Wisconsin's state budget negotiations collapsed again last Thursday, with less than two weeks until the fiscal year ends. The Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee canceled a planned meeting, signaling a breakdown in talks with Gov. Tony Evers.

Earlier in the week, two state senators indicated they were unlikely to vote for the budget in its current form. Without at least one of these votes, Senate Republicans will not have the votes they need to pass a state budget without assistance from Democrats.

In a statement, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and JFC Co-Chair Mark Born highlighted the importance of ongoing negotiations so that "our tax reductions actually become law, schools continue to be funded, Medicaid patients continue to receive care, and road construction projects do not stop." Vos and Born conclude, "This budget is on a trajectory to have a more conservative growth rate than the budget that was passed by the Assembly and the Senate two years ago. We hope Senate Republicans will come back to the table to finish fighting for these reforms and complete the budget on time."

The state's fiscal year ends June 30. Unlike what happens with the federal government, missing the June 30 deadline doesn't result in a state government shutdown. The state will continue to operate under its current spending plan until a new budget is enacted. However, a lengthy delay can have significant impacts, including on local government and school budgets, as well as on planning and funding for certain transportation programs and projects.

TDA held its Drive-in in late May in Madison.

Attendees heard from Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary Kristina Boardman, as well as from Republican legislative leaders, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, and Senate Assistant Majority Leader Dan Feyen.

Approximately 60 TDA members, including representatives from business, industry, local government, transportation advocacy groups, and trade unions, attended the event at Monona Terrace. Some participants then visited the Capitol, where they shared TDA's priorities with legislators and staff. 

Thanks to all who joined us in Madison.

Thanks to our Sponsors

Senate Hearing for Transportation Secretary Designee Kristina Boardman

The Wisconsin Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government will hold a public hearing on the confirmation of Kristina Boardman as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) tomorrow, June 25. Governor Tony Evers appointed Kristina Boardman to this position in September 2024.

WisDOT is one of the largest state agencies, supporting all modes of transportation, employing over 3,200 individuals, and managing a biennial budget exceeding $8 billion. The department also includes the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Division of State Patrol.

Boardman’s public service career began in 1995 with the Wisconsin State Assembly. In 2005, she joined WisDOT and has held several key positions, including Deputy Secretary and DMV Administrator, DMV Deputy Administrator, and Director of DMV Field Services.

TDA's Letter of Support

The Borealis train service between St. Paul and Chicago has exceeded ridership expectations in its first year of operation since launching in May 2024. The daily Amtrak service, through partnerships between Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois transportation departments, carried more than 205,800 passengers in its first 11 months of operation through April 30, 2025.

Combined with the existing Empire Builder service on the same St. Paul-Chicago (via Milwaukee) corridor, total daily ridership reached over 293,000 passengers from May 2024 to April 2025, a strong 227% increase compared to the same time period from the previous year.

“[We are] proud to celebrate this milestone moment for passenger rail in our state,” said Kristina Boardman, WisDOT Secretary. “When the Borealis launched in May 2024, it was the first passenger rail service expansion in Wisconsin in more than two decades. The train has since become a resounding success story – and the ridership data reflects that.”

WisDOT WAVE Advisory Committee Meeting Focuses on a CAV Resource Guide

WisDOT hosted its biannual Wisconsin Automated Vehicle External (WAVE) Advisory Committee on May 21. The meeting provided a forum for stakeholders to explore how connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies might shape the state’s transportation network.

Committee members reviewed emerging CAV technologies, watched video demonstrations, and participated in tabletop workshops focused on community impacts, readiness strategies, and promising CAV solutions. These interactive sessions encouraged diverse perspectives on how to integrate CAV into Wisconsin’s transportation planning.

A central topic was the development of a CAV Transportation Resource Guide, designed to support communities in preparing for automated and connected vehicles. The meeting also featured a live demonstration by the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s automated shuttle project.

Established in 2020, the WAVE committee convenes twice a year to guide Wisconsin’s approach to transportation innovation by drawing on input from industry, government, academic, and community leaders.

WisDOT has released its Intermodal Freight in Wisconsin - 2025 Update, building on the 2019 Overview of Intermodal Freight in Wisconsin. The report provides fresh data and operational updates. The document also incorporates findings from two regional studies published since 2019 and aligns with the policies outlined in WisDOT’s 2023 State Freight Plan.

The report hopes to provide “statewide context for Wisconsin businesses and transportation services to better understand the intermodal insights contained within the regional reports regarding intermodal service opportunities within the state.” By combining new data with regional effort, the update offers critical analysis into items that stakeholders must consider to make any intermodal efforts successful and cautions against a “build-it-and-they-will-come” mindset. Instead, it recommends data-driven analysis and long-term planning.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has requested a $147.1 billion budget for fiscal year (FY) 2026, combining $111.3 billion in new resources with $35.8 billion in advanced funding from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

While the 2.2 percent increase in contract authority programs was anticipated, a notable highlight is the nearly $1.5 billion rise in proposed discretionary budget authority to $27 billion in 2026, representing an almost 6 percent increase. 

Key program highlights include:

• Bridge Investment: An additional $700 million for the Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Investment Program.
• INFRA Grants: $2.3 billion requested for the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grants—a $770 million boost from 2025’s funding.
• EV Charging: $5.7 billion in savings from the cancellation of any new budget authority and the proposed repeal of all unobligated balances from two Federal Highway Administration programs—the Charging and Refueling Corridor program (Highway Trust Fund contract authority) and the National Electric Vehicle Charging Formula program (general fund advance appropriations). 
• Federal Aviation Administration: $22 billion for operations and infrastructure, plus $5 billion in IIJA funds, a $1 billion increase over FY 2025 (3.9%). The plan includes hiring up to 2,500 new air traffic controllers and funding radar modernization efforts. 
• Rail: $500 million for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program, representing a $400 million increase. 
• Passenger Rail: The request excludes new Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grant dollars from the general fund in FY 2026, while maintaining IIJA advanced appropriations. In addition, the proposal retains overall Amtrak funding at FY 2025 levels but moves $291 million from Northeast Corridor grants to National Network grants.
• Transit: The Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants are level-funded at $2.2 billion, matching 2025’s enacted budget.
• Maritime: $1.5 billion new authority, including a $500 million increase in Port Infrastructure Development Grants, to invest in rebuilding the U.S. flagged maritime industry, growing the maritime workforce, bolstering domestic shipbuilding, and investing in port infrastructure.

USDOT also proposes to consolidate common support functions (Information Technology, Human Resources, Procurement, Communications/Public Affairs, Government Affairs, and Civil Rights) from most of its modal administrations into the Office of the Secretary.

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Plan to Link States’ Transportation Funding and Immigration Efforts 

A federal judge in Rhode Island halted the Trump administration’s attempt to tie transportation funding to states’ cooperation with immigration enforcement by granting a preliminary injunction.

The lawsuit, filed by 20 states, including Wisconsin, argued the Department of Transportation lacked the authority to impose such conditions. U.S. District Judge John McConnell agreed, stating, “Congress did not authorize or grant authority to the Secretary of Transportation to impose immigration enforcement conditions on federal dollars specifically appropriated for transportation purposes.” 

In a letter dated April 24, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned states that failure to comply with federal immigration laws could jeopardize funding. The states asserted in their lawsuit that this policy threatens critical infrastructure projects and could result in states diverting scarce local resources to federal immigration responsibilities for which personnel may have no expertise.

The injunction prevents the administration from enforcing the condition while the lawsuit progresses. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated in a social media post on Friday, June 20, that the department will continue to fight the issue in court.

The 20 states are also challenging similar Homeland Security Department policies in a separate case in Rhode Island. 

June Project Spotlight

Upgrades to 900+ Miles of Wisconsin County Forest Roads Will Strengthen Economy 

Wisconsin's county forest roads are vital infrastructure that supports the state's $4.6 billion forest products industry and $11.2 billion outdoor recreation economy. The state has identified roads across 24 counties that have deteriorated due to heavy use from timber harvesting operations, recreational traffic, and regular vehicle use.

Wisconsin will upgrade over 900 miles of county forest roads, including resurfacing, grading, and culvert replacement, to ensure roads remain safe and accessible and bring rural infrastructure up to 21st-century standards. 

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

Thank you to our 2025 Organizational Sponsors

TDA Events

• TDA Annual Meeting: Nov. 13, at the Madison Marriott South (Formerly Sheraton Madison Hotel)

Upcoming Events

Governor's Conference on Highway Safety

Each year, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation welcomes its partners in traffic safety from across the state and nation to the Governor's Conference on Highway Safety.

The 50th Annual Governor’s Conference on Highway Safety will be held Aug. 19-20, at the Kalahari Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells.

The Governor’s Conference provides attendees with opportunities to learn about current evidence-based best practices in education, enforcement, and partnerships to prevent traffic fatalities and serious injuries on Wisconsin roads.

To register, visit topslab.wisc.edu/gchs.

Registration Open for the Fall Wisconsin Aviation Conference

The Wisconsin Airport Management Association and the host airport, La Crosse Regional Airport, will hold the 69th annual Wisconsin Aviation Conference (WAC) on Oct. 20-22 at the La Crosse Center. 

Looking to attend? Details and registration information are available here. 

More information is available for those interested in exhibiting at or sponsoring the event.

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.