Infrastructure project roundup for Wisconsin

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Gov. Tony Evers recapped transportation projects and investment following visits to local communities over the past several weeks.

Both state and federal organizations invested in transportation and infrastructure projects across Wisconsin, from rebuilding bridges and roads to lead service line replacements and electric vehicle charging.

“Since Day One, my administration has been working to fix the darn roads, repair our bridges, and build the 21st-century infrastructure Wisconsin needs to meet the demands of a 21st-century economy,” Evers said in a statement. The governor touted fixing 7,000 miles of road and 1,780 bridges since his administration started in 2019.

State enacted program to improve agricultural roads

In June 2023, the governor signed an act to expand the Local Roads Improvement Program to include agricultural road projects with the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program, the governor’s office said. The agricultural program started out with $150 million when the 2023-25 budget was signed.

In July, the state invested nearly $50 million into 37 projects across 28 Wisconsin counties using ARIP, which is the first round of funding through the program. Those projects are aimed at helping Wisconsin’s farmers by fixing roads and bridges critical to moving products such as crops and livestock, officials added.

Applications for the second cycle of ARIP are ready and around $100 million in state funding will be awarded through the next cycle, officials said.

Federally funded program to fix road surfaces

More than $200 million provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by President Joe Biden in 2021, will go more than 150 local road and bridge improvement projects across the state. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will administer funding through the Surface Transportation Program. Last week, the state moved an extra $117 million in STP funding for 76 projects across the state.

EV infrastructure, shared revenue and expanded rail service are also key points

The governor’s office also made efforts in alternative transportation, community development, shared revenue and replacing lead lines. Here are some of the things the Evers administration has worked on in the year and a half.

Electric vehicles

A total of 53 locations statewide were picked for the first federally funded fast-charging EV stations in Wisconsin, according to the governor’s office. Funded the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, WisDOT awarded the first $23.3 million of more than $78 million the state is expected to get over five years.

Passenger rail

In May, Amtrak launched the Borealis train service between St. Paul, Minn. and Chicago which racked up ridership of 18,500 after its first month in service. Evers welcomed U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to ride the Borealis train in July, as the secretary toured federal efforts to expand passenger rail in the state.

Shared revenue

In June 2023, Evers signed 2023 Wisconsin Act 20, which included an at least 20 percent increase to support most of the state’s municipalities. The new law included benefits for the state’s quarry and aggregate industry, which will affect road projects.

Community development

Evers announced a $20.7 million award in grants to 22 municipalities for public improvement projects in low- and moderate-income communities statewide where 50,000 people or less live, officials said. Projects include improvements, repairs or expansions of streets, drainage systems, water and sewer systems and other community facilities, officials added.

Lead pipe removal

The governor and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced a grant program to fund public water systems to start outreach efforts in support of future lead service line replacements. The funds for this program are also provided by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Big budget for roads

In early August, WisDOT and Evers announced that cities and towns across the state received more than $170 million in the third round of quarterly aids. That includes money for general transportation, connecting highways and policing the expressway in Milwaukee County.

Local governments will receive more than $536 million in General Transportation Aids in 2024. Governor’s officials said it was a 2% increase from 2023.

Here are more highlights for the state’s investments in road construction.

• $174 million in state funding for 1,003 local road improvement projects over the next five years.
• The 2023-25 budget includes a 4% increase each year for the Local Road Improvement Program
• An extra $100 million for supplemental funds for county, town and municipal street improvements through LRIP