Register Today for the TDA Annual Meeting
Thursday, Nov. 13
10:00 am – 1:30 pm
Madison Marriott South (formerly the Sheraton)
706 John Nolen Dr, Madison, WI 53713
It will take all of us, working together, to get a sustainable, long-term funding solution for Wisconsin transportation over the line.
Join us at this year’s TDA Annual Meeting to discover what your transportation team has been up to and gain critical insights into the plans and priorities shaping the effort ahead. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, collaborate, and help draw Wisconsin’s transportation future forward.
Download a registration form or register online. Please register by Friday, Nov. 7.
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Governor Evers to Receive the 2025 Transportation Service Award at the TDA Annual Meeting
TDA is awarding Governor Evers its prestigious Transportation Service Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing Wisconsin’s transportation infrastructure.
| | TDA and Partners Head to Beloit for the Next Community Highway Event | | |
The last Re-VITAL-ize Community Highway event of 2025 is in Beloit this week. This gateway community is known for its history as a manufacturing hub, Beloit College, the oldest continuously operating college in Wisconsin, and its revitalized downtown.
2026 events will kick off next spring.
Coverage from the 9/29 Oshkosh event:
| | Check out this great video produced by the City of Oshkosh. | | WisDOT Submits Initial Major Highway Study Candidates to TPC | | |
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) submitted an initial list of potential Major Highway Program study projects to the Transportation Projects Commission (TPC) ahead of the October 15 deadline as required in this odd-numbered year by Wisconsin Statute 13.489 (1 m) (b).
This preliminary list stems from a statewide corridor analysis. WisDOT's methodology evaluates key benefits, including enhanced safety, reduced travel costs, bolstered business efficiencies, and improved route connectivity. The benefits are then compared to planning-level cost estimates for a basic benefit-cost analysis.
The department will refine this list through a final analysis and present recommendations to the TPC at its December meeting. Projects greenlit by the TPC for study will advance to the environmental review phase.
Letter to TPC, including project list
| | Knorr Named New WisDOT Bureau of Aeronautics Director | |
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has announced Karla Knorr, P.E., as the new Director of the Bureau of Aeronautics (BOA). Karla, who has more than 26 years of transportation experience, joined WisDOT's Division of Transportation Systems Development (DTSD) in 2006.
Most recently, as DTSD Southwest Region Project Development Engineering Chief, she oversaw highway units including Dane County project development, consultant services, and major project design. Karla has successfully led complex design and construction projects, including launching the I-39/90/94 Major’s design delivery team.
According to the WisDOT announcement, she excels in building stakeholder relationships with community leaders, contractors, consultants, and local, state, and federal agencies. Karla has also guided statewide performance measures and reporting tools to enhance program delivery. Certified in Lean Six Sigma White and Yellow Belts, she is a graduate of the WisDOT Leadership Development Program.
| | Legislative Audit Bureau Releases Local Roads Improvement Program Report | | |
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) administers the Local Roads Improvement Program to assist local governments in repairing seriously deteriorating county highways, town roads, and city and village streets. A recent Legislative Audit Bureau report examined the discretionary component of the program, under which state funding is provided for projects that are advertised, contracted, and administered at the local level. From fiscal years 2023-24 through 2024-25, WisDOT awarded 119 grants totaling $40.8 million in discretionary funds.
The audit identified concerns across the three standard grant management stages. In the pre-award stage, issues were noted with rule promulgation, application scoring and review, and grant awards. During the active stage, concerns involved the pilot program, reimbursements, and monitoring. In the closeout stage, one concern was identified related to program outcomes. The audit presents 21 recommendations to WisDOT for program improvements and includes one issue for legislative consideration.
In its response, WisDOT acknowledges that Wisconsin Administrative Code Trans 206 needs an update to address many of the concerns noted in the report. WisDOT has initiated the rulemaking process to update Trans 206.
| | Threat of Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Chaos Looms as Shutdown Continues | | |
The federal government is heading toward the longest shutdown on record, surpassing the previous record set in 2018-2019 under the first Trump Administration. Congress has repeatedly failed to pass a temporary funding measure, leaving essential workers without pay and many programs in limbo.
Public opinion remains split on whose responsible for the shutdown, with polls showing Democrats faring slightly better than Republicans. However, there is not yet a decisive margin of blame like that which led to resolutions in prior shutdowns.
A critical milestone occurred last week when air traffic controllers missed their first full paycheck on October 29. These essential workers, along with lower-paid TSA screeners, are required to report to work despite not getting paid. Last Friday, controller shortages triggered cascading delays at major U.S. airports, resulting in grounded flights and stranded passengers nationwide. Continued staffing issues could lead to ongoing and widespread disruptions, snarled Thanksgiving travel, and shift public opinion decisively.
In a rare move, the air traffic controllers’ union publicly endorsed the Republican-backed “clean” continuing resolution to fund the government temporarily and give more time for negotiations.
Meanwhile, despite the lapse in new appropriations, the Department of Transportation has spent nearly $6.4 billion in the first 15 days of FY 2026, according to the Eno Center for Transportation’s analysis of Daily Treasury Statements. That’s up from $4.5 billion in the same period last year and $5.7 billion in FY 2024, largely due to Highway Trust Fund dollars and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) advance appropriations.
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A busy fall extended into October. TDA Executive Director Debby Jackson addressed the Wisconsin County Highway Association’s (WCHA) Fall Commissioner Training in Platteville, highlighting efforts to raise awareness of the state’s looming transportation funding shortfall.
She also spoke at the October Downtown Madison, Inc. Transportation Committee Meeting, the Northwest WCHA Commissioner and Committee Member Meeting in Barron County, and the Wisconsin Association of Railroad Passengers (WisARP) Fall General Membership Meeting in Madison.
In addition, TDA staff was on hand helping to deliver an outstanding 69th Wisconsin Aviation Conference in La Crosse.
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November Project
Spotlights
| | Repairs Underway on Main Street Bridge in Oshkosh | | |
The Main Street Bridge (U.S. Highway 45) in Oshkosh is a key crossing over the Fox River that has deteriorated over time and requires extensive rehabilitation.
The bridge's structural, mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical components have reached the end of their useful life, and work must be done on them to preserve their operation, improve safety, and ensure the region's economic vitality.
The project will extend the bridge’s service life for decades, improve safety for vehicles and pedestrians, and ensure reliable operation for river navigation. Additionally, bridge repairs will reduce traffic delays and enhance connectivity between downtown Oshkosh and the Sawdust District, supporting residents, businesses, and emergency services and improving regional transportation reliability.
Read More
| | Thank You to Our 2025 Organizational Sponsors | | Transportation Reception at TRB, Sponsorship Opportunities | | |
The 2026 Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., is quickly approaching. The Wisconsin Transportation Reception is a much-anticipated opportunity to connect with Wisconsin transportation professionals, celebrate Wisconsin’s contributions to the industry, and build valuable networks.
Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Yard House
812 7th Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
Please consider sponsoring this event and help bring together our state's transportation professionals by providing a $1,000 contribution. If interested, please contact TDA's Luke Pearson for more information and to arrange sponsorship payment. Submit your company logo to Carlyn Ross at UW-Madison.
This event is being hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin.
| | 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. | |
Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin10 East Doty Street, Suite 201 | Madison, WI 53703
(608) 256-7044 | general@tdawisconsin.org
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