TDA Annual Meeting Lays Out Funding Challenge, Path Ahead

Wisconsin’s transportation system is far more than roads and bridges—it’s the backbone that connects our communities, powers our economy, and touches every part of our daily lives.

Yet the funding needed to keep this lifeline strong is running on empty. One-time fixes and short-term patches are no longer enough.

It’s going to take all of us—local leaders, contractors, engineers, business owners, and everyday citizens—standing shoulder-to-shoulder to secure sustainable, long-term transportation funding.

That was the clear and timely message at this year’s TDA Annual Meeting. Executive Director Debby Jackson was joined by partners for a powerful, unified presentation on where we stand today and the path forward.

A sincere thank you to our team of outstanding presenters:

• Steve Baas, Executive Director, Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association
• Brian Fraley, Founder & President, Edge Messaging
• Mike Koles, Executive Director, Wisconsin Towns Association
• Toni Herkert, Legislative Director, League of Wisconsin Municipalities
• Allison Bussler, Public Works Director, Waukesha County

2026 will be a pivotal year of education and advocacy for TDA and our partners. Watch the event recap below and look for more information next year.

During the presentation, Brian Fraley outlined the campaign’s messaging strategy and emphasized the critical need to reinforce the importance of transportation investment.

Click below to see the first of two spots now running primarily on streaming platforms.

See the campaign's other spot and keep up to date at transportationdelivers.com.

Governor Evers Receives TDA’s Transportation Service Award

TDA President Robb Kahl presented Governor Tony Evers with the prestigious Transportation Service Award during the TDA Annual Meeting, honoring the Governor’s outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing Wisconsin’s transportation system.

Click here to see more photos of the event.

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

If you know you will be attending or even think you will, book your hotel now! Prices will only increase after the holidays and as we get closer to the event date. Click here to view information on where TDA staff will be staying in DC, along with other nearby hotel options.

Registration is open.

Yesterday, the bipartisan Transportation Projects Commission (TPC) unanimously approved two critical highway studies, paving the way for the examination of ways to enhance safety and improve operations along busy corridors in northwest and southeast Wisconsin.

The 15-member commission greenlit studies for portions of I-94 in Waukesha County and US 53 in Eau Claire and Chippewa counties. Project studies brought before the TPC seek to address congestion, aging infrastructure, elevated crash risks, as well as economic development opportunities.

I-94: Waukesha County (Willow Glen Road – Zoo Interchange)

Heavy commuter traffic, aging infrastructure, and limited capacity have created congestion and safety issues along this 27-mile segment of I-94. With 32 of the corridor’s 52 bridges now more than 60 years old and some pavements dating back to the 1950s, the corridor needs to be upgraded to provide safe, reliable, and efficient travel.

US 53: Eau Claire and Chippewa Counties (County AA/Golf Road – WIS 29)

The US 53 corridor has experienced significant growth since the freeway bypass was constructed in 2006. Traffic volumes now far exceed the original design. The result is heightened safety concerns, including crash rates that surpass statewide averages, particularly for injury and fatal incidents.

Yesterday’s action marks a significant next step in the process. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will now initiate the studies, with findings to be presented at a future TPC meeting.

Chaired by the governor, the TPC includes five state senators, five assembly representatives, three citizen members, and the transportation secretary, who is as a non-voting member. The commission is responsible for reviewing, approving, and recommending Major Highway Projects across Wisconsin.

Click here to view the TPC meeting and learn more about these corridors. 

On November 3, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation was joined by the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association and the Wisconsin Council on Physical Disabilities for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of a new safety rest area on westbound I-90 near Sparta.

The $13 million project, funded in part by an $8 million federal grant, replaces an outdated 1969 facility with a modern, significantly larger site designed specifically to better serve commercial truck drivers and all travelers.

Key improvements include:

• Expanded commercial motor vehicle (CMV) parking from 16 to 70 spaces
• A dedicated staging area for oversized and overweight loads
• New real-time signage along I-90 alerting drivers to available truck parking

These upgrades are part of efforts to address the nationwide shortage of safe CMV parking.

The rest area also features brighter security lighting, modern restrooms (fully ADA-compliant), drinking fountains with bottle fillers, and dedicated vending areas, creating a safer, more comfortable environment for breaks, supporting driver fatigue management, and enhancing safety along this critical freight corridor.

Wisconsin has 28 safety rest areas located on the interstate highway system and other major highways. 

Shutdown Ends, But Next Deadline is Jan. 30

On November 12, President Trump ended the longest government shutdown in U.S. history at 43 days by signing H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act of 2026. The measure includes three of the 12 general appropriations bills and a continuing resolution that funds the rest of the federal government through January 30.

According to the Eno Center for Transportation, a nonpartisan think tank, bipartisan leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees met late last month for the first time in months to discuss the nine outstanding FY2026 appropriations bills. They set a shared goal of enacting all the remaining measures before the current continuing resolution expires on January 30, but reached no concrete agreements.

With major funding differences and procedural hurdles ahead, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether Congress can hit its goal. When looking at the transportation appropriations bill, Congress needs to agree on a topline total, resolve account-level differences, and coordinate any earmarks. (See TDA’s coverage of the House and Senate transportation bills in the August Newsletter.)

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has called on Congress to complete the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill “as soon as practicable,” emphasizing that states need funding certainty to move forward with critical infrastructure projects nationwide.

FY 2026 appropriations tracker

Chairman Graves Delays Surface Transportation Reauthorization Timeline, $150B Funding Gap Looms

Graph produced by the Eno Center for Transportation, a nonpartisan transportation think tank.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and more than 20 national organizations, including major industry trade groups and labor unions, launched the Move America Coalition, a broad alliance dedicated to securing timely reauthorization of federal surface transportation programs.

In a letter, the group urged Congress to:

• Maintain and guarantee highway and transit funding at or above IIJA levels; 
• Stabilize the Highway Trust Fund and propose solutions that maintain a user-based, predictable funding strategy; 
• Modernize the project delivery and permitting processes; and 
• Enhance the safety, efficiency, and reliability of our transportation network. 

The current surface transportation law expires in September 2026. 

TDA Out and About

December

Project Spotlight

TEA Grant Powers Market Street Connection and Saukville’s Next Wave of Growth

The Village of Saukville in Ozaukee County faces growing traffic and infrastructure demands as it develops the Northern Gateway, a 99-acre mixed-use development with commercial, retail, housing, and industrial investment. 

To address this challenge, a key project will extend Market Street northward, providing businesses with a direct link to WIS 33 and enabling northbound and southbound access to the Northern Gateway development. 

The project is primarily funded by a $700,000 Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The TEA program provides matching funds to support public infrastructure projects that directly generate new business growth and job creation. 

Read More

Robb Kahl was elected the Transportation Development Association’s 49th president at the Annual Business Meeting earlier this month. He will serve a one-year term.

Robb is the executive director of the Construction Business Group. He has been on the TDA board for about a decade.

Other members of the 2025-26 TDA Executive Committee include:

• 1st Vice President: Ron Chamberlain, SEH
• 2nd Vice President: Brandon Strand, Walbec Group
• Secretary: Andy Kowske, HNTB
• Treasurer: Tim Peterson, James Peterson Sons, Inc.
• Past President: Jerry Deschane, League of Wisconsin Municipalities

Thanks to all for their service.

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, 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.

Upcoming Events

2026 WCPA Annual Concrete Pavement Conference

February 12-13, 2026

The Ingleside Hotel

2810 Golf Road

Pewaukee, WI 53072

The conference will feature several exhibitors and speakers, and eight Professional Development Hours (PDH) will be available.

See the registration page for more details.

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.