WisDOT releases $138M in quarterly transportation aids

Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation on Tuesday announced more than $138 million to fix roads and complete other transportation projects for towns and cities across the state, the first quarterly payment for 2024 for General Transportation, Connecting Highway and Expressway Policing Aids.

“Since day one, our administration has been working to make sure Wisconsin’s infrastructure is ready to meet the needs of a 21st-century workforce and a 21st-century economy. Last year alone, we improved over 900 miles of road and over 200 bridges, and we’re getting right back to work in 2024,” Evers said in a statement.

“We will continue building on this positive momentum to help ensure students, families, workers, and products can get from point A to point B safely and efficiently,” the governor added.

The state will give $536 million in General Transportation Aids to local governments for transportation projects across 2024, officials said. This year’s allocation was a two percent increase over 2023 allocations provided by the 2023-25 budget. The total funding for all local programs makes up almost one-third of the state transportation budget, officials added.

WisDOT improved 7,424 miles of road and 1,780 bridges, and the Local Program invests in every part of the state since Evers took office, said Crag Thompson, the state transportation secretary.

“A good transportation network depends on the first and last mile, and we appreciate working with the many municipal leaders across the state to deliver infrastructure improvements,” Thompson added.

The state let $138.6 million in January. Here’s how the first quarter payments break down.

• General Transportation Aids – $134.1 million to local governments
• Connecting Highway Aids – $4.2 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 reimburse municipalities for maintenance and traffic control of certain state highways, and Expressway Policing Aids go to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department to help cover costs of patrolling expressways, officials added.

Quarterly payments for cities, villages and towns are sent on the first Monday 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, officials noted.