Friday, September 25, 2026

Your go-to source for Association and transportation industry news, notes, and need-to-knows

NEWS & NOTES

New TRIP report identifies significant funding shortfall putting pressure on Wisconsin's road maintenance, Majors and Megas

Wisconsin faces a double-whammy that’s costing drivers and the impacting the state’s economy.

Nearly half (42%) of Wisconsin’s major state and local roads are in poor or mediocre condition, but WisDOT and communities don’t have the money to fix or maintain them, according to national transportation research non-profit TRIP.

TRIP released its report called "Wisconsin Transportation By the Numbers: Providing a modern, sustainable transportation system in the Badger State" on Thursday morning.

The report says WisDOT faces an average funding gap of $313 million per year just to maintain roads in their current condition.

A key reason for that gap is due to the state’s primary method of paying for construction which has been frozen for 20 years.

The gas tax and registration fees account for 77% of WisDOT’s revenue, but the amount of money the gas tax generates has fallen by ⅓ since 2006. That’s when lawmakers stopped indexing the gas tax for inflation, locking it at 32.9 cents-per-gallon.

Inflation has driven up construction costs by 48% from 2022-25.

Drivers in Illinois (70.4), Indiana (63.1), and Michigan (53.4) all pay significantly more in gas taxes.

Meanwhile, people drove 68.7 billion miles on Wisconsin’s roads in 2025, which is 4% higher than 2019, before the pandemic. All that traffic breaks down roads and can snarl commutes in cities.

TRIP’s report found poor road conditions cost drivers $9 billion per year due to wear and tear, time wasted in traffic, and crashes. Those issues can have a ripple effect on businesses and companies deciding whether to invest in the state.

"Wisconsin doesn't just need more road funding, it needs the funding that is stable, consistent and predictable," Commercial Association of Realtors Wisconsin CEO Tracy Johnson said during the TRIP report news conference.

"My members are developers and lenders and tenants... these businesses and these developers are making business decisions 20 and 30 years out and they need that peace of mind."

Click HERE to read the TRIP report

The report underscores the challenge lawmakers face when they begin working on the next state budget this winter.

Beyond the annual maintenance funding gap, WTBA analysis shows a more than $1 billion funding shortfall to keep Major and Mega projects such as the I-94 East-West expansion on schedule.

“Making needed improvements to the state’s roads, highways, bridges and transit systems would provide a significant boost to the economy… (but) numerous projects to improve the condition and expand the capacity of the state’s roads, highways, bridges and transit systems will not proceed without a boost in funding,” TRIP’s report concludes.

Construction worker killed in Madison hit-and-run

Police block Pflaum Road on Madison's east side after a hit-and-run crash killed a construction worker Thursday afternoon. (Photo courtesy Channel 3000.)

A construction worker died in a hit and run crash on Madison’s east side Thursday.

It happened near Pflaum and Alder roads around 1:10 p.m.

Madison police say the driver left the scene, but MPD has a person of interest who has been in contact with police.

The project is a reconstruction of Pflaum Road, including base, pavement, and underground utilities. The city’s engineering webpage says crews were nearly finished installing sanitary sewer and water mains this week, with focus shifting to storm sewer soon.

Police have not released the names of anyone involved, but city documents show WTBA member S&L Underground, Inc. as the prime contractor on the project.

This is the second deadly hit-and-run crash involving a construction worker in Madison this year. Experienced operator Carlos Lopez with Forward Traffic was killed when a suspected drunk driver hit him April 30 on Highway 51. The driver in that crash, Michael Martin, faces five felonies and three misdemeanors in the Dane County court case.

WTBA extends its sincere condolences to the worker’s family, friends and coworkers.

EVENTS & REMINDERS

Fall's Final Call: Registration for WTBA Fall Meeting closes Monday, Sept. 28 (AGENDA NOW AVAILABLE!)

Exactly four weeks before voters decide whether Tom Tiffany or David Crowley will be Wisconsin's next governor, both men will talk directly with WTBA members.

Tiffany and Crowley are scheduled to speak during the WTBA Fall Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 6 in Madison.

The gubernatorial candidates are just two reasons you'll want to make sure you're registered.

WTBA released the meeting agenda late Thursday. The event will also include a roundtable discussion with state Senate President Pro Tempore Pat Testin, Sen. Brad Pfaff, Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August, and Joint Finance Committee member Rep. Tip McGuire.

The programming begins with registration at 11 a.m., a lunch buffet at noon, and the general session starting at 1 p.m.

Attendees will get in-depth look at WisDOT’s projected lets and quantities for FY2027, the chance to ask department leaders questions, hear where certain lawmakers stand on transportation policy ahead of the November midterm elections, and gain a better understanding of the challenges our industry faces headed into a new state budget process.

There is also a notable surprise guest speaker in the late afternoon you won't want to miss.

(Please note this year's new location: The Madison Marriott South across from the Alliant Energy Center on John Nolen Drive.)

WTBA members can sign up for the discounted rate of $150 per person. Non-members pay $200.

Registration for the Fall Meeting closes this coming Monday, Sept. 28. See you there!

TBD for your Fall Sporting Clays team? Send in your names ASAP!

One of the many great things about the staff at Milford Hills is they handle adding up the scores. That means Lane can leave his abacus at home, Catherine can focus on being an exceptional host, and our members don’t have to question if either of them passed 3rd Grade math.

But it also means you have a job to do: turn in your team’s names.

Anyone who registered for the Fall Sporting Clays Tournament and initially put “TBD” for any or all shooter names must submit them by email to Catherine DeMarco no later than Wednesday, Oct. 7.

This makes the check-in and post-event awards reception go much smoother.

Registration and the lunch buffet on Oct. 15 begins at the Milford Hills clubhouse at 11 a.m.

The tournament starts at 12:30 p.m. following a brief safety talk and the hosted reception back in the clubhouse starts at 3:30 p.m.

All shooters will receive three (3) boxes of 12-gauge ammo at check-in.

An extremely limited number of foursomes still remain for $700 per group. Click HERE to register!

SPECIAL OFFER: Discounted membership rates at The Highlands

WTBA is lucky to have two excellent host sites for its spring and fall clay shoots.

Now you can enjoy membership at one of them for a discounted rate.

The Highlands in Cascade (home to our Spring Sporting Clays outing) is offering either 50% off your first year of membership OR the option to receive two years for the price of one.

Perks include complimentary guest passes for shoots, plus 10 complimentary passes to SoLu Winery concerts. Existing Highlands members can receive five free birds for their next hunt.

Interested? Click HERE for full details and owner TJ Sommer’s contact information.

Tribal Transportation Conference coming to Potawatomi Hotel in October

The state’s upcoming Tribal Transportation Conference will pack keynote speakers, panels, project reviews, success stories, workforce opportunities and much more into two days.

WisDOT and the Inter-Tribal Task Force are holding the conference Oct. 27-29 at the Potawatomi Casino and Hotel in Milwaukee.

The main program begins Wednesday morning, Oct. 28 with a tribal welcome address, WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman, and federal representatives. WTBA members such as Daniel Webster from Walbec Group will speak during several sessions.

You can view the full conference agenda HERE.

The annual conference is focused on partnerships, business opportunities, and sharing knowledge about transportation and tribal communities across Wisconsin.

Registration costs $85. A limited number of exhibition booths (15) are available for $150.

Click HERE to register.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

WTBA joins CBG to raise $10k for veterans at annual golf outing

Steve Baas has never had a hole-in-one.

He came within a foot of being a hero Thursday.

“That was scary good,” Baas said as he walked up to his ball, sitting just right of the cup on the par-3 at Trappers Turn’s Canyon 7. “I’ve peaked. It’s all on you guys now.”

Sadly, his teammates Lane Kimble, Misha Lee and Jim Steineke weren’t up to the challenge. The group finished just -4, far from the winning -14 score. (Lane's broken driver on the second hole of the day didn't help...)

But the Construction Business Group’s annual golf outing was about much more than winning glory on the course–it’s about strengthening partnerships and honoring the true heroes of the world.

The picture-perfect fall day in Wisconsin Dells brought together dozens of laborers, contractors, consultants and staff.

CBG's raffles and hole events raised money for Hogs for Heroes, which provides wounded American veterans with their own Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Thursday’s event raised a little more than $10,000 for the charity.

“That’s really what it’s all about,” Baas said. “Would I have loved to hole that shot? Of course. But the real prize is knowing we’re making someone's life better today.”

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

Badger Institute report calls for VMT to supplement, eventually replace gas tax

As states slowly begin looking for ways to supplement the gas tax, a Wisconsin-based research and policy organization is supporting the most common solution.

The Badger Institute suggests Wisconsin roll out a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) program that would charge people based on how much they use roads. The institute’s article notes Wisconsin’s largest road funding mechanism (the gas tax) could see revenues drop by 45% by 2050 due to more fuel efficient cars and electric vehicles.

The author says WisDOT should roll out the VMT program in stages, starting with interstates and freeways using technology similar to the I-PASS tolling system in Illinois, eventually replacing the gas tax entirely.

“Any new system should avoid double taxation, include strong protections for motorists’ privacy, and clearly show users what they are paying and why," author Ben Eisen wrote.

Only a handful of states–Oregon, Utah, Virginia and Hawaii–have a VMT system in place but Michigan and Minnesota are exploring pilot programs.

The Badger Institute's article also calls for state lawmakers and local leaders to prioritize transportation spending on modes people actually need and care to use instead of funneling tax dollars into novelty projects like Milwaukee’s Hop Streetcar.