Expert says Wisconsin shouldn’t count on D.C. to solve transportation problem

4/6/18 – WSAW-TW (Wausau)

Congress may be on the verge of tackling a plan to help states pay for bigger road projects.

Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) said President Donald Trump’s infrastructure investment plan won’t go far enough in helping Wisconsin. She said that’s because state and local governments would still foot most of the bill for federally approved projects.

Baldwin said, “Our localities in our state are strapped for infrastructure dollars.”

Craig Thompson, the executive director of the Wisconsin-based Transportation Development Association, says the state should not be waiting for D.C. to solve its problems.

Thompson said, “I don’t think there’s any way the federal government is going to bail out Wisconsin. The federal government may give a helping hand to Wisconsin, if Wisconsin is willing to step up and help itself.”

Congress returns from its two-week recess on Monday – but it’s unclear if and when the infrastructure debate will pickup momentum.