In early-April, DOT Secretary Mark Gottlieb publicly announced that the state is facing a $600 – $700 million shortfall in the next state budget to maintain the current transportation program and services. He warned that, absent new revenues, current major projects like the Zoo Interchange and I-39/90 from Madison to the Illinois state line could be delayed. If the shortfall were to be addressed by cutting back on infrastructure improvements, it could mean as much as a 30% reduction in the highway program.

The Secretary’s message is part of a DOT public outreach effort entitled “Transportation Moves Wisconsin”, which is designed to highlight the importance of transportation to state citizens and businesses and to focus attention on current funding issues. DOT has scheduled a series of nine public outreach meetings throughout the state, which began on April 8th in La Crosse and concluded on May 21st in Kenosha. Feedback from the outreach meetings will help DOT develop its set of recommendations for the next state transportation budget.