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Wisconsin DOT Releases First State Freight Transportation Plan

400-Page Report Setting Long-Term Goals, Evaluates Railroads, Airports, Waterways, Highways

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Semi-trailer truck
Morry Gash/AP Photo

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation released a draft of the state’s first plan for the future of freight transportation.

The proposal, released Thursday, meets new national standards for transportation planning.

The National Highway Freight Program was created through federal legislation in December and requires states to develop a plan for freight systems across all modes of transportation in order to be eligible for federal funding.

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The bill, Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, provides $305 billion from 2015 to 2020, and requires states’ freight plans to be updated every five years, according to the DOT proposal.

The DOT’s 400-page report evaluates the state’s railroads, airports, waterways and highways and sets long-term goals for the system.

“Our goals are to enhance safety, security and be resilient in the way that we do that,” Donna Brown-Martin, Bureau Director for Planning and Economic Development in Wisconsin, said. “We want to ensure that we preserve our systems and we want to enhance our mobility operations and efficiency and connectivity.”

Some of the goals include improving the reliability of freight transportation, reducing the negative environmental effects freight movement has and using technology to improve security, safety and efficiency.

The state’s transportation system supports more than five million people, about 109,000 shippers and 230,000 businesses, according to the proposal.

The plan “identifies policies, strategies and projects that advance WisDOT’s vision of a multimodal freight transportation system that enhances the state’s economic productivity, competitiveness and quality of life through the movement of goods safely, reliably and efficiently, while minimizing impacts to the natural environment,” the plan states.

Daily transportation supports economic growth, recreation and generates about $300 billion in the state’s economy, according to the proposal.

The DOT is hosting public information meetings across the state to collect feedback on the plan next month.

The drafted freight plan has a 45-day public comment period ending Nov. 14. Comments can be sent to freightplan@dot.wi.gov, or call 608-266-9476.