TDA staff wish you and your family a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season!

TPC Advances Two Projects, Including I-39/90/94

On Dec. 9, the Transportation Projects Commission unanimously recommended that the governor and the legislature enumerate the I-39/90/94 project from Madison to the Dells in the budget. In addition, the commission approved US 51/Stoughton Road in Madison as a high-cost Major project.

The TDA-spearheaded Central Wisconsin Interstate Alliance was instrumental in showing diverse and deep support for the I-39/90/94 project.

Project improvements include:

I-39/90/94, Madison to Wisconsin Dells​

Rebuild the 67-mile corridor with an additional travel lane, replace outdated infrastructure designs, improve safety at interchanges, and raise roadway and bridge elevations to reduce flooding impacts.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently announced the completion of the I-39/90/94 Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS), including selecting an alternative for the reconstruction of I-39/90/94 from US 12/18 to US 12/WIS 16, and I-39 from the I-39 I-90/94 Split to Levee Road in Dane, Columbia, Sauk and Juneau counties, and the issuance of a Record of Decision (ROD).

US 51 North, WIS 30 to I-39/90/94 in Dane County​​

Redesign and reconstruct intersections and roadway curves to improve safety and traffic flow, expanding bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and replacing deteriorating pavement.

See the Dec. 2024 TPC binder for more information on these projects and other updates.

Last week, the Wisconsin Policy Forum released Road Map: Assessing and funding Wisconsin's transportation needs.

The report contains extensive information and graphics highlighting the need for Wisconsin to continue working on how to fund the state's transportation system over the long term. It also examines three funding scenarios and potential revenue options.

Here are the main takeaways:

1. Wisconsin's transportation user fees are not keeping up with the system's needs.
2. In the absence of user fee growth, Wisconsin increasingly relies on general purpose revenues, although still less than the average state.
3. With the impact of inflation, the transportation fund will need more money just to maintain road conditions.

The report concludes, "Either the state will have to forego spending and sacrifice road quality over time, or it will have to tap one of a few available funding sources such as the gas tax, vehicle registration or title fees, general tax dollars, mileage fees, local taxes and fees, or tolling."

View the report, executive summary, and webinar.

In December, legislative leaders announced key committee assignments. See select committees below:

Joint Committee on Finance

Members

Sen. Eric Wimberger (R-Green Bay)

Sen. Julian Bradley (R-New Berlin)

Sen. Romaine Quinn (R-Cameron)

Sen. Rob Stafsholt (R-New Richmond)

Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee)

Sen. Kelda Roys (D-Madison)

Rep. Alex Dallman (R-Green Lake)

Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek)

Rep. Shannon Zimmerman (R-River Falls)

Rep. Karen Hurd (R-Withee)

Rep. Tip McGuire (D-Kenosha)

Rep. Deb Andraca (D-Whitefish Bay)

Other Announcements:

Senate Committee on Transportation & Local Government

Sen. Cory Tomczyk, Chair (R-Mosinee)

Sen. Rob Hutton, Vice-Chair (R-Brookfield)

Assembly Committee on Transportation

Rep. Nancy Vandermeer, Chair (R-Tomah)

Rep. John Spiros, Vice-Chair (R-Marshfield)

Press Releases:

• Sen. LeMahieu: Announces Senate standing committees, members
• Rep. Neubauer: Announces 2025-2026 Joint Finance appointments
• Rep. Vos: Announces Assembly standing committee leadership
• Vos Adds Hurd to Joint Finance Committee
• Rep. Vos: Names Assembly Joint Finance Committee co-chair and vice chair
• Sen. Hesselbein: State Senate Democratic members of Joint Finance announced

Congress Races to Pass CR to Avoid Government Shutdown

There was a bipartisan deal to keep the government funded beyond a looming Dec. 20 shutdown deadline right until there wasn’t. On Tuesday of this week, Congressional leaders announced an agreement to continue government funding through March 14, 2025, including $100.4 billion in new disaster aid, $10 billion for farmers, and other less popular provisions. By Wednesday evening, the deal was dead. An alternative GOP bill, including President-elect Trump’s request for a debt ceiling increase, failed to garner enough votes to pass yesterday.

Now, Congress must find another path forward or face a partial government shutdown before the holidays. The government is funded through midnight tonight, Dec. 20. Without a new CR, a shutdown will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21. Agencies began preparing for a partial government shutdown on Friday, Dec. 13, as required when the expiration of current funding is a week away.

According to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, the Highway Trust Fund and how federal highway and transit programs are paid for largely insulates most federally supported transportation construction programs during a shutdown. 

However, Federal Aviation Administration employees are paid out of the General Fund and would be furloughed if Congress fails to reach a funding agreement by tonight. As we have entered the busy holiday travel season, it is important to note that air traffic controllers have been exempted from government shutdowns in the past.

December Project Spotlight

Unexpected closure of Waukesha County Bridge highlights the need for timely investment

The Village of Oconomowoc Lake (Waukesha County) bridge that carries East Wisconsin Avenue over the Oconomowoc River was unexpectedly closed in October 2024 by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). State inspectors found deterioration issues with the approximately 80-year-old bridge, owned by the state and maintained by Waukesha County. 

Read more.

Help us tell your story!

We’ve launched a user-friendly portal where you can upload an image and a few basic details. Our team can then write a short narrative that captures the significance of the projects in your part of the state.  

Portal link

Save the Date: TDA Fly-in April 2-3

The TDA Fly-in is an exceptional opportunity to learn about the federal process, advocate for local projects while meeting with Wisconsin’s congressional delegation, and network with transportation leaders from around the state.

Stay tuned for more information! Registration opens in early January. 

Thank You 2024 Organizational Sponsors

KL Engineering, Inc., a Wisconsin-based civil engineering firm, has announced that firm founder and Chief Executive Officer Kim Lobdell, PE, will retire at the end of this month. Lobdell has guided the firm's growth since its founding in 1991.

Ryan Schanhofer will continue to serve as president and assume the CEO role. Scott Cramer will continue his current role as chief operating officer and become the chief leadership officer. Schanhofer and Cramer will carry forward the company’s mission of delivering exceptional civil engineering solutions while nurturing a supportive, growth-oriented work environment.

KL Engineering has more than 100 employees in four locations across Wisconsin: Madison, Green Bay, Menomonie, and Germantown.

You are invited! The 2025 Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, is quickly approaching. If you're in town, you'll want to attend the Wisconsin Reception at TRB, a much-anticipated opportunity for Wisconsin transportation professionals to network in an informal setting.

Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Yard House

812 7th Street NW

Washington, DC 20001

Please share this invitation with colleagues and peers interested in attending.

If you would like TDA to consider including your organization's update or event in an upcoming newsletter, please forward information to Luke Pearson at luke.pearson@tdawisconsin.org.