Connect 2050 Vision
WisDOT envisions an integrated multimodal transportation system that maximizes the safe and efficient movement of people and products throughout the state in a way that enhances economic productivity, transportation accessibility, and the quality of Wisconsin's communities while minimizing impacts to the natural environment and socioeconomic, historic, and cultural resources.
How Connect 2050 Works
Goal 1: Pursue sustainable
long-term transportation funding
Funding is the key to maintain and develop Wisconsin's transportation system so that it is safe for all users, meets current and future demand, and exists in a state of good repair that facilitates lowering long-term costs. This leverages prudent asset management practices that maximize the benefit of available funding.
Objectives
- 1.a. Ensure funding is managed efficiently and is sufficient to support WisDOT’s long-term plans for providing a transportation system that is in a state of good repair and is safe, efficient, and accessible, all of which support Wisconsin’s economy and quality of life.
- 1.b. Facilitate access to funding at the regional and local level according to state and/or federal requirements, and prudent financial management of WisDOT-administered programs.
- 1.c. Pursue innovative and sustainable funding mechanisms and solutions to ensure system health across all modes.
What are we doing now? Some Examples:
BUDGET: Fuel taxes, vehicle registration fees, and driver license fees largely fund the state’s $7.2 billion transportation budget for 2021-2023. Wisconsin also receives money from the federal government based on formula and discretionary funding programs, and from program and local revenues.
TRANSIT: WisDOT's State Urban Mass Transit Operating Assistance program provides operating cost assistance to support bus, shared-ride taxi and rail services. Federal transit programs further support rural and urban transit systems and specialized transit services in Wisconsin.
LOCAL ROADS: The General Transportation Aids (GTA) program enables local governments to receive state aid payments for county and municipal road construction, maintenance, and traffic operations. GTA is WisDOT’s second-largest program with a budget of $1.04 billion in the 2021-2023 state budget.
Goal 2: Focus on partnerships
Effective partners work together to identify common goals. They communicate with each other an help each other when support is needed. Wisconsin will focus on transportation partnerships to coordinate and cooperate toward shared objectives.
Objectives
- 2.a. Ensure the transportation system is developed in a way that addresses the needs of all users.
- 2.b. Ensure inclusivity, equity, access, and safety.
- 2.c. Eliminate and reduce barriers to transportation accessibility.
- 2.d. Ensure the transportation system can adapt to changesover time, such as connected and automated vehicles, use of alternative fuels, telecommuting and other social changes, and needs of an aging population.
- 2.e. Collaborate with partners and stakeholders to identify strategic transportation investment opportunities.
- 2.f. Identify and communicate transportation system needs, priorities, and benefits to maximize transportation investments.
- 2.g. Ensure project considerations include the character and needs of communities.
What are we doing now? Some Examples:
COMMUNICATION: WisDOT created the Wisconsin Non-Driver Advisory Committee in 2020 as a forum to discuss transportation mobility, safety and access for Wisconsin residents who do not drive due to physical, mental or developmental disabilities, age, financial constraints, or choice.
COORDINATION: Industry representatives on the Freight Advisory Committee keep WisDOT informed about issues that affect freight access, mobility and viable transport from, to and within Wisconsin.
SUPPORT: Our Harbor Assistance Program helps fund projects within communities along the Great Lakes and Mississippi River that maintain and improve the shipping, port and waterway resources that support our economy.
Goal 3: Pursue continuous improvement and expand data-driven decision-making processes
Data-driven decision-making ensures that the transportation system is operated, maintained, and improved in the most efficient and effective way possible so that the right project is implemented in the right place and at the right time.
Objectives
- 3.a. Strategically align resources and emphasize integrating performance-based decision-making throughout the Department.
- 3.b. Use cost-effective techniques to maximize transportation investments.
- 3.c. Continue using performance measures to inform sound investment decisions.
- 3.d. Be agile in adapting to changing data needs over time.
- 3.e. Assess, expand, and improve data collection through technological means by processing, monitoring, using, reporting, and sharing data.
What are we doing now? Some Examples:
STRATEGY: Our Transportation Asset Management Plan identifies strategic investment decisions that will preserve and maintain the useful life of transportation assets over time.
IMPROVEMENT: WisDOT's MAPSS Performance Improvement Program focuses on five core goals and associated performance measures that guide us in achieving our mission "to provide leadership in the development and operation of a safe and efficient transportation system." We report our progress quarterly in summarized "scorecards" and improvement reports for each performance measure.
MAINTENENCE: WisDOT meets federal requirements for system performance and measurement by reporting at regular intervals information about our assets to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Goal 4: Increase options, connections, and mobility for people and goods
Mobility and transportation choices are at the core of an efficient and effective transportation system, which is critical to Wisconsin’s economic vitality and quality of life.
Objectives
- 4.a. Ensure adequate system mobility to support and enhance Wisconsin’s quality of life and economic competitiveness though system reliability, efficiency, and a resilient supply chain.
- 4.b. Enhance transportation equity, access, mobility, and safety.
- 4.c. Facilitate mode choice options that support transit use and active transportation such as bicycling and walking.
- 4.d. Close gaps and create an inter-connected network of transportation facilities to move people and goods safely and efficiently.
- 4.e. Promote and implement Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies to improve efficiency, equity, and access by developing a connected multimodal transportation system and reducing single occupancy vehicle travel.
What are we doing now? Some Examples:
OPTIONS: Options- WisDOT is currently working to identify how Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies may increase mode choice options, improve system efficiency, and improve transportation equity and access.
CONNECTIONS: WisDOT financially supports the Hiawatha rail service between Chicago and Milwaukee. Hiawatha, the busiest route in the Midwest, served a record 880,000passengers in 2019. As part of the Hiawatha Service program, an Amtrak ThruwayI-41 Bus Service connects with the Hiawatha in Milwaukee and provides two daily round-trip buses between Green Bay and Milwaukee, with stops in Appleton, Oshkosh, and Fond du Lac. Similar to the financial support for the Hiawatha Service, WisDOT will join other States in supporting the new Twin Cities – Milwaukee – Chicago (TCMC) intercity passenger rail service when it is implemented.
MOBILITY: WisDOT is currently updating the Wisconsin Bicycle Transportation Plan and Wisconsin Pedestrian Policy Plan, and combining them into the Wisconsin Active Transportation Plan 2050. The Active Transportation Plan will be a statewide long-range plan focused on human-powered modes of transportation, such as bicycling and walking.
Goal 5: Maximize technology benefits
Technological change occurs rapidly, and that trend is expected to continue from now through 2050. The purpose of this goal is to continue a proactive and agile approach to using new technologies that provide transportation benefits and increase the cost-effectiveness of transportation solutions.
Objectives
- 5.a. Identify opportunities to integrate transportation and technology that will support WisDOT’s vision.
- 5.b. Embrace technology and be agile in implementing technology-based solutions to improve all aspects of transportation including materials, safety, resiliency, operations, maintenance, and transportation system impacts on sensitive resources.
- 5.c. Use technology and data to maximize transportation investment benefits.
What are we doing now? Some Examples:
PROACTIVITY: We created the Wisconsin Automated Vehicle External Advisory Committee or WAVE in 2020 to gather input and advice about connected- and automated-vehicle-related planning priorities, policies, and impacts on the state’s transportation system.
AGILITY: Our Traffic Management Center monitors roadway conditions throughout the state from one location, allowing faster response for maintenance activities such as snowplow deployment, or emergency medical service for incidents.
EMBRACING: WisDOT installed a Truck Parking Information Management System or TPIMS that uses sensors and cameras to generate real-time information about truck parking availability. TPIMS enhances safety and efficiency, helping drivers plan their rest periods without having to exit the freeway.
Goal 6: Maximize transportation safety
WisDOT has always prioritized transportation safety. A safe transportation system benefits all of Wisconsin, whether by providing safe highways for freight movement and vehicular traffic, safe ways for pedestrians to cross roadways, or safe and secure airport facilities.
Objectives
- 6.a. Develop and maintain a system that is safe and secure.
- 6.b. Strategically align resources to make progress towards the goal of zero fatalities in Wisconsin.
- 6.c. Leverage data and technology to improve safety.
- 6.d. Research and implement innovative safety solutions that involve education, engineering, enforcement, emergency management, and everyone.
What are we doing now? Some Examples:
RESEARCH: Replacing traditional intersections with roundabouts where warranted reduces severe injury crashes while also reducing traffic delays. As of May 2021, Wisconsin has 440 roundabouts, 256 are on the state trunk highway (STH) system and 184 are on local highways.
STRATEGIZING: Centerline rumble strips have been shown to reduce head-on fatal and injury crashes by 44% on rural two-lane roads, and 64% on similar urban two-lane roads. Shoulder rumble strips, which alert drivers when their vehicle moves outside the driving lane, help lower fatal and injury lane-departure crashes by up to 29%.
FUNDING: The Wisconsin Highway Safety Improvement Program funds safety projects across the state such as intersection improvements, addressing sight-distance problems, eliminating roadside obstacles, and installing guardrails and barriers. The program, which also has a subprogram focusing on high-crash-risk rural roads, aims to reduce the number and severity of crashes on all streets and highways.
Goal 7: Maximize transportation system resiliency and reliability
Resiliency is defined as the ability for the transportation system to continue operating in the face of an obstacle. Reliability is defined as the ability to successfully and consistently move people and goods when impacted by congestion, inclement weather, crashes, etc. Reliability and resiliency typically go hand in hand; if the system is resilient, it will be reliable for users.
Objectives
- 7.a. Develop physical and operational systems that are adept at preventing, preparing for, and coordinating responses to any incident, whether natural or the result of human activity.
- 7.b. Emphasize system resiliency to reduce repair costs and improve safety and security.
- 7.c. Identify and assess risk-based solutions for system vulnerabilities.
What are we doing now? Some Examples:
EVALUATION: The Facilities Repeatedly Requiring Repair and Reconstruction or F4R program identifies and evaluates roadways and bridges with catastrophic damage from state emergency declarations on two or more occasions. These evaluations help assess repair and reconstruction costs relative to the likelihood of a future event, and present alternatives to consider.
COORDINATION: Our living snow fence program, designed to reduce blowing snow, contributes to a reliable system by incentivizing property owners to strategically plant trees and shrubs along roadways resulting in 50-75% fewer winter weather-related crashes.
RELIABILITY: We track traffic patterns throughout the state to improve travel time reliability, so drivers can rely on consistent drive times and traffic flow. In 2019, our Interstate highways were 94.9% reliable person-miles traveled.
Goal 8: Balance transportation needs with those of the natural environment, socioeconomic, historic, and cultural resources
The natural environment and Wisconsin’s cultural resources contribute greatly to our quality of life. We should develop and maintain the transportation system in a way that balances transportation needs with those of the landscapes in which transportation exists. Landscapes include the physical environment like waterways and forests, but also socioeconomic resources such as access to food.
Objectives
- 8.a. Develop a transportation system that avoids, minimizes, and compensates for environmental impacts.
- 8.b. Prioritize emissions reduction and alternative fuels to improve air quality.
- 8.c. Reduce waste and recycle materials during transportation projects.
- 8.d. Consider cultural, socioeconomic, and historic resources during the project development process.
- 8.e. Foster a safe and environmentally sensitive transportation system.
What are we doing now? Some Examples:
RESTORATION: Since beginning the wetland mitigation program in 1993, WisDOT projects have restored about 5,800 acres of wetlands in the state.
INFRASTRUCTURE: Electric vehicle and alternative-fuel vehicles are growing across Wisconsin. Our Interstate highways (I-39, 41, 43, 90, 94 and 535) and US 53 and 151 are designated Alternative Fuel Corridors, part of a federal program to create a national network of alternative-fueling and charging infrastructure.
ENVIRONMENTLALLY SENSETIVE: WisDOT secured nearly $3.0 million of grant funding in 2018 from the Federal Transit Administration’s Low or No Emission Program to acquire battery electric buses and charging equipment for four rural public transit agencies.
