Governor Walker Supports I-39/90 Project in Transportation Budget
Senator Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) issued a statement in support of Governor Walker’s 2017-19 transportation budget and his commitment to keep the I-39/90 project on schedule. Senator Nass could not join the Governor at his Beloit press conference today, since he was chairing a meeting of the Senate Labor and Regulatory Reform Committee. He did issue the following statement:
“Governor Walker has repeatedly supported the completion, on schedule, of the I-39/90 project. To date, Governor Walker’s 2017-19 transportation budget is the only one that keeps this vital commitment to southern Wisconsin. I thank Governor Walker for standing with my constituents and will fight for his proposal in the State Senate.”
Key Elements of Governor Walker’s 2017-19 Transportation Plan
- Contains no transportation tax increases or an increase in vehicle registration fees.
- $500 million in new bonding for transportation projects over the 2017-19 biennium. Current budget authorized $850 million in transportation bonding. 2017-19 new bonding levels are the lowest amount since the 2001-03 budget.
- Keeps all active major projects on schedule. Especially, the I-39/90 project in southern Wisconsin that is vitally important to the state and local communities in the 11th Senate District.
- An increase of more than $522 million for the Department of Transportation's (DOT) base funding. Including nearly $15.9 million in increased transportation aid to counties and more than $30 million in increased aid to municipalities. DOT is also requesting an increase of $14 million for the Local Roads Improvement Program and $5 million for the Local Bridge Improvement Assistance program.
- Proposes nearly $30 million for highway maintenance and traffic operation needs, $33.7 million for routine maintenance performed by the counties, and one-time transfers of $19 million in FY18 and $19 million in FY19 as revenue to the segregated Transportation Fund.
- Overall, it increases aid to a variety of local transportation programs by $77 million.