Two Wisconsin projects get more than $26 million in RAISE grants

Two Wisconsin projects will get federal transportation grants with nearly 150 other winners across the country.

A $25 million grant will go to reconstruct the Valley Transit Center in Appleton starting in 2026. Additionally, more than $1.1 million will go to planning and designing two bike and pedestrian bridges over highways around Waukesha.

The money comes from a $1.8 billion investment from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced in June. The competitive program awarded funding to 148 projects across the U.S.

“After decades of underinvestment, the condition of America’s infrastructure is now finally getting better instead of worse – and today we proudly announce our support for 148 more projects in communities of every size across the country,” said Pete Buttigieg, the country’s transportation secretary, in a statement.

RAISE program funding was authorized to $1.5 billion a year and was appropriated through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, DOT officials noted.

The program splits funding between urban and rural areas, and a large percentage of grants support historically disadvantaged regions or areas facing persistent poverty, officials said. State and local governments, Tribal governments, transit agencies, port authorities and other sponsors are able to pursue multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional projects through the program, officials added.

The DOT received $13 billion in requests for RAISE funding this round, officials said. The program awarded more than $7.2 billion for over 550 projects across the country since 2021, officials added.

Projects to reconnect two Wisconsin communities

In Appleton, the Valley Transit Center reconstruction will introduce expanded passenger amenities, ADA accommodations and transit facilities, according to a DOT fact sheet. The project also has plans for affordable housing units above the new transit center in a future project phase.

The project plans included sustainability measures such as fuel cell generators, hydrogen fuel buses and solar power to energize the facility.

In Waukesha, two bicycle and pedestrian bridges will be planned over U.S. Highway 18/State Trunk Highway 59 and U.S. 18/State Trunk Highway 59/State Trunk Highway 164.

The bridges will protect cyclists and walkers from crashes with vehicles and will encourage more people to walk or bike instead of drive gas-powered cars. The bridge will also be designed to be more resilient to extreme weather and the changing climate.