The Joint Committee on Finance unanimously approved Gov. Jim Doyle’s request to delegate $42.5 million to local transportation projects Tuesday.
The projects are the first local projects to be funded by a share of Wisconsin’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.
Nineteen bridge projects, totaling $8,192,400, and 30 road, bridge and transportation enhancement projects, costing an estimated $34,262,700, matched the federal guidelines to receive stimulus funds.
Companies will begin bidding on the 19 bridge projects as early as April, according to a Doyle statement released last week
“Gov. Doyle and republicans agreed because these projects are necessary for each region, and we need to start them as quickly as we could,” said Rep. Robin Vos, R-Racine.
Vos added though the projects were approved unanimously, there was disagreement on how to keep funding the project in case of more financial support, including a gas tax increase of seven to nine cents per gallon.
Vos said the increase would not be appropriate now given the current economic climate of the state.
Lawmakers expressed hope the increase in highway construction jobs would help decrease overall unemployment rate throughout the state.
“Multiplier of putting this money into the economy will [make] a lot of work for the people, and [would] get more money to spend, I certainly hope,” said John Anderson, spokesperson for Sen. Mark Miller, D-Monona, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Finance. “Everyone recognizes this opportunity to create more jobs throughout the state. And this is only the first round of the number of projects from the federal stimulus money.”
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation worked in conjunction with local governments to help identify the projects. The DOT is currently conducting a second state of solicitations to help identify additional local projects throughout the state.
About 30 percent, or $158 million, of the $529 million the state received from the stimulus package is available for local projects, according to a statement by Doyle.
The city of Madison will receive funds to enhance the Starkweather Creek bike/pedestrian trail on the east side.
