Wisconsin Department of Transportation 2016 – 2019 STIP Statewide Transportation Improvement Program Prepared in accordance with 23 U.S.C. Sections 134 and 135 January 2016 Introduction This Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) is intended to satisfy the requirements of 23 U.S.C. Sections 134 and 135 and their implementing regulations 23 CFR 450 and 49 CFR 613. This STIP has been prepared in accordance with joint FHWA/FTA regulations (23 CFR Part 450 and 49 CFR Part 613) accounting for related statutory changes in Public Law 112-141 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act. Public Law 114-94 Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST) was enacted on December 4, 2015. At this time federal-aid apportionments and program direction incorporating the FAST Act have not been issued. Provisions impacting this STIP will be incorporated in amendments as information becomes available during the program year. All current project fund commitments anticipated by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) during the four-year period from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2019 are listed. The projects programmed in the STIP have been reviewed and prioritized by WisDOT in accordance with system asset management principles except as follows. In urbanized areas with populations of 200,000 or greater (Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton, Green Bay and Wisconsin portions of the Round Lake Beach, IL and Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN areas), federally funded projects off of the National Highway System (NHS) have been reviewed and prioritized by the respective Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). In urbanized areas with populations between 50,000 and 200,000, federally funded projects off of the NHS and State Trunk Highway Network (STN) have been reviewed and prioritized by the respective MPOs. Projects in areas with populations between 5,000 and 50,000 off of the NHS and STN have been reviewed, prioritized, and approved under WisDOT’s formula based entitlement process. The 2016-2019 STIP is based on anticipated state and federal funds. This overall multi-modal STIP reflects WisDOT’s currently approved state and local programs within the limits of apportioned federal aid. All projects in the 2016-2019 timeframe are affordable and selected for implementation. Any subsequent changes in the project listing involving the addition or deletion of projects or significant changes in project schedule or estimated cost will be processed in accordance with the STIP amendment process outlined herein prior to requesting obligation of federal funds on the project. ______________________________________________________________________________ 2016 - 2019 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program Certifications STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROCESS CERTIFICATION In accordance with 23 CFR 450.218, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation hereby certifies that its statewide transportation planning process is addressing major issues facing the State and its non-urbanized areas, and is being carried out in accordance with the following requirements: (1) 23 U.S.C. 134 and 135, 49 U.S.C. 5303 and 5304, and this part; (2) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000d–1) and 49 CFR part 21; (3) 49 U.S.C. 5332, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, or age in employment or business opportunity; (4) Section 1101(b) of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) (P.L. 114-94), and 49 CFR Part 26 regarding the involvement of disadvantaged business enterprises in the US DOT funded projects; (5) 23 CFR part 230, regarding implementation of an equal employment opportunity program on Federal and Federal-aid highway construction contracts; (6) The provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) and 49 CFR parts 27, 37, and 38; (7) In non-attainment and maintenance areas, sections 174 and 176 (c) and (d) of the Clean Air Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 7504, 7506 (c) and (d)) and 40 CFR part 93; (8) The Older Americans Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 6101), prohibiting discrimination on the basis of age in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance; (9) Section 324 of title 23 U.S.C., regarding the prohibition of discrimination based on gender; and (10) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) and 49 CFR part 27 regarding discrimination against individuals with disabilities. ______________________________________________________________________________ 2016 - 2019 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program Contents STIP contents are referenced by tabs as follows: Tab 1 – Financial Plan and Financial Summary Table Tab 2 – STIP Financial Summary Tab 3 – Obligation Plan and Funding Table Tab 4 – MPO TIP Approvals and Wisconsin MPO Map Tab 5 – Federal Transit Assistance Programs and Wisconsin Transit System Map Tab 6 – Federal Railroad Administration Program and Intercity Passenger Rail Projects Tab 7 – Roadway & Bridge Improvement Programs Tab 8 – Federal Lands Transportation Improvement Programs Tab 9 – Public Involvement Tab 10 – Summary of Comments Received on the Draft STIP Tab 11 – STIP Amendments ______________________________________________________________________________ 2016 - 2019 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program Financial Plan The Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) financial plan addresses fiscal constraint requirements of the current federal-aid surface transportation act. In managing implementation of the transportation improvement program, WisDOT will exercise the authority to refinance projects among federal, state, and local funds, and to reschedule projects within the four years of the STIP to maintain fiscal constraint. All four years of the STIP are fiscally constrained within Wisconsin’s state fiscal years (July 1-June 30). Revenue Assumptions The Wisconsin Department of Transportation annual budget is set biennially through the State of Wisconsin’s budget process. State fiscal year 2016 is from 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, the State of Wisconsin’s 2015-2017 Biennial Budget authorizing federal, state, and local funding for this year. Since Wisconsin’s budget is approved for only two years at a time, this analysis assumes the budget approved for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2016 will be held constant for SFY17-SFY19. The federal fund revenue approved in 2015 Wisconsin Act 55 and included in this plan is $727 million for SFY16. Since SFY17-SFY19 budget amounts are held constant, future budgets are not increased; however, for planning purposes, the program schedule is set by applying an inflation rate to projects in the second, third, and fourth years to account for costs in year of expenditure. WisDOT does not assume that a future state legislature will commit higher project revenues than exists in the approved biennial budget. Therefore, when doing an all funds (federal, state, and local) analysis, WisDOT uses only resources approved in the most recent biennial budget except where noted. Any future legislative budget action that impacts revenue or programming will be accounted for in Amendments to the STIP. Wisconsin law allows the Department to allot additional local revenue authority on an as-needed basis depending on the summation of local municipal agreement revenue received within the fiscal year. Similarly, it is the Department’s policy to allot additional federal authority to programs in which federal funds are programmed. A new federal transportation bill was passed, Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, in December 2015. Specific funding amounts and other changes will be included in next year’s update. Local Programs The programs directed at the locally owned system face unique challenges due to the wide range of owners. The department is working closely with local partners to formalize change management and programming strategies to reduce the movement of projects between fiscal years. In the past few years, the department has implemented project ‘sunsets’ as a management strategy to reduce project movement in programs like Transportation Alternatives (290). Wisconsin has the flexibility to allocate funds between subprograms within overall programming to balance under and over-programming each biennium in the four year STIP period. We routinely do this formally during the current fiscal year. However, because of local project movement, there may be periods of time where one year or program is over programmed, and another year or program is under programmed. We may also briefly experience a greater dollar amount in the schedule due to estimate changes and project slippage. ______________________________________________________________________________ 2016 - 2019 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program 1-1 We are currently over-programmed in the Transportation Alternatives Program (290). The Department tries to avoid moving projects out because lining up the necessary local match can be a challenge. We have very clear program guidance regarding available funding. To remain fiscally constrained projects are rescheduled or funds are transferred between programs. Program Cost and Schedule Assumptions WisDOT’s Financial Integrated Improvement Programming System (FIIPS) reflects estimates of transportation improvement project costs in current 2016 year dollars. To change these values to federally mandated year of expenditure amounts for this publication, FY17-FY19 project cost estimates in the Financial Plan table have been