Speaker Vos: Zoo Interchange delay "definitely possible"
As legislators try to work out one of the biggest pieces of the state's next budget, transportation, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos [R-Rochester] says it could lead to a delay in the Zoo Interchange project.
Tuesday, Vos said Assembly Republicans want significantly less borrowing than Governor Walker proposed to fund state transportation projects. Vos cited a $400 million annual deficit in the state's transportation budget, and said it's a priority to fix that issue first, then maintain the roads already built.
He also pointed out other projects around the state that have already been delayed, while the Interchange project still has not.
Vos said, \"My goal would be to not short change the entire state to fund a single project, my goal would be to say we need to fix this problem and make sure we have enough revenues to pay for the roads the Legislature and the state taxpayers know we need to get done.\"
Vos was asked if that means a delay is possible, he said, \"It's definitely possible as it is with every road project in the state if we don't find a way to pay for what we're utilizing.\"
Vos said he wants to see at least 800 million dollars in borrowing cut out of the proposed budget, and says it's something he's talking to other legislative leaders about.