How a Project Becomes a

ProjectMichelle Ellias

DOT SW Region Programming Engineer

DNR/DOT Meeting December 4, 2012

DOT Planning & Programming

Planning & Programming What’s the difference? Planning—corridor and majors studies, long

range planning, jurisdictional transfers, bike/ped coordination

Programming—manage allocated budget, 6-10 year window, projects in design/construction

Southwest Region Area: 12,466 square miles Counties: 16 Towns: 322 Villages: 144 Cities: 58 Population: 1,204,163 Bridges: 4,205 Roadway miles: 25,516

6-year program meetings

Provide the public and officials opportunity to: review current projects in program and provide

comments identify needs and express concerns or suggestions

regarding potential (future) highway projects

Majors ProgramMajor Highway Project (Sec. 84.013, Wis. Stats.)

Total Cost more than $30 million, and one of the following:

Constructing a New Highway for 2.5 miles or more Adding lanes for 5 miles or more Converting expressway to freeway for 10 miles or more

The Department may not construct contiguous projects within 6 years, which when combined would meet the Major Project definition

Majors ProgramTransportation Projects Commission (Sec. 13.489, Wis. Stats.)

Governor – serves as chairperson 5 Senators – 3 from the majority party and 2 from the minority party 5 Representatives – 3 from the majority party and 2 from the minority party 3 citizen members Secretary of Transportation – serves as non-voting member

Majors ProgramTransportation Projects CommissionPLANNING (STUDY) PHASE

Gives approval to WisDOT’s recommendations for studying potential major highway projects through the final EIS/EA stage

DESIGN (PROJECT) PHASE Reviews projects having gone through the final EIS/EA stage Has the authority to conduct public hearings on potential major highway

projects Submits its recommendations for approval/disapproval to the governor,

the legislature and joint committee on finance The governor and legislature enact legislation to list (enumerate)

major highway projects in s. 84.013(3), Wis. Stats.

Backbone System The Backbone System

connects major economic areas of the state

3R System “3R”: resurface, recondition,

reconstruct The 3R System consists of

existing (non-Backbone System) state highways

Does not include county or town roadways

3R Functional Roadway Classifications

Backbone Connector Routes (US 14 - La Crosse to Madison; US 12; STH 26)

ArterialsPrincipal (US 18 – Prairie du Chien to Madison; STH 11/81)Minor (STH 133 – Cassville to Potosi; STH 33 – Portage to Fox Lake)

Collectors Major & Minor (STH 89 -Waterloo to Columbus; STH 188 –

STH 60 to CTH V, south of Merrimac)

Priority order for 3R corridors• 1) Structurally deficient Bridges & Culverts• 2) Connector Backbone Routes• 3) Other Principal Arterials• 4) Any other roadway over 5,000 ADT• 5) All other STH in any size municipality • 6) Minor Arterials• 7) All other Collectors

Review Deficiencies Safety Pavement & Structure Data Mobility

Input/Information Gathering State/County/Local Officials Operations Staff Citizens

Roadway Classification

New Projects

Traffic & Maintenance

Public

County & Local Officials

Legislators

Crash History

Mobility Need

Pavement Data

Structure Data

New Project set up Establish project ID, write CDR (concept

definition report) Distribute CDR to internal parties/outside

agencies/FHWA Schedule and hold scoping meeting to

better define concept of work before turning project over to project development staff