June 2016 News and Updates 6/30/16
Just Fix It Update 
Governor Walker to WisDOT: Minimize Southeast Wisconsin Projects

In a letter to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the governor instructed Secretary Gottlieb to submit a complete budget by the September 15 deadline "in order to allow for a full public discussion."

The governor also reiterated his opposition to increasing Wisconsin's gas tax and requested the department look for efficiencies.  Savings are to go toward increasing local road aids and highway maintenance.

“Proposed spending on mega projects in Southeastern Wisconsin should be minimized. Any such projects should be prioritized based on our needs, not our wants. Large needs-based projects should have their designs reviewed to save taxpayer dollars while maximizing maintenance and safety,” the governor wrote. read more 

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State’s Transportation System is in Crisis
By Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow
June 26, 2016 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

W hen I campaigned for Waukesha County executive, I was clear that my priority was to help Waukesha County become the epicenter of economic development in Wisconsin. I work every day to make that happen, but one major issue threatens to stall progress here and across the entire state: crumbling roads and aging infrastructure. Our transportation system is in crisis and the time has come to take action. read more

Other Recent Media Coverage (since 6/17 update)
Click here for a complete listing. 

NBC 15 Madison
June 29, 2016 

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
June 29, 2016


The Rough Road: Driving Douglas County

In Wisconsin’s great north – where the logging industry, tourists and the public all share the same roads – transportation funding has led to uncertain replacement schedules and a crumbling county highway system.

A special thanks to Case and Dire States for producing this video about the importance of transportation to northern Wisconsin and the state's timber industry.
New Just Fix It Web Feature,  Put a Pin in It

There is a new way for you to help show legislators the state of Wisconsin's transportation system and its impact on you.  

Go to www.JustFixItWI.com and with your phone, you can pin your location, take a picture of the issue and submit your road story. Of course, you can also do this on your computer, but it is just not as cool. And remember, a pictures is worth a thousand words.

Recent post by Jim - Highway 11, Monroe:  " It's sad that signs can be posted for a rough road after years of driving over this washboard, I mean road, but nothing else has been done to repair it."

News

Interstate at 60 Showing its Age

President Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act, which kick-started the U.S. Interstate System, into law on June 29, 1956.  This new multi-lane, high-speed interstate highway system spurred economic growth for decades and helped put the U.S. at the top of the world’s economies.

Sixty years later, the U.S. Interstate System is in rough shape and struggling to keep up with today’s economic demands.

In Wisconsin, most of the interstates were built in the 1950s and 1960s, and they simply have reached the end of their service lives and need to be reconstructed. This is particularly true in southeastern Wisconsin.

Lawmakers Near Deal on FAA Reauthorization as Deadline Looms

Congress is expected to take put a short-term reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after the July 4th recess. The eighteen-month patch doesn’t include the House’s controversial proposal to privatize air traffic control but is expected to include a handful of permanent policy provisions related to drones and aviation security.

The current extension of FAA programs expires July 15th. read more
AAA Projects Record-Breaking July 4th Travel

AAA projects nearly 43 million Americans will travel this Independence Day weekend. This represents the highest fourth of July travel volume on record and five million more travelers compared to Memorial Day weekend.

  “Spurred by the lowest gas prices since 2005, more people than ever are planning to travel this Independence Day weekend,” said Marshall Doney, AAA President and CEO. read more
Association Notes
TDA Welcomes Returning Member
Save the Date
  • TDA Annual Meeting: Tuesday, November 15th in Madison