TDA Newsletter - transportation news

October Newsletter

10/28/2020

2020 TDA Annual Meeting

Please attend TDA’s first virtual annual meeting Thursday, November 12, from 10 am to noon.

Transportation played a critical role during the COVID-19 health emergency. It will be equally significant as we rebuild, rebound and move forward, together.

The two-hour, jam-packed agenda includes the following lineup:

There is no cost to participate.

Thanks to Our Annual Meeting Sponsors

Wisconsin News

For more news around the state, take a look at TDA's About TIME publication.

South Bridge Connector Project Moving Forward

Brown County, the City of De Pere, and the Town of Lawrence are working together to make the South Bridge Connector Project – a long-discussed project that will alleviate traffic congestion in the area – a reality.

With Construction Projects, Time is Money

Marathon County recently replaced a simple town bridge in record time. The new bridge allows for greater agricultural expansion in the area and continued local access to State Highway 29, the major east-west corridor.

Communities Turn Over Every Rock to Keep Up With Aging Infrastructure

The Village of Blanchardville replaced 40+-year-old water and wastewater systems and reconstructed six affected streets with the help of the USDA Rural Development program. Without these funds, the Village would have had to do piecemeal repairs over a decade while continuing to battle water main breaks, infiltration issues, and degrading streets.

Red Cliff Band Project: Access to Essential Services, Promotion of Tourism

The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa was awarded a $5.8 million BUILD Grant from the USDOT for its Transportation Renewal Project, which will build a multi-purpose transportation center plus transportation-related office space.

Stretch of I-94 Designated Alternative Fuel Corridor

New signs along I-94 between Madison and the Wisconsin/Illinois border indicate that electric charging stations are readily available along the route, as part of a national network of corridors that supports alternative fueling. This section of I-94 is the first route in Wisconsin to be designated "corridor-ready," which means that a DC Faster Charger (DCFC) is available at least every 50 miles and no more than 5 miles off the Interstate. Read more.

Connect 2050 Offers Virtual Open House

WisDOT's long-term planning effort, Connect 2050, is now offering a Virtual Open House with many resources as well as a survey that offers participants the opportunity to provide honest, representative feedback to build a shared vision for Wisconsin’s transportation future. The survey deadline is Saturday, October 31. Once the survey closes, WisDOT will create a preliminary plan and then seek additional public comment.

Gathered insights will help prioritize the needs and decisions for Wisconsin's transportation system over the next 30 years. Visit the Connect 2050 Virtual Open House.

Status of the States

Governor Walz (MN) Signs $1.9B Infrastructure Bonding Bill

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently signed a nearly $2 billion infrastructure and jobs bonding bill – the largest in state history.

“This bonding bill is a smart investment that will create thousands of good-paying jobs, deliver improvements to local projects throughout Minnesota, and make our state a better place to live,” Walz said. “It’s been a long journey. By finally coming together and working across the aisle, Minnesota proved once again that if Washington won’t lead, we will.”

According to TDA's friends at the Minnesota Transportation Alliance, the bill is comprised of $1.3 billion in general obligation bonds, $300 million in trunk highway bonds, and some appropriation bonds. The bill provides a little over $700 million in borrowing for transportation – roads, bridges, transit, ports, airports, wetlands, and rail. This amount includes $300 million in trunk highway bonds which will cost the trunk highway fund in additional debt service.

TDA Outreach

Winneconne's Boucher Discusses Community's New Award-Winning Bridge

Chris Boucher, Winneconne Village President, joins Debby Jackson on the latest On The Go podcast. The pair discuss the new Winneconne bridge, which spans across the Fox River and supports the local economy and recreation with fishing piers, bike and ATV lanes, and wide sidewalk space for pedestrians.

This project is among 12 national finalists competing for America’s Transportation Awards Grand Prize and People's Choice Award. This podcast was recorded and released early in the month when voting for the People's Choice Award was ongoing. The winners will be announced at the upcoming AASHTO virtual Annual Meeting (November 9-13, 2020). Learn more about the Transportation Awards here.

Listen to this podcast here.

Upcoming Events

WisDOT Railroad Conference - November 10th

This event will be held virtually from 8:15 AM - 12:15 PM. Registration and a preliminary agenda are available here.