Don't miss this year’s annual meeting!

Tuesday, November 15

Madison Marriott West

1313 John Q Hammons Dr, Middleton

Dollars from the federal infrastructure bill have started to roll out, and projects are moving forward.

But that’s not the whole story. TDA has held five regional meetings this fall to hear from local officials and others about transportation accomplishments, ongoing needs, and opportunities in the federal bill.

Join this year’s annual meeting to hear what TDA learned during our travels, the impact on upcoming budget discussions, and how other states are working to address similar deep-rooted funding challenges.

Event details and ways to register are available here.

Please register by Thursday, November 10.

With the election November 8, check the TDA website for any additions or changes to the agenda.

www.tdawisconsin.org

March 1-2, 2023

Mark your calendar now so you can be a part of the much-anticipated return of TDA's Fly-in! 

Preliminary results show the new Madison Flex Lane has reduced travel times by 30 percent and increased roadway reliability. For drivers, this means 10 to 15 minutes less time stuck in traffic during their commutes. 

With traffic flowing more freely, drivers need to heed Dane County Sheriff Kelvin Barrett’s advice. “It's not a passing lane, and it's definitely not a speed lane,” said Sheriff Barrett.

The new lanes opened in July. The project aims to decrease traffic congestion by opening the left-hand shoulder to drivers during peak travel times.

In early October, the Evers Administration announced the next cycle of funding from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), providing $235 million for more than 150 local road and bridge projects in 66 counties across the state the next four years.

Below is the funding allocation by program for federal fiscal years 2023-26. 

Local governments submitted over 1,000 applications, with about 15 percent receiving funding. The funds will be distributed over the next four federal fiscal years, Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2026. 

According to a new report released by TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, rural roads and bridges are insufficient to support economic development and escalating freight demands. Rural Connections: Examining the Safety, Connectivity, Condition and Funding Needs of America’s Rural Roads & Bridges documents deficient and deteriorating conditions and fatal traffic crash rates far higher than on other roads and highways.

TRIP’s report spotlights a USDOT analysis submitted to Congress in 2021. USDOT estimates the U.S. faces a $180 billion backlog in needed repairs and improvements to the nation’s rural roads, highways, and bridges.

In Wisconsin, 17 percent of rural pavements are in poor condition, and the fatality rate on rural roads is almost twice that of other roads in the state.

The Mississippi River plays a significant role in transporting Wisconsin's agricultural products and is tied to the state's economy. An effort is underway to form a new, federally-recognized statistical port district known as the Northern Grain Belt Port Statistical Area.

Bob Gollnik, senior planner at the Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission, and Chris Smith, chief operating officer at Riverside Global Solutions, speak with TDA's Debby Jackson on the latest On The Go podcast about the crucial role of the upper Mississippi River and the benefits of this statistical port area.

Listen to the podcast.

The 2023 Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., is quickly approaching, and an exceptional event is once again on tap. The Wisconsin Reception at TRB is a much-anticipated opportunity for Wisconsin transportation professionals to network.

Sunday, January 8, 2023

4:30-8 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. If interested, please get in touch with TDA's Debby Jackson for more information and to arrange sponsorship payment. Submit your company logo to Amanda Rasmussen at UW-Madison.

This event is hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin. 

The Wisconsin County Highway Association is looking to hire its next executive director. 

The successful candidate will be responsible for the overall administration of the Wisconsin County Highway Association.

The application deadline is November 4, 2022.

More information is available here.