Government, Business

Wisconsin DOT Gets Corporate Sponsor

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced June 26 that it has sold corporate sponsorship of the department’s roadside assistance services to insurance giant State Farm.

Mark Sommerhauser | The Wisconsin State Journal
June 28, 2017
Government

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Says He's Open to Tolling

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signaled on May 30 that he’s open to charging tolls on Wisconsin’s interstates, but with a key condition: linking it to a reduction in the state’s 30.9-cents-per-gallon gasoline tax.

Mark Sommerhauser | The Wisconsin State Journal
May 31, 2017
TCA

Lower Costs for Wisconsin Road Projects Frees Up $100 Million for State’s Next DOT Budget

Lower-than-expected costs for road projects and a revenue bump will free up more than $100 million for the next Department of Transportation budget, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker announced April 13.

Mark Sommerhauser | The Wisconsin State Journal
April 14, 2017
TCA

New Wisconsin DOT Secretary Says State Must Spend Less on Roads, Build Fewer Projects

The vexing challenge of how to pay for Wisconsin’s roads and bridges has a simple solution: Build less and prioritize more, new state Department of Transportation Secretary Dave Ross told lawmakers March 16.

Mark Sommerhauser | The Wisconsin State Journal
March 17, 2017
TCA

New Wisconsin Transport Secretary: Audit Signals We Must 'Change the Culture,' Be Transparent

Wisconsin’s new transportation secretary vowed Feb. 21 to “change the culture” at the Department of Transportation after an audit found it underestimated highway project costs by more than $3 billion, in part by failing to account for inflation.

Mark Sommerhauser | The Wisconsin State Journal
February 22, 2017
TCA

Wisconsin Hearing Puts Focus on Sharply Critical State DOT Audit

A recent audit that found the Wisconsin Department of Transportation underestimated highway projects by more than $3 billion raises questions about the agency's management, and of whether lawmakers must more closely oversee highway projects, state lawmakers said Feb. 21.

Mark Sommerhauser | The Wisconsin State Journal
February 21, 2017
Government

Wisconsin Gov.’s Budget Would Keep Highway Projects on Track

Ongoing major highway projects outside southeast Wisconsin, including two in Dane County, would avoid delays under Gov. Scott Walker's $6.1 billion proposal for the state's next transportation budget.

Mark Sommerhauser | The Wisconsin State Journal
February 9, 2017
Government

Critical Wisconsin DOT Audit Finds Highway Project Costs Underestimated by $3 Billion

A new state audit says the Wisconsin Department of Transportation dramatically underestimated the cost of major highway projects by failing to account for inflation, with costs on 16 major projects ballooning by more than $3 billion since lawmakers approved them.

Mark Sommerhauser | The Wisconsin State Journal
January 26, 2017
Government

Wisconsin's Transportation-Funding Problem: Possible Solutions, and How We Got Here

In recent years, attempts to agree on a long-term funding fix for Wisconsin roads have had as many starts and stops as a morning commute.

Mark Sommerhauser | The Wisconsin State Journal
January 23, 2017
Government, Business

Wisconsin DOT Study Finds Tolls Would Raise Billions for State Highways, Boost Travel Costs

Tolling Wisconsin’s U.S. interstates could raise billions for the state’s most-traveled thoroughfares, but the cost would be borne by motorists, big upfront investments would be needed and it’s unclear if the state could get the federal approval it would require, a new state Department of Transportation study finds.

Mark Sommerhauser | The Wisconsin State Journal
December 29, 2016