Contact:
David Hunt, WisDOT Division of Transportation System Development
(608) 261-6121; david.hunt@dot.wi.gov
During a visit to Rest Area 10 near Mauston today, Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch recognized workers associated with the state’s 30-year-old Rest Area Maintenance (RAM) program. Since 1987, the RAM program has provided employment opportunities to workers with disabilities who enhance public safety and the state’s tourism industry by handling maintenance duties at Wisconsin’s 30 rest areas and 13 Safety and Weight Enforcement Facilities (SWEFs). Earlier this year, Governor Scott Walker issued an official commendation of the RAM program anniversary.
“Today, we celebrate a unique state and local partnership that for 30 years has benefitted travelers, workers and taxpayers,” Lt. Governor Kleefisch said. “Wisconsin’s rest areas accommodate some 17 million travelers each year and have a well-deserved reputation for cleanliness. Behind each rest area is a dedicated team of workers and supervisors whose year-round efforts provide travelers a safe and convenient place to stretch and relax.”
Along with overseeing the State Highway System, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) operates rest areas and SWEFs. To handle daily maintenance duties at these facilities, WisDOT has a long-standing partnership with 23 community vocational rehabilitation programs across the state that provide job opportunities to about 350 workers with disabilities. Rehabilitation for Wisconsin oversees the state’s Rest Area Maintenance Program.
