Mark Gottlieb, P.E.
Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Transportation
The 2011-2013 biennial budget signed into law this week by Governor Scott Walker is a balanced budget that allows the state to meet critical transportation needs over the next two years.
The budget puts an emphasis on the Governor’s vision for creating 250,000 jobs and improving government to lay the groundwork for future prosperity. It provides a clear plan for tackling today’s challenges and making Wisconsin’s future bright.
The transportation elements in the budget support job creation, maintain and preserve the state’s transportation infrastructure and provide the mobility and safety travelers depend on to move throughout the state each day.
Transportation needs are financed without increasing gas taxes or registration fees. The budget honors the commitment to end raids on the transportation fund and recognizes the will of voters in 53 counties who overwhelmingly passed advisory referendums to ask that fuel taxes, registration fees and other user charges be used only for transportation programs.
Transportation investments over the next two years will allow several large and economically important highway projects to move closer to completion. This includes work on the Zoo Interchange and I-94 project in southeast Wisconsin, the Interstate 39/90 corridor from Madison to the Illinois state line and expansion of US Highway 10 and Highway 441 in the Fox Valley. These projects are critical not only in their respective regions, but for the entire state.
At the same time, hundreds of smaller road and bridge improvements will move forward in every corner of the state. The budget also provides increases for state highway maintenance to ensure potholes are filled and roadways plowed. These investments contribute to local economies and provide job opportunities. In the long term, they help create the quality transportation network state businesses need to grow and succeed.
Nearly every citizen in Wisconsin is impacted by the work of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation through improvement projects, the traffic safety efforts of the Wisconsin State Patrol or the assistance to drivers and vehicle owners provided through the Division of Motor Vehicles. The budget supports our efforts to move forward on new e-government initiatives to achieve the highest levels of customer service.
In summary, the 2011-13 state biennial budget recognizes the importance of a great transportation system to support economic growth and development throughout Wisconsin.
For more information, contact:
Peg Schmitt, WisDOT Office of Public Affairs
(608) 266-7744, Peg.Schmitt@dot.wi.gov
