October Newsletter
10/27/2021
TDA Annual Meeting
Tuesday, Nov. 16
Monona Terrace, Madison

This year’s annual meeting is a once-in-a-lifetime event you won't want to miss as TDA celebrates its 50th anniversary—a milestone worthy of your presence. Together we'll recognize our legacy and examine how we move forward to tackle the challenges and opportunities of the next half-century.

We will kick things off with a special happy hour at The Coopers Tavern on the Capitol Square on Monday night, November 15th. Please join us and lift a glass in celebration of the organization's 50th anniversary.

And we have a great agenda lined up for the Annual Meeting on Tuesday, November 16th.
We can't wait to see you in person!


Please register by November 11.
There will likely be a Dane County mask mandate in place at the time of the event. However, in communicating with the Terrace, masks will be required in common areas but optional while seated in the meeting room.

TDA will ensure masks, hand sanitizer, and other protocols are in place to hold a safe and healthy event.
Thanks Annual Meeting Sponsors
Federal Update
Tell the House It's Time to Pass the IIJA
Current surface transportation program funding expires this Sunday, Oct. 31. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act would provide a new five-year reauthorization of highway and public transit programs with historic investment increases.

With Democrats still negotiating a larger reconciliation bill, Congress may look to another short-term extension. A recent American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) survey of state DOTs detailed the downside of short-term extensions.

Here is what WisDOT had to say: Short-term extensions of the surface transportation authorization create uncertainty and make planning very difficult. The impact is even greater on the transit program as funding is often held up until a full extension or reauthorization is enacted. Gaps in authorization, even for one day as recently experienced, are even more harmful. A continuous, multi-year authorization act is essential for efficient and effective infrastructure planning and programming and states’ transportation systems.

Tell your representative in the House it is time to stop kicking the can down the road and pass the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act.  
Other News
Wisconsin Part of Midwest Coalition to Accelerate Vehicle Electrification
Governors from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Minnesota – four Democrats and one Republican – have partnered to develop an electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure network across the region. The goal of the initiative, known as the Regional Electric Vehicle Midwest Coalition, or "REV Midwest," is to accelerate vehicle electrification in the Midwest.

The governors cited environmental and economic reasons for embracing electric vehicles and outlined the steps to support a shift towards electric-powered cars and trucks in a memorandum of understanding. These efforts will help ensure the region can effectively compete for private investment and federal EV infrastructure funding.

"We shouldn't have to choose between building a cleaner, more equitable state and economic development—and thankfully, vehicle electrification is an area where we can do both," said Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers. "This regional partnership [is] critical for addressing emissions from the transportation sector, ensuring folks in every community have cleaner air to breathe, and creating jobs to meet our future workforce needs."
Association News
Other Upcoming Events
Wisconsin Asphalt Pavement Association Annual Conference
November 30 - December 1
Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells

The agenda includes a lineup of presentations from experts on construction, policy, and funding at the state and national levels as well as exhibitors ready to share the latest industry technologies. More information is available here.
2021 WisDOT Freight Railroad Conference
November 10
Virtual event

This annual WisDOT event is in partnership with the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads and Wisconsin's railroads. Click here for registration information and an agenda.