Milwaukee, WI – A group of Milwaukee-based organizations is gearing up to file a civil rights lawsuit to halt the proposed expansion of Interstate 94, highlighting ongoing concerns over racial equity and environmental impacts. The planned legal action, set to be filed Monday in U.S. District Court, mirrors a previous 2017 lawsuit led by local civil rights and environmental groups against multiple federal and state transportation authorities.
The opposition, spearheaded by groups like Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH), argues that the expansion disproportionately benefits suburban commuters while sidelining the predominantly Black and brown communities residing near the freeway. These communities, they point out, are less likely to own cars and more likely to suffer from the adverse effects of increased pollution and disruption.
The $1.74 billion project, set to stretch from 16th to 70th streets along I-94, aims to widen the current six lanes to eight. Its proponents, including the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and local business leaders, argue that the expansion is necessary to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance safety. WisDOT also highlights the project’s potential economic benefits, estimating a significant boost to local businesses and job opportunities.
Despite WisDOT’s assurances of minimal community impact—mentioning relocations of a single family and six businesses—the proposed construction has not sat well with critics. They fear it could exacerbate racial segregation and degrade air and water quality in the area.
In response to these concerns, some community members have pressed the Federal Highway Administration to complete a civil rights review of the proposed plans. That review is currently ongoing and aims to determine whether the freeway’s impact would be as unequal as opponents claim.
The roots of the current disagreement trace back to previous attempts to expand the freeway under former Gov. Scott Walker. Those efforts were ultimately shelocked due to fiscal constraints, only to be revived under Gov. Tony Evers in 2020, when new funding was secured.
Beyond the immediate scope of the freeway’s physical expansion, the project also encompasses plans for nearby infrastructure improvements intended to benefit the local community. Specifically, WisDOT has included enhancements to pedestrian and bicycle paths scheduled from 2026 to 2032, such as linking the Hank Aaron State Trail with the Oak Leaf Trail.
As the planned 2025 start date for construction approaches, with an anticipated completion in 2031, opposition groups are calling for a broader approach to transportation improvement. They advocate for increased investments in mass transit, as well as biking and walking infrastructure, arguing these initiatives would serve a wider section of the community and better address the holistic needs of urban transit.
In the broader context of urban planning and civil rights, the discord over the I-94 expansion encapsulates a significant challenge faced by many U.S. cities: how to balance infrastructure development aimed at boosting economic growth with the imperative to protect and integrate underprivileged communities. The outcome of this lawsuit, along with the federal review, may set a crucial precedent for how similar projects should proceed nationally, especially in areas with significant racial and economic disparities.