City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date:  August 6, 2007

Item No.:12

Recommendation:  That the Council adopt Resolution No. 10784-080607, a resolution expressing strong support and requesting active assistance to achieve construction of the proposed freeway interchange for Interstate 94 at West Drexel Avenue.

Background:  Throughout the past three years, the cities of Oak Creek and Franklin have been working cooperatively on planning efforts related to the development of the 27th Street corridor.  Through that process, it became increasingly evident that the transportation system in the corridor needed to be improved to take care of the growing needs of the residents and businesses of the two communities as well as the additional transportation needs that will result from the investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in the corridor.

At approximately the same time as the communities were studying the 27th Street corridor, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation was planning for the reconstruction of I-94 between the Mitchell interchange in Milwaukee and the State line.  Oak Creek and Franklin, sensing that the two planning efforts were related, began working with the Department of Transportation to implement the recommendations of the 27th Street Corridor Plan.  This included the construction of a freeway interchange at Drexel Avenue.

The Department of Transportation has presenting the Drexel interchange at their many public information meetings throughout the region.  At this point, WisDOT is nearing the completion of the public portion of the process, and needs to prepare a recommendation regarding the Drexel Avenue interchange.

WisDOT has sought out public comment for the proposed interchange.  The City recently mailed out letters to businesses in the vicinity of the proposed interchange requesting their comments.  The Community Development Authority has passed a resolution in support of the interchange, as has the South Suburban Chamber of Commerce.  Likewise, the CDA and Common Council for the City of Franklin have passed similar resolutions.

At this time, it would be appropriate for the Common Council to adopt a resolution, making official its support for this interchange project.

Fiscal Impact:  Preliminary estimates place the cost of a diamond interchange at $11 million dollars.  Of that amount there would likely be a 50% local share ($5.5 million).  Of that local share, there would likely be participation by other jurisdictions.  The City has allocated $3 million dollars as part of the project plan for TIF No. 7 to address its local share of the project.

Prepared by:                                                              Respectfully Submitted,

Doug Seymour, AICP                                               Patrick DeGrave

Director of Community Development                     City Administrator

Fiscal Review by:

Beverly A. Buretta, CMC

City Clerk