Early last year we learned just how dire the financial situation was in Wisconsin. Scott Walker explained how his state couldn’t afford ^[1] to run more trains if the federal government paid for passenger rail upgrades. Wisconsin, he said, couldn’t afford to collectively bargain with its employees.

^[2]

Wisconsin's $1.7 billion "Zoo Interchange," one of the many reasons the state's highway fund is running dry. Photo: Forconstructionpros.com ^[3]

But as we’ve reported extensively, Scott Walker is a big spender when it comes to highways — really big. So intent is he on building some $6.2 billion ^[4] in freeways planned for southeast Wisconsin — including a $1.7 billion interchange ^[4] just outside Milwaukee — that he appears to be undeterred by the fact that Wisconsin doesn’t have anywhere near the money to do it.

James Rowen at Network blog The Political Environment ^[5] explains how it could all turn into massive general fund subsidies for highways:

Scott Walker … opined on Monday in Wisconsin that he wants to keep all his major highway expansion projects on track ^[6] – though the state transportation fund is over-committed and short of money — but doesn’t want to raise the gas tax or create toll lanes to meet the shortfall.

He’s sending signals to his transportation financing task force to find alternatives — other than rethinking the expansions altogether — like diverting auto sales or general purpose income taxes to subsidize road-building, or setting up a new, per-miles-driven fee, or an increase in vehicle registration or licensing fees.

So much for fiscal restraint, eh?

Elsewhere on the Network today: The Architect’s Newspaper ^[7] reports there are some exciting changes coming for San Diego’s waterfront. Rails to Trails ^[8] shares the story of a New York State school that found a creative way to get more kids walking and biking — despite its car-centric surroundings. And Green City Blue Lake ^[9] writes that it might be time to “ditch the cynicism” about northeast Ohio’s regional planning process.