1/21/25, WisPolitics – by Debby Jackson, Executive Director of the Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin
With a new administration in Washington and a slew of new legislators in Madison, there are burgeoning opportunities for investment, innovation, infrastructure development, and long-term sustainable transportation financing solutions that could redefine the future of transportation in Wisconsin and the nation.
At TDA, we advance multimodal transportation strategies, aiming to balance the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and business interests that rely on the air, waterways, and ground transportation to get products to market and workers and customers where they need to go.
Under the Biden-Harris administration, there was a clear focus on sustainable transportation. For example, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law channeled over $110 million into Madison’s East-West Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, highlighting a commitment to enhancing public transit with clean, efficient solutions like battery-electric buses. This investment aims to alleviate congestion and connect key economic corridors in Madison, offering faster, more reliable service to residents and visitors alike.
The federal push towards green transportation opened doors for businesses in the electric vehicle (EV) sector, from manufacturers to charging infrastructure providers. Companies willing to innovate in battery technology, electric bus production, or EV charging stations potentially found fertile ground for growth, supported by federal grants and incentives designed to meet ambitious climate goals.
With a new Administration comes different priorities. I recently read an industry expert’s blog which said that one area to watch is automated vehicle (AV) policy. Another difference will be an important new player. Former Wisconsin congressman Sean Duffy is President Trump’s Secretary-designee for the Department of Transportation, with hearings scheduled this week. Even in the acrimonious waters of DC, pundits expect Congress to confirm his appointment. His home-grown understanding of Wisconsin’s needs should serve us well.
Regardless of the administration, the State of Wisconsin and communities have and will aggressively pursue federal discretionary grants, like those for Metro Transit or the City of Madison’s John Nolan bridges. TDA expects this strategic approach to leveraging national funds for local benefit to continue.
The influx of dozens of new legislators at the Capitol in Madison also presents opportunities. However, we didn’t wait until the elections to build new relationships and explain the vital role transportation plays in every sector of the state’s economy. In October 2024, TDA and its partners hosted about 150 people, including more than 20 legislators and candidates, at four regional transportation roundtables. At these forums, we discussed transportation infrastructure accomplishments, opportunities, challenges, and the impacts on local communities and the state’s economy.
These meetings confirmed once again that transportation brings us together–literally and figuratively. We all got to the meetings somehow—by bus, bike, car, or foot. And despite the election season, the discussions were substantive and productive, reinforcing that transportation is not a partisan issue. It is a safety issue and an economic issue, and it is about enhancing the well-being of everyone in Wisconsin.
But good transportation doesn’t just happen. Wisconsin’s transportation system is massive and requires constant planning, investment, and maintenance.
In recent years, with increased investment at the state and federal levels, we have made some progress in stabilizing system conditions and, in some cases, improving conditions. We have seen the launch of new services like the BRT in Madison and Amtrak’s Borealis—the first new passenger rail service in the state in over 20 years. Note: If you haven’t tried the new BRT in Madison or the Borealis, you should, but that is for another blog.
But without constant vigilance, it would be easy to lose momentum and put all our gains at risk.
Wisconsin’s transportation fees – the gas tax and vehicle registration fee – are fixed and flat – per gallon or vehicle. The revenue generated doesn’t increase with the price of gas or the cost of a car, like a percentage-based sales tax. So, Wisconsin’s transportation fund isn’t equipped to deal with inflation, especially the historically high construction inflation we’ve seen in recent years. And while EVs are not likely to make up a large portion of cars on Wisconsin’s roads any time soon, we know increasingly efficient gas-powered vehicles will continue to put downward pressure on Wisconsin’s gas tax. Local communities also face many competing priorities, making it challenging to provide the transportation connects their residents require.
Our transportation system’s needs are as dynamic as the economy and communities it supports. However, adequate and equitable funding is a perennial issue.
As we kickoff 2025, we have the opportunity to create a future where Wisconsin thrives through the spirit of partnership and cooperation.
Futurists envision Hyperloop systems that someday link major cities, cutting travel times dramatically. Autonomous vehicles might one day share the roads in Wisconsin, ensuring safer, more accessible travel for all. With a commitment to innovation and collaboration, Wisconsin’s potential is limitless.
But the immediate challenge is much more modest.
We need to keep Wisconsin moving and keep us all safe, whether we’re on a bike, or in a car, truck, bus, plane or train.