TDA Newsletter  3/27/2020
Wisconsin Construction Projects to Continue With New Safety Precautions

The Wisconsin construction industry is implementing COVID-19 precautions derived from CDC and OSHA workplace recommendations to safeguard construction job sites through the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak. Projects will move forward as construction is exempt from Governor Evers’ recent "Safer at Home" Emergency Order.

The precautionary measures – which include remote work directives in office settings – have the full support of labor and management.  More
WisDOT Responding to COVID-19  

In response to the unfolding health emergency, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has announced new ways of doing business to facilitate efforts to stock Wisconsin’s grocery shelves, help frontline health care providers, and slow the spread of the virus.

Keeping Supplies Moving
  • WisDOT issues COVID-19 Relief Effort Supply Permits. These permits allow for additional supplies to be efficiently transported over Wisconsin interstates and most highways and local roadways by increasing weight limits and waiving truck driver hours of service limitations. These permits have been extended through March 28. See details
  • WisDOT is keeping rest areas open to support truckers. “Wisconsin recognizes and deeply appreciates the nation’s truckers who are hard at work to move medical supplies, keep grocery stores in stock and provide other essential equipment,” WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson said. “For truckers, rest areas offer an important resource, and we are working hard to clean and maintain them.” See details
  • WisDOT Secretary ordered the Wisconsin State Patrol to assist with the growing need to deliver COVID-19 test kits and samples to designated labs. See details

Encouraging Social Distancing
  • All driver licenses scheduled to expire during the public health emergency are extended 60 days.
  • DMV extends admission testing deadlines. This extension affects Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Washington and Waukesha counties. See details
  • ​DMV offices are limiting the types of in-person transactions. Driver license (DL) and ID card transactions (including IDs for voting) can be done in-person. Customers may need to wait to enter the office as social distancing will be in effect. See details
  • No vehicle transactions will be handled in-person. All vehicle transactions can be done online or by mail. See details
  • WisDOT public construction meetings are on hold. See details.
COVID-19 Resources
Federal Stimulus Package
Congress Passes $2 Trillion Stimulus Bill
The Senate passed the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security or CARES Act earlier this week, and the House of Representatives passed it by voice vote today. President Trump is expected to sign the measure quickly.

The bill provides direct payments to individuals and families, shores up unemployment benefits, offers grants and loans to economically distressed industries and small businesses, and send funds to state and local governments and our nation’s healthcare system.

According to an American Road & Transportation Builders Association analysis of the bill’s provisions, the transportation elements include:

Transit
  • $25 billion for Transit Infrastructure Grants to support operations and capital expenses using existing Federal Transit Administration formulas.
  • $1.018 billion for the national Amtrak network.
  • $492 million in grants for the Northeast Corridor.
  • $526 million in National Network grants.

Airlines and Airports
  • $9.4 billion for commercial airports to use for operating expenses to help offset the impacts of the coronavirus downturn in airport business.
  • $100 million in aid for general aviation airports.
  • $500 million to help airports meet their non-federal share requirements for their FY 2020 Airport Improvement Program capital investment grants.

Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund
  • A budgetary provision that would deem future expenditures from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF), up to the level of the previous year’s collected revenue, as “off-budget” or “mandatory” spending. This would ensure all future HMTF user fee revenues are invested in port, harbor, and waterway infrastructure improvements in a timely manner.
TDA Outreach
"On The Go" Podcast: Construction Industry Helps to Protect Frontline Health Care Providers

Recently, Vice President Pence made a public plea to the construction trades. Their N95 face masks and sterile gloves, while not medical grade, are sufficient for health care providers to use. Because of the coronavirus, health care facilities across the nation are in short supply of crucial personal protective equipment. Pat Goss, executive director of the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association, joins TDA’s Debby Jackson on the latest episode of the On the Go podcast to discuss how the transportation industry is helping to safeguard frontline health care clinicians in Wisconsin.

“We would make one specific request, and that is we would urge construction companies to donate their inventory of N95 masks to your local hospital and forgo additional orders of those industrial masks,” Vice President Mike Pence said during a White House press conference this week.

According to Goss, the industry’s response has been impressive. Some of his members had already donated to their local hospitals before the association sent out an appeal for donations, while others acted after being contacted.

“My contractor members are mainly family-owned businesses that have been in their communities for many generations, so it is important to them to help support their communities,” Goss said. “We all have to do our part during this unprecedented time.”

Listen to the latest episode (and all previous episodes) here .

Also, check out Debby's latest In Business Blog Together, we will get through this .
Association News
TDA Fly-in Canceled

Given the uncertainty associated with COVID-19 and efforts to contain it, TDA canceled this year’s DC Fly-in on May 18. Our priority is the safety of our members and doing our part to limit the spread of the virus.
Special Thank You

The following Fly-in sponsors have agreed to have their contributions directed to the campaign for sustainable transportation funding.
  • Alliant Energy
  • American Council of Engineering Companies of Wisconsin
  • American State Equipment Co.
  • Fabick Cat
  • Mead & Hunt, Inc.
  • Miller-Bradford & Risberg, Inc.v
  • Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc.
  • Wisconsin Asphalt Pavement Association
  • Wisconsin Concrete Pavement Association
  • Wisconsin County Highway Association
  • Wisconsin Laborers' District Council
Upcoming Events
TDA Events

TDA Annual Meeting: Thursday, November 12