Residents at new-road-plan meeting want a no-road-plan option

None of the DOT’s six proposals emerged

Opponents of new highways in La Crosse continue to argue that transportation planners don’t listen to their objections.  

However, the La Crosse Area Planning Committee is asking the Wisconsin DOT to consider a no-build option along with six final highway proposals that have emerged from planning sessions.  

Many speakers, including Patrick Wilson, at a meeting Wednesday on the road plans claim that local demand for highways is going down, not up. 

“So the transportation scene will be much different in 2050 than we see it now and the DOT is still proposing the same old solutions to future transportation needs,” Wilson said.

Chuck Lee with ‘Friends of the Marsh’ was another speakers at the meeting calling for the committee to reject all new road plans.

“This plan with it’s six build strategies, all of them impact the marsh, is an attack upon this environment upon our community,” Lee announced. “Thus the Friends do not approve of any of the six strategies.”

A minority of speakers said extra highway capacity is needed, partly because businesses need to move products in and out of La Crosse.