as saying, “The effects we are seeing of climate change are the crisis of our generation," and that “the severity, duration and magnitude of the storms this late in the year were ‘unprecedented.”

Climate change is here, and the effects are being seen all over the Driftless region. Yet local and state politicians have done nothing to protect the citizens of Wisconsin from future disasters. Climate Action Plans should have already been drafted, approved and implemented because the research has already been done.

Here at UW-L, the brand new $2 million dollar Prairie Springs Center was specifically built to support environmental studies and education, conservation, and ecological technology, yet UW-L administrators have yet to establish a full-time sustainability coordinator, a position that exists at EVERY OTHER UW CAMPUS EXCEPT LA CROSSE.

We are here today to say that we’ve had enough, and we are holding local and state officials accountable. The establishment of these things are the BARE MININIMUM foundation steps local leaders can take to help effectively combat climate change in the Driftless region, but to this very day, those steps haven’t even been taken.

I’m a person of action. Anyone can say anything they want to whoever they want, it’s the actions that that person takes is what matters. Actions speak louder than words, and leaders…this is your time to take action. DO SOMETHING.

JANUARY 31 - FEBRUARY 4 TRANSIT EQUITY DAYS    Since 2018, on February 4, a network of transit rider unions, community organizations, environmental groups and labor unions have organized Transit Equity Day–a national day of action to commemorate the birthday of Rosa Parks by declaring that public transit is a civil right. Rosa is an iconic figure of the civil rights era who chose the tactic of refusing to give up her seat on the bus to demand an end to segregation in the Montgomery, Alabama, transit system. We make the connection to this act of resistance to highlight the rights of all people to high-quality public transportation run on clean/renewable energy.

In 2021, residents of La Crosse county will highlight the importance of public transportation with a week of events and programs, including a display at the La Crosse Public Library, ride-alongs with elected epresentatives, and more. Programming will also highlight the SMRT bus (Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit) that serves many CRSC counties.

Transit equity has many facets. The right to access necessary services, education, jobs, health care, entertainment, and a full life should not depend on one’s ability to own or drive a private vehicle. A strong public transit system that is affordable, accessible, and that goes where people need to go when they need to go is not a luxury.

The average cost to own and operate a vehicle in 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics was more than $9,500.

The League of Women Voters estimates that, in 2021, nearly 29% of Wisconsin residents were non-drivers.

According to a White House Fact Sheet, Wisconsin residents who take public transit spend an extra 62.7% of their time commuting and non-White households are 5.9 times more likely to commute via public transportation.

The EPA reports that private cars and light trucks causemore than 50% of transportation sector greenhouse gas emissions.

In a 2018 transportation equity report, the Wisconsin Sierra Club noted that most of the state's transportation budget goes to state highways, debt service, and aids to local roads. In 2015, less than 5% of the transportation budget went to public transit.

Switching even some trips from fossil-fuel private vehicles to public transit, especially as newer hybrid and electric buses are added to fleets, can reduce individuals' carbon footprints immediately.

More details about transit equity events in the La Crosse area will be available by January 15 at tinyurl.com/TEDLaCrosse2022

JANUARY EVENTS

January 6 at 6 p.m. ONLINE: Environmental Justice in Sierra Club - Panel Discussion. Register at tinyurl.com/WISC010622

January 7 at 6:30 p.m. ONLINE: LN3 - Seven Teachings of the Anishinaabe in Resistance film and discussion. Register at tinyurl.com/WISC010722

January 12 at 6:30 p.m. ONLINE: Wisconsin Sierra Club Virtual Volunteer Night. Learn more at tinyurl.com/WISCVolNite0122

January 17: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

January 17 at 6:30 p.m. ONLINE: Environmental Alliances with Wisconsin Indian Nations. Register at tinyurl.com/WISC011722

January 20 at 6:30 p.m. ONLINE: A Conversation on Government and the Environment in Wisconsin with State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski and Tia Nelson. Details will be at cr-sierra.blogspot.com by January 10.

January 22 at 6 p.m. ONLINE: Supporting the Indigenous-led Movement to Stop Pipelines and Other Threats. Register at tinyurl.com/WISC012222

January 25 at 7 p.m. ONLINE: What is a Climate Action Plan? Visit tinyurl.com/SRSC012522

CLIMATE CHANGE - UWL STAFF VIEW by Adrian Cuff

Adrian Cuff is a senior at UW-La Crosse majoring in microbiology with a minor in environmental science. As part of his coursework for the Capstone for Environmental Science class, Adrian is submitting articles about local environmental issues for our newsletter.

In my last interview, I decided to interview students on what their opinions were on the Climate Crisis at UWL. For this interview I chose a UWL employee and wanted to see if there was a difference in responses between the employee and the students. Here is some background information on the employee I chose:

Background: Steph Lowe is the Hall Director of Coate Hall, where I work as a Resident Assistant. Steph isn’t originally from the area and is from the state of Kansas. Steph has a Master’s degree in College Student Development and is very educated compared to most people. She just moved to Wisconsin a few months ago, and I wanted to see what she thought about climate change since she isn’t from the local area. I ended up asking Steph how she feels about the climate crisis and what she recommends for students on campus here at UWL.  

Adrian Cuff: Hey Steph, glad I could snag you for this interview. How do you feel about climate change, and have you learned anything about it recently?

Steph Lowe: I feel like I think about climate change all the time because I see it on the news, and I have noticed the changes in the weather. Something that about recently is about the fashion industry, and how energy consuming, and how wasteful they are because fashion only last so long. I don’t participate in fast fashion, and it has made me realize that I should cut back on fashion. This also relates to consumerism, because you are buying things all the time and using resources, and you could donate items instead to be reused instead of throwing them away. This also relates in putting more resources in the landfill and that is not acceptable at this point. I feel like we don’t teach a lot about this in schools, and we need to do a better job about it. I learned about it in college, but that was the first time I’ve heard of it in my schooling career. I want to be more informed about what’s going on, and what I can do on my own part in the future to help the issue.

AC: Are you doing actions to try and limit your carbon footprint?

SL: I usually don’t drive a ton; I just walk everywhere or carpool. I also try to keep my lights off as much as possible and watch my water usage as well.

AC: What is your advice to students on the climate crisis?

SL:  It’s good for students to be informed as well because they can have conversations, and they can educate each other about the situation. This crisis isn’t ending anytime soon, and it affects everyone, so they need to care about it, and the only way to do that is learn how it effects your situation.

Overall, Steph and the students have the same opinions on the climate crisis, which is great. I do agree that educating the public about the situation will help fix the crisis in the long run, and the next couple generations coming up will hopefully be the saviors we have been looking for.

TEAMS MAKE THINGS HAPPEN     Statewide Issue Teams work on a specific issue under shared volunteer and staff leadership. They meet monthly over zoom and offer opportunities to assist with strategy and planning, as well as implementation, to win environmental victories! Join the Clean Water, Transportation Access & Equity, Clean Energy, Public Lands, Wildlife, Pipelines, or Mining team! Each January, teams set goals, strategy, targets, tactics, and timelines for the year. We also identify ways to work better together and refresh ourselves on what tools are available to volunteers. This year, the Teams Meeting will be on January 13 at 5:30. Register at tinyurl.com/WISC2022Teams to help make 2022 a year of positive Sierra Club action!

NEED HELP WITH NEWSLETTER!     Seeking a few people to help put the newsletter together. The current editor would like to share duties. Email crsierraclub@gmail.com.

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