Economic development, Economic Evaluation of Highway Major Investment Program

Major highway development projects are initiated by WisDOT for some of the most costly, complex and potentially controversial highway improvement projects. As a rule, these projects represent long-term solutions to the most serious deficiencies on highly traveled segments of the highway system.

The majority of the majors' projects are funded from the transportation-bonding program and evaluated by the Legislature's Transportation Projects Commission (TPC). The Governor and Legislature must approve the recommended projects for statutory enumeration, i.e. authorization for construction. The evaluation process involves a ranking process based on safety and congestion, economic benefit and cost factors and intangibles such as community development and environmental impacts.

The evaluation of majors projects and economic development

The selection of major highway investment projects in Wisconsin is explicitly based upon the potential each project has to contribute to economic development. Highway infrastructure investments support economic growth most strongly through their impact on industrial productivity; good investments make regional industries more efficient by lowering their overall transportation costs. Projects are prioritized by their potential to increase the productivity of the specific industries along the corridors served by the projects.

A highway project with great potential for contributing to the productivity of the industries along the corridor will score higher than a project with less potential to boost the productivity of industries along its route. Through this type of analysis, the highway network in Wisconsin is designed to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of businesses in the state, allowing firms to increase output and hire new workers.

One example of a completed major highway project is the approximately eight-mile section of US Highway 45 between US Highway 41 near Oshkosh and County G in Winnebago County. This was a $38.4 million capacity expansion project designed to eliminate traffic congestion both now and in the future on this heavily-traveled route, and to improve safety and operational efficiency by controlling the access from driveways and side roads. This type of improvement reduces truck travel costs for all businesses using the road.

A project currently being studied is improvements to US 10/WIS 441. This highway is a vital regional transportation link serving the Fox Cities urban area including the Neenah, Menasha and Appleton metropolitan areas in Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago counties. WisDOT will evaluate the impacts of expanding US 10/WIS 441 from four to six lanes including the construction of an additional bridge over Little Lake Butte des Morts on the south side of the existing bridge. The expansion study will also review upgrading US 10/WIS 441 interchanges. The economic evaluation of the project reveals that the Fox Valley area is fast becoming urbanized with increases in population and business development. The economic development organizations are especially strong in the region, resulting in some of the more aggressive efforts toward economic development.

For additional information regarding the economic evaluation process, contact Robert Russell, Bureau of Planning, (608) 266-2961.

US Highway 12 in Madison, Wisconsin

US Highway 12 in Madison