Evers, WisDOT announce $135 million in quarterly aid payments to local roads

Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) on Wednesday announced Wisconsin municipalities received more than $134 million in fourth quarterly aid payments for 2023 for General Transportation, Connecting Highway and Expressway Policing Aids.

In 2023, local governments will receive more than $526 million in General Transportation Aids to support transportation projects, according to the governor’s office. That’s a two percent increase over 2022 allocations from the 2021-23 budget. The total funding for all local programs makes up nearly one-third of the state transportation budget, officials added.

In a statement, Evers said his office improved more than 5,800 miles of state roads and highways since 2019.

“I was also glad to sign a budget that provided the largest amount of funding for general transportation aids so we can continue to work with and support our local partners to fix the roads, maintain our economic momentum and improve the quality of life for Wisconsinites across the state,” Evers added.

Craig Thompson, secretary of WisDOT, thanked the state’s municipal leaders for cooperative work on roads and bridges.

Here’s how the fourth quarter payments, made Oct. 2, break down. The payments combined totaled $134.8 million.

• General Transportation Aids: $131.5 million to local governments
• Connecting Highway Aids: $3.01 million to 116 eligible municipalities
• Expressway Policing Aids: $255,975 to Milwaukee County

General Transportation Aids help cover the costs of constructing, maintaining and operating roads and streets under local jurisdiction, officials said. Connecting Highway Aids repays municipalities for maintenance and traffic control of certain highways within municipalities. Expressway Policing Aids assist the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department with the costs of patrolling expressways within the county, officials added.

General Transportation Aids help cover the costs of constructing, maintaining, and operating roads and streets under local jurisdiction. Connecting Highway Aids reimburse municipalities for maintenance and traffic control of certain state highways within municipalities. Expressway Policing Aids help the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department with the costs of patrolling expressways within the county.

Quarterly payments for cities, villages, and towns are sent on the first Mondays in January, April, July, and October, officials said. County payments are made in three installments, with 25 percent of the total annual payment on the first Monday in January; 50 percent on the first Monday in July; and 25 percent on the first Monday in October.