No take-backs on city approval of DOT plans

The city of La Crosse and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation haven’t exactly seen eye to eye lately. In fact, the dispute over the best design for the renovation of Exit 3 on La Crosse’s northside has become rather contentious. That may be because the city seems to want things both ways. Three years ago, the city council cast a vote approving the DOT’s plans for the reconstruction of the northside entrance to the city. But now the city wants to take that approval back. The La Crosse council will vote next week whether to rescind its approval of the DOT’s plans. The DOT would rather work with the city, but admits it is rather late in the game to make any significant design changes. What would the city gain by now disapproving of the DOT’s plans? The DOT is under no requirement to change the plans to suit the city’s wishes. It is the same reason the council decided, wisely, not to spend a quarter million dollars to come up with new designs it likes, given that there is no guarantee the state would bend to the city’s wishes. Drawing a line in the sand now would only further strain relations. This project is already behind schedule, with the DOT blaming the city for those delays. The fact is the city said yes to the DOT’s plans years ago. The DOT then began the planning process. We can’t just take it back now, and expect the state to be ok with that.