Citing borrowing reductions and a stronger transportation fund, state Department of Transportation Secretary Mark Gottlieb lauded Gov. Scott Walker’s new budget and its boost to state highway maintenance.
Gottlieb, during his Tuesday appearance before the Milwaukee Rotary Club, applauded the new budget for facing “systemic problems head on” and believes that it will put the department and the state on firmer financial footing. He also credited the budget for maintaining critical services without raising fees and taxes in a difficult economic environment.
DOT currently draws about 90 percent of its revenue from registrations, representing an over-reliance on fees that Gottlieb is optimistic the new budget will alleviate.
“We hope this will open the door for a broader base of funding for the department and will result in a much more sustainable financial future,” said Gottlieb.
In terms of prioritizing that funding base, Gottlieb identified the Zoo Interchange as a top priority for the department, calling it “Wisconsin’s gateway to Illinois and the southern states.” He also noted that some work on I-94 stretching south toward the Illinois border will be pushed back to expedite the Zoo Interchange project.
– WisPolitics.com
