Wisconsin Transportation Funding Woes Go Before President Trump

MADISON, WI — As Wisconsin lawmakers grapple over how to fund the state's transportation system, Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) is participating in the White House Infrastructure Summit Thursday afternoon.

The Racine County representative joins other state and local leaders at the event on the nation’s infrastructure during the White House Infrastructure Week. The summit will include a roundtable discussion with President Trump.

“It’s an honor to have been invited to this important discussion on the nation’s infrastructure and to represent Wisconsin’s interests in that discussion. The state’s infrastructure is falling into disrepair and we need a long-term, sustainable solution to fund our transportation needs,” he said in a written statement.

Construction Season And Construction Funding Season Begins

Memorial Day has come and gone, which means that as construction season begins, an intensified fight in the State Capitol building over transportation funding takes center stage.

Depending on who you ask, Wisconsin's shortfall is either in the neighborhood of $400 million or as much as $1 billion. Politics will do that.

Lawmakers are interested in plugging the state's shortfall with increased taxes and fees to make up the difference, but Gov. Walker opposes such measures, including raising the gas tax. Walker has countered that now might be the time to consider a long-term toll road approach.

A Road Divided

Gov. Walker and the legislature are deeply divided on how to fund transportation, with lawmakers saying Walker isn't doing enough to keep existing projects on schedule.

Walker has come out and said he is against increases in gas taxes or registration fees. The Governor has said he is open to introducing toll roads this week as a way to come up with the necessary funding - as long as they're taxing people coming into the state (this means you, Illinois).

"If (Wisconsin drivers) saw some relief and the people coming out of Chicago or Rockford or elsewhere helped where they're used to that — again I'm not promoting that — but that's something we could live with," Walker said in a Journal Sentinel report.

Still, it would take approval from the Federal Government, costly infrastructure upgrades and several years to see a benefit to tolling roads.

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