GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Governor Tony Evers in Green Bay Wednesday afternoon promoting the transportation money put into his two-year state budget. That includes a new grant program aimed at helping local road projects.
Evers filled potholes on Adams Street, trying to show on a smaller scale what could be fixed with the new $75 million program.
“This is a down payment and we anticipate going forward we need a better revenue source for that.”
The revenue source is an increase to title and registration fees, set to take effect in October.
The Republican-controlled legislature originally had the grant money allocated for the Local Roads Improvement Program. But, with his veto pen, Evers created the new grant program.
“When it’s one-time money, it can be put into specific projects instead of being put into a formula,” said Joel Nilsestuen, assistant deputy secretary of the DOT.
Republicans have said the formula for the Local Roads Improvement Program would have ensured a more equal distribution of the money.
Of the $75 million, about $26 million is expected to go toward county projects, $19 million for villages and cities, and $29 million for town projects.
“You’d see road improvement projects, bridges, local streets, possibly transit programs,” said Nilsestuen. “It really could have a broad impact.”
Steve Grenier, the public works director for Green Bay, tells FOX 11 he’s hoping some of that money can go to other infrastructure needs.
“We’re hopeful this will also include infrastructure that is below the pavement, so the sewer systems, the water mains, that kind of thing to help with that type of infrastructure as well.”
Grenier says the city won’t pick specific projects to target the state money with until the DOT releases its criteria for how projects will be selected.
Evers tells FOX 11 economic development will be a main factor.
“This is about economic development, getting our products from point A to point B.”
According to the DOT, a panel of its staff and what it calls outside stakeholders will decide what projects receive money.
The program will pay up to 90 percent of total eligible costs with local governments providing the rest.
