Highway funding, which relies on gas tax, will be hard hit as fuel sales decline

April 17, 2020 8:44 am Leave a comment

Traffic passes in July through a section of Interstate 94 that’s being rebuilt near Mount Pleasant. Republican lawmakers on Wednesday began circulating about a dozen bills dealing with transportation matters. Among other things, the proposals would allow design-build delivery on state projects. Also, rather than increasing the state’s gas tax, the legislation would have a certain amount of the taxes now collected on sales of vehicles and automotive parts set aside for the state’s transportation fund. (File photo by Kevin Harnack)

As people hunker down at home, with few places to go but the grocery store, congestion has all but disappeared from our highways and freeways.

Tagged with: gas tax highways roads Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Infrastructure often embraced by both parties, to no avail

April 2, 2020 9:05 am Leave a comment

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., walks to her office on March 27 after signing the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on Capitol Hill in Washington. President Donald Trump wants to spend $2 trillion on infrastructure projects to create jobs and help the collapsing economy rebuild from the coronavirus' stunning blows. Pelosi says that seems about right. But the two sides are unlikely to agree on a way to reach what appears to be a common goal. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

President Donald Trump wants to spend $2 trillion on infrastructure projects to create jobs and help the collapsing economy rebuild from the coronavirus' stunning blows.

Tagged with: Congress coronavirus highways infrastructure Mitch McConnell Nancy Pelosi President Donald Trump roads

GNAW ON THIS: Bills would let officials shoot beavers to protect roads

January 31, 2020 3:22 pm Leave a comment

It's tough to be a highway in Wisconsin. There are hail storms, car crashes and winter temperatures that sometimes rival those on Mars.

Tagged with: highways roads Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Michigan Senate votes to require study of highway tolls

January 28, 2020 4:39 pm Leave a comment

The Michigan Senate voted on Tuesday to require that a study be done to examine the possibility of collecting tolls along the state's highways, as lawmakers consider ways to boost spending on deteriorating infrastructure.

Tagged with: highways Michigan toll toll roads U.S. Department of Transportation

US highway deaths fall in 2018 for second straight year

October 22, 2019 2:27 pm Leave a comment

Traffic travels on Interstate 41 through De Pere on July 17. The U.S. government's road safety agency says traffic deaths fell by a small amount for the second straight year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration attributed the 2.4% drop partially to technology in newer vehicles that can prevent crashes. The agency says the downward trend is continuing into 2019. First-half estimates show fatalities down 3.4%. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

The U.S. government's road-safety agency says traffic deaths have fallen for the second straight year.

Tagged with: fatalities highways U.S. Department of Transportation

Transportation Projects Commission likely to reconvene this winter

September 10, 2019 3:36 pm Leave a comment

Heavy trucks travel Interstate 43 near Grafton on July 17. Plans to rebuild and add lanes to this stretch of highway were approved by Wisconsin’s Transportation Projects Commission in 2014. That commission, which is required to approved major-highway plans before they can be added to state statute, is planning to meet in December for the first time in five years. (Photo by Kevin Harnack)

A commission called on to study some of Wisconsin's largest road projects may meet this winter for the first time in five years, a step that could lead to the addition of new highway projects to the state's to-do list.

Tagged with: Craig Thompson Gov. Tony Evers highways Interstate 39/90 Interstate 41 Kevin Traas Transportation Projects Commission Wisconsin Department of Transportation Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association WisDOT

Bill would put $43M toward highways

January 31, 2014 6:44 pm Leave a comment

State lawmakers have introduced a bill that would put an additional $43 million toward highway rehabilitation in the state’s current fiscal year.

Tagged with: highways WisDOT

White House offers states $470M for roads, bridges (UPDATE)

August 17, 2012 1:12 pm Leave a comment

The Obama administration will make nearly half a billion dollars in unspent highway funds available to states that promise to use the money to create jobs and improve transportation.

Tagged with: highways jobs Transportation Department

Gas tax, fees test state group

August 16, 2012 2:55 pm Leave a comment

A group of state transportation leaders is wrestling with how to raise money to maintain, fix and expand Wisconsin’s aging, ailing network.

Tagged with: gas tax Highway Trust Fund highways Mark Gottlieb Scott Walker WisDOT

Commission charged with closing gap between available money, fixing roads (UPDATE)

August 15, 2012 3:31 pm Leave a comment

Wisconsin’s Transportation Policy and Finance Commission began grappling with a formidable question Wednesday: How to use contracting state funds to maintain, fix and expand the state’s highway network -- not to mention local roads, railroads, airports, and bicycle paths?

Tagged with: Dave Cieslewicz gas tax highways Mark Gottlieb Paul Hammer Scott Walker Transportation Finance and Policy Commission WisDOT