MacIver News Service | May 27, 2015
[West Allis, Wisc…] The officials at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation have been calling for increased revenue for years. From gas tax hikes to registration fee increases and wheel taxes to tolls, it seems like there is no shortage of ways to raise more money for DOT. However, is the department actually being wise with taxpayer funds?According to state Rep. Joe Sanfelippo (R-West Allis), DOT wasted $3.6 million in his district to build a pedestrian bridge just two blocks from an existing bridge with sidewalks. It takes just two-and-a-half minutes to walk from one bridge to the other, but DOT felt they should spend millions of dollars for the new bridge.
With waste like this, legislators may want to start looking at ways to rein in DOT’s spending, instead of just more ways to increase revenue.