From Freeway to Transit Hub: Imagining Milwaukee’s Next Chapter

Part 3

For this final installment in the Rethink794 Transit Blog Series, we’ll take a look at how this decision could play a major role in shaping our transportation systems into the next century.

Regional Transit

Across the United States, most major metro areas have a regional transit authority (RTA) with the power to plan, raise revenue, build, and operate large-scale public transportation systems.

But in Wisconsin, such entities have been illegal since 2011.

It’s time for that to change, and our upcoming election could set the groundwork to do just that. But what could that do for our region, and how does that connect to 794?

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is responsible for our state highway system, but because of the prohibition on RTAs, there’s little political power to create any transportation system besides highways that would connect the greater Milwaukee area.

Forming a single regional entity would bring the currently fragmented transit planning, funding, construction, and operations all under one roof, ensuring residents can travel efficiently across the metro area while empowering the region to build a more connected, robust transit system. It would give the directive and power to chart a new course for the region.

A proposed routing for a regional light rail system from a 1994 study. This plan was never realized due to political opposition, and ultimately led to the currently under-construction I-94 expansion. (Source: WisDOT via UW-Madison.

Our fight against the reconstruction of I-794 isn’t just about this one freeway, but part of a broader effort to send a message: our “highways first” system needs to come to an end, and our leaders need to create systems that focus on moving people, instead of just cars.

That doesn’t mean prohibiting car travel, but it does mean creating transportation options that put car travel on an equal footing with other modes, encouraging choices that are safer, healthier, and better for the planet.

Under this vision, we could see substantial growth at Milwaukee’s Intermodal Station.

Intermodal Station

By the time the I-794 project wraps up, Milwaukee's Intermodal Station could provide service to Chicago, the Twin Cities, Madison, Green Bay, Racine, Kenosha, and more.

Yet, if I-794 is reconstructed, visitors arriving without a car would still be greeted by a tangle of highways. Is this the welcome we want for people arriving in our city without a car?

While converting I-794 to a boulevard wouldn’t fully eliminate the presence of freeway infrastructure near the Intermodal Station, removal of 794 would improve the pedestrian experience around the station, and likely spur development of what could become a unified transit district.

For pedestrians walking between the Intermodal Station and the Baird Center, Deer District, and major downtown employers, the above image is the view. Imagine arriving at night to an unfamiliar city, and having this obstacle to navigate before you get to your destination. Freeway removal would shrink this 200+ ft long barrier significantly.

If an entire neighborhood were to form nearby, this desolate area could be brought to life! Streets lined with residents and businesses are a key part of a walkable city - one of the key reasons that European cities are the envy of many Americans.

It’s time to dream big...and removing I-794 is the first step.