Last month, a group of transportation stakeholders headed to DC for a quick but important and impactful visit. We met with our delegation to impart the importance of developing and maintaining a safe, modern, interconnected transportation system that supports Wisconsin's robust economy and quality of life. We talked with them about investments made in their districts and the benefits to local businesses, industries, and the traveling public.

During the afternoon briefing, we heard from distinguished speakers like WisDOT Secretary and this year's American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) president Craig Thompson, who introduced Jim Tymon, the executive director of AASHTO, and Dr. Alison Black, senior vice president and chief economist for the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.

In keeping with our tradition, the second day's breakfast featured a transportation speaker chosen by the TDA's president. This "wild card" is an opportunity to learn more about a segment of transportation we may not deal with on a daily basis. This year's TDA president, Jason Culotta, executive director of the Midwest Food Products Association, invited Chuck Baker, president of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.

Beyond the meetings with the delegation and excellent speakers, we had the opportunity to reconnect as transportation advocates and have some fun along the way.

Thanks to all – participants, sponsors, and speakers for a great event.

A Special Thank You to 2024 Fly-in Sponsors:

• AECOM
• American Council of Engineering Companies of Wisconsin
• Commercial Association of REALTORS Wisconsin
• Fabick Cat
• HNTB Corporation
• International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 139
• Mead & Hunt, Inc.
• Midwest Food Products Association
• Miller-Bradford & Risberg, Inc. 

• SEH
• Wisconsin Asphalt Pavement Association
• Wisconsin Concrete Pavement Association
• Wisconsin County Highway Association
• Wisconsin Earth Movers Association
• Wisconsin Laborers’ District Council
• Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association

While in DC, the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee held a hearing on rural transportation challenges. Mike Koles, executive director of the Wisconsin Towns Association and a Fly-in participant, testified on behalf of the National Towns Association. He provided perspective on the hurdles smaller, more rural communities nationwide and across Wisconsin face in developing and maintaining their roads and bridges, which are critical to the safe movement of products and people.

The hearing was open to the public, allowing TDA Fly-in participants to see the House T&I Committee at work.

On March 20, Governor Evers signed two bills critical for Wisconsin to access federal electric vehicle (EV) charging station funds. 

2023 Wisconsin Act 122 (SB-792) allows WisDOT to administer National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program formula funds provided by the federal infrastructure law. 

The other measure, 2023 Wisconsin Act 121 (SB-791), does several things, including:

• Exempts entities selling electricity by the kilowatt-hour through EV charging stations from regulation as a public utility if an electric utility or retail electric cooperative provides all the electricity.
• Delineates the ability of the state and local governments to own, operate, manage, or lease EV charging stations depending on the type of EV charger (Level 1, 2, or 3). 
• Creates an excise tax on EV charging of three cents per kilowatt-hour. The user fee applies to electricity from any Level 3 charger and electricity from a Level 1 or Level 2 charger installed on or after March 22, 2024, with EV charging at a residence exempt. 
• Establishes a sales tax exemption for the sales subject to the excise tax above.
• Prohibits local governments from requiring private developers to install EV charging stations as a condition of receiving a building permit.

According to the Transportation Investment Advocacy Center, Wisconsin is the eighth state to enact a public electric vehicle charging station fee, and six other states have introduced legislation this year. 

WisDOT announced the Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (WEVI) Program Request for Proposals (RFP) earlier this year. Under the WEVI Program, the state can receive approximately $78 million in NEVI program formula funds over five years beginning in the federal fiscal year (FY) 2023. WEVI Program grants will cover up to 80% of the eligible costs, with grant recipients putting up the remaining funds. Applications were due to WisDOT on April 1.

Please visit the WisDOT Electrification page for more information on the WEVI Program.

WisDOT has joined the USDOT Allies in Action campaign.

USDOT asks campaign stakeholders to take additional steps to reduce serious injuries and deaths on our roadways, which have reached crisis levels. Beyond actions, USDOT calls on partners to share their efforts and help to transform how we think about road safety. 

Participants include public organizations, private businesses, research institutions, and others.

The president signed the remaining six appropriations bills on March 23.

Next up is the FY 2025 appropriations process, which is typically kick started with the release of the president's budget. President Biden released his budget on March 11.

On March 13, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced $3.3 billion in Reconnecting Communities & Neighborhoods Grant Program awards for 132 communities.

The FY 2023 awards included three in Wisconsin:

• A $36.56 million capital grant will allow the City of Milwaukee to transform 2.6 miles (North Avenue to National Avenue) of 6th Street, an important corridor connecting predominantly Black communities on the northside through the Downtown economic core south to the regional intermodal station and the gateway of Milwaukee’s Hispanic communities. This people-centric corridor will include safe, dedicated walking, biking, and transit infrastructure. In addition, green infrastructure will provide much-needed tree canopy and green space while easing the load on the City’s combined sewer system.
• A $1 million planning grant for the City of Madison to study the Perry Street Overpass as a key component of the City’s strategy to revitalize South Madison’s neighborhoods and address longstanding mobility needs. The proposed project will reconnect Perry Street over the Beltline Highway (US Highways 12/14/18/151), allowing vehicles, buses, pedestrians, and cyclists access to businesses south of the highway. The project will benefit the Burr Oaks and Bram’s Addition neighborhoods.
• A $2 million planning grant for WisDOT to evaluate the I-94/43 National Avenue Interchange in the City of Milwaukee. The project focuses on the disadvantaged Walker’s Point neighborhood divided by the interchange. The adjacent neighborhoods are 80% minority with poverty rates between 25%-35%. Through robust public engagement and technical analysis, the project will identify community concerns, create a collective vision, develop a range of improvement alternatives, and conduct a feasibility study that will investigate traffic, ramp geometries, street connections, shared use paths, and other potential improvements to reimagine the National Avenue Interchange.

See the WisDOT interactive map of federal discretionary grants here.

In the early morning of March 26, a massive, 980-foot-long cargo ship lost power and rammed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. The impact caused the span to collapse, with six construction workers presumed dead and stranding the ship’s crew on the vessel.

More than 30,000 people commuted daily on the 1.6-mile, almost 50-year-old bridge over the Patapsco River.

The bridge collapse will have an economic toll and create logistical challenges, shutting down ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore and snarling cargo and commuter traffic.

Baltimore ranks as the ninth largest US port for international cargo, handling in 2023 a record 52.3 million tons, valued at $80.8 billion. Maryland state government officials estimates roughly 140,000 jobs are linked to the critical shipping hub.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has begun investigating this tragic event, including what caused the vessel to strike the bridge, the bridge’s history and condition, and the related spill of hazardous materials. According to NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy, the probe could take 12-24 months. 

President Joe Biden has pledged that the federal government will pay the total cost of rebuilding the bridge.

TDA Podcast: Abe Weber from Appleton International Airport

What a difference four years makes!

In the latest On The Go episode, Debby Jackson speaks with Abe Weber, director of the Appleton International Airport (ATW). These two last chatted on the podcast in May 2020, in the early days of the pandemic when the future of air travel was uncertain.

Over the past four years, Appleton International Airport has experienced a significant surge in passengers. Weber attributes the growth to pent-up demand, the return of business travelers, and airline partners' introduction of new routes at ATW. They also discuss the airport's expansion and the ATW team's commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience.

Listen to the podcast here.

UW Health includes six main hospitals in Wisconsin and Illinois, one joint operating agreement partner hospital in Madison, and two hospitals located within the main hospital in Illinois. 

UW Health cares for more than 800,000 patients each year, with more than 1,800+ employed physicians and 24,000+ employees. Visit www.uwhealth.org.

• TDA Annual Meeting: Oct. 16 at the Marriott Madison West

KL Engineering is honored to be recognized by the Wisconsin State Journal as a Top Workplaces 2024 honoree!

At KL, we strive for an environment where every employee feels respected, supported, empowered, and enabled to grow. Each of our employees helps us do that, and their responses confirm that we're on the right track.

The Construction Business Group Annual Conference is April 10 – 11, 2024, at The Madison Club. 

CBG was established in 1992 to enhance business opportunities and a quality of life by ensuring fairness, equity, and standards of excellence in the construction industry of Wisconsin.

Click here to see this year's agenda and here to register.

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.