Contact:
WisDOT Office of Public Affairs
608/266-3581, opa.exec@dot.wi.gov
Madison – Craig Thompson, Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Secretary-Designee is alerting Wisconsin citizens that the future of Wisconsin’s transportation system will be decided as legislators soon will engage in committee votes on Governor Tony Evers’ proposed state budget.
“When legislators return next week to address the state budget, Wisconsin’s transportation infrastructure and the future of the state’s economy is at stake,” said WisDOT Secretary-Designee Craig Thompson. “Governor Evers has proposed a common sense, two-year plan that addresses our most pressing needs and sets the stage to meet our transportation and transit concerns for the next few decades.”
- The Governor’s plan invests and additional $320 million dollars into the State Highway Rehabilitation program for projects across Wisconsin. If these investments are not made and funding remains at base levels, approximately 212 projects will be delayed or removed from the state’s highway improvement program. These delays increases the percentage of roads rated poor or worse by 50 percent over the next decade.
- Governor Evers’ budget increases General Transportation Aids to local governments by 10 percent. This will help them meet their needs and lessen the pressure on locals to pass wheel taxes in order to address basic system needs.
- A 10 percent increase to Transit Aids is included in the Governor’s budget to help grow Wisconsin’s economy by providing transportation options that will attract the next generation of workers. Additionally, $6 million of funding is proposed specifically to help seniors and people with disabilities to live and age at home.
“Failure to provide the necessary and sustainable transportation revenues puts all these projects at risk,” said Thompson. “It is imperative we establish a forward-looking and sustainable revenue stream so that Wisconsin’s local communities and businesses can plan for their future growth. More short-term, patchwork approaches would be inefficient, expensive and put us further and further behind our neighboring states. Wisconsin deserves better.”
The Joint Committee on Finance is expected to take their first votes on the state budget next week.
