Understanding Project Development and Highway Planning in Wisconsin's Southwest Region

1. How a Project Becomes a ProjectMichelle ElliasDOT SW Region Programming EngineerDNR/DOT Meeting December 4, 2012

2. DOT Planning & Programming

3. Planning & Programming • What’s the difference? • Planning—corridor and majors studies, long range planning, jurisdictional transfers, bike/ped coordination • Programming—manage allocated budget, 6-10 year window, projects in design/construction

4. Southwest Region • Area: 12,466 square miles • Counties: 16 • Towns: 322 • Villages: 144 • Cities: 58 • Population: 1,204,163 • Bridges: 4,205 • Roadway miles: 25,516

5. 6-year program meetings Provide the public and officials opportunity to: • review current projects in program and provide comments • identify needs and express concerns or suggestions regarding potential (future) highway projects

6. Majors Program Major Highway Project (Sec. 84.013, Wis. Stats.) • Total Cost more than $30 million, and one of the following: • Constructing a New Highway for 2.5 miles or more • Adding lanes for 5 miles or more • Converting expressway to freeway for 10 miles or more • The Department may not construct contiguous projects within 6 years, which when combined would meet the Major Project definition

7. Majors Program Transportation Projects Commission(Sec. 13.489, Wis. Stats.) • Governor – serves as chairperson • 5 Senators – 3 from the majority party and 2 from the minority party • 5 Representatives – 3 from the majority party and 2 from the minority party • 3 citizen members • Secretary of Transportation – serves as non-voting member

8. Majors Program Transportation Projects Commission PLANNING (STUDY) PHASE • Gives approval to WisDOT’s recommendations for studying potential major highway projects through the final EIS/EA stage DESIGN (PROJECT) PHASE • Reviews projects having gone through the final EIS/EA stage • Has the authority to conduct public hearings on potential major highway projects • Submits its recommendations for approval/disapproval to the governor, the legislature and joint committee on finance The governor and legislature enact legislation to list (enumerate) major highway projects in s. 84.013(3), Wis. Stats.

9. Backbone System • The Backbone System connects major economic areas of the state

10. 3R System • “3R”: resurface, recondition, reconstruct • The 3R System consists of existing (non-Backbone System) state highways • Does not include county or town roadways

11. 3R Functional Roadway Classifications • Backbone Connector Routes • (US 14 - La Crosse to Madison; US 12; STH 26) • Arterials • Principal (US 18 – Prairie du Chien to Madison; STH 11/81) • Minor (STH 133 – Cassville to Potosi; STH 33 – Portage to Fox Lake) • Collectors • Major & Minor (STH 89 -Waterloo to Columbus; STH 188 – STH 60 to CTH V, south of Merrimac)

12. Priority order for 3R corridors • 1) Structurally deficient Bridges & Culverts • 2) Connector Backbone Routes • 3) Other Principal Arterials • 4) Any other roadway over 5,000 ADT • 5) All other STH in any size municipality • 6) Minor Arterials • 7) All other Collectors

13. Review Deficiencies • Safety • Pavement & Structure Data • Mobility

14. Input/Information Gathering • State/County/Local Officials • Operations Staff • Citizens

15. New Projects Roadway Classification Structure Data Pavement Data Legislators Mobility Need Public Crash History Traffic & Maintenance County & Local Officials

16. New Project set up • Establish project ID, write CDR (concept definition report) • Distribute CDR to internal parties/outside agencies/FHWA • Schedule and hold scoping meeting to better define concept of work before turning project over to project development staff