Department of Transportation

Recipient:  City of Janesville
Location: Janesville
Amount: $3,065,000

Description:  The City of Janesville/Janesville Transit System proposes to replace its current Transit Operations and Maintenance facility, which is 49 years old, with a new facility designed to accommodate the needs of the community for the next 30 years or more.  The current facility has exceeded its capacity in terms of the ability to store and maintain the bus fleet and accommodate the Transit System Staff.  Most of the building mechanical systems in the current facility have reached the end of their useful lives and require replacement or major overhaul now or within the next 2 – 3 years for the Transit System to continue to operate.  The City has undertaken a needs analysis and feasibility study, conducted by a consultant and funded by FTA planning funds to determine the basic parameters for a new facility, to include required sizes for bus storage, maintenance and administration, site planning and layout, and potential building equipment.  Based on the results of this study, the Janesville City Council has given the City Administration authorization to proceed with the project, and has appropriated funding to pay for the needs analysis and other studies associated with the project, purchase the property for the building completely with local funds, fund the local share of Architecture, Design and Engineering work for the facility, and a first installment on the local share of the construction cost.    

Recipient:  City of Madison
Location: Madison
Amount:  $2,000,000

Description:  The CTH S (Mineral Point Road) and CTH M / Junction Road Intersection is one of the most congested intersections in the City of Madison.  The University of Wisconsin has proposed to develop a Research Park directly adjacent to the intersection.  The Research Park will provide high tech jobs for the Madison Area.  The current intersection however, can not handle the volume of traffic using it today.  Without an improved intersection, it is unlikely that businesses will decide to locate in the UW Research Park.  The City of Madison is proposing a transportation project that will serve all modes of transportation including motor vehicles, transit, bikes and pedestrians.  Included in the design will be a bicycle/pedestrian only overpass with ramps to get down to grade.  The overpass will allow cyclists/pedestrians to safely cross Mineral Point Road (~70,000 vehicles per day in design year) with no conflict points.

Recipient:  City of Madison
Location: Madison
Amount: $2,000,000

Description:  This funding would be spent on the initial Design and Engineering of an Administration/Maintenance Facility to replace Metro’s Administrative/Maintenance Facility.  Based on a Facility Needs Analysis Study performed in 2005, several areas of the current facility raised concern.  The bus storage area is inadequate. The facility was constructed to house a 150-bus fleet. Metro currently stores 227 buses. Overcrowding creates operational and personnel problems. The fleet size is expected to expand to 285 buses within the next twenty years.  Also, aging and inadequate mechanical systems require major maintenance. The current bus circulation pattern and the limited length of the Bus Service Area pose safety concerns and need to be addressed.  Finally, administrative functions are currently housed in a leased building separate from the Maintenance facility, creating ineffective communication during daily activities and hindering the ability to share resources, materials, and support staff.

Recipient: Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Location: Madison
Amount: $1,500,000

Description: This funding will allow Wisconsin to make the necessary safety improvements to rail/highway crossings on a federally designated high speed rail corridor. High speed passenger rail service will be established from Chicago to Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin and eventually to the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul), Minnesota.

Recipient:  Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Location:  Madison
Amount:  $10,000,000

Description:  This project is part of a multi-year improvement to reconstruct IH 94 from the Illinois/Wisconsin state line to the Mitchell Interchange (junction with IH 43 and IH 894) in southeastern Wisconsin, including the STH 119 Airport Spur to General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee. The project involves numerous improvements in the 35-mile corridor including: expanding capacity from three to four lanes in both northbound and southbound directions; providing consistent inside and outside shoulders; and, constructing a paved median with a concrete barrier. It includes updating outdated designs, including: the Mitchell Interchange's mix of left and right hand entrances/exits; quick merging and weaving necessary at the 27th Street and airport exits; and scissor ramps that cross entering/exiting traffic with frontage road traffic in Racine and Kenosha Counties.

The corridor is an economic lifeline to tourism, trucking, residents, multimodal connections and businesses. It serves as an integral gateway to the state of Wisconsin and as a multimodal link to two airports and Amtrak. The overall project will provide employment opportunities in the design and construction of the project and will improve economic development opportunities in the area surrounding the project. It will address safety issues, bridge deficiencies, and pavement deficiencies within the project’s limits. It will also address congestion problems and improve bicycle/pedestrian facilities within the project’s limits.

Recipient:  Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Location:  Madison
Amount:  $5 million

Description:  This project will involve multiple improvements to USH 12 in Sauk City, WI.  These improvements include: expanding USH 12 from 2 to 4 lanes with a two-way left turn lane between Lueders Road and Water Street; adding a left turn lane at Madison Street; constructing new sidewalk and bicycle lanes within the project limits; and making numerous aesthetic improvements, including constructing colored concrete medians, and adding new benches, trash receptacles, bicycle racks, and planters within the project limits.  The project will provide employment opportunities in the design and construction of the project; improve economic development opportunities in the area surrounding the project and address safety issues within the project’s limits.

Recipient:  Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Location: Madison
Amount:  $10 million

Description:  This project is part of a multi-year improvement to expand USH 14 to a four-lane divided highway between Westby, WI and Viroqua, WI.  The requested funding is for work planned in the corridor in FFY2011, including:  expanding the roadway from two to four lanes; improving pavement conditions in the corridor; extending four (4) box culverts and adding one new tunnel structure in the corridor; adding right and left turn lanes at all intersections in the corridor; constructing a multi-use path between Westby and Viroqua; and upgrading an existing rest area and providing access between the facility and the new multi-use path.  The project will provide employment opportunities in the design and construction of the project and improve economic development opportunities in the area surrounding the project. The project will address safety issues and pavement deficiencies within the project’s limits and provide improved bicycle/pedestrian facilities within the project’s limits.

Recipient: Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Location: Madison
Amount: $10 million

Project Description:  The project is a multi-year improvement to upgrade a 17-mile section of U.S. Highway 41 near Oshkosh, WI.  The project is needed to address numerous deficiencies in the corridor that prevent the roadway from being fully functional.  The existing roadway was originally designed for rural traffic volumes. Over time, however, increasing development, tourism and trucking have led to increased congestion in the corridor and growing safety concerns.  The project involves many improvements in the corridor including: upgrading the existing four-lane roadway to a six-lane facility; upgrading seven interchanges along the route to modern design standards; lengthening on-ramps for future ramp meters; upgrading bicycle/pedestrian facilities; and investigating locations for future Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).  The project will provide employment opportunities in the design and construction of the project. It will improve economic development opportunities in the area surrounding the project. The project will address safety issues, pavement and bridge deficiencies and congestion problems within the project’s limits.  It will also provide improved bicycle/pedestrian facilities within the project’s limits.

Recipient: Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Location:  Madison
Amount: $10,000,000

Description:  This program will provide transit buses and smaller transit vehicles to replace equipment which has exceeded the useful life standards.  In addition, funds will be used to provide bus shelters and other maintenance and equipment replacement needs. Public transportation is important to the economic and social well-being of individuals and the economic health of communities.  Maintaining and improving the infrastructure that supports public transportation projects is necessary for these projects to continue to provide needed benefits to communities and individuals.

Recipient:  Wisconsin Department of Transportation on behalf of New Richmond Regional Airport
Location:  Madison
Amount:  $1,800,000

Description: This project at the New Richmond Regional Airport includes reimbursement for land acquisition, additional land acquisition and settlement for runway approaches and for hangar area development. The project is part of a multi-phased effort to provide a strengthened 5500-foot runway, parallel taxiway and all-weather navigational system at the airport.  Approximately 161 aircraft are based in privately owned hangars, including 22 multi-engine aircraft and four jets.  A 2001 economic impact study estimates that airport provided over $6.4 million in economic output, supported 118 jobs, and contributed over $2.7 million in personal income to St. Croix County.  The project will play a key role in the efforts to support current users and attract businesses to the area and continue to draw general aviation traffic from northwestern Wisconsin and the greater Minneapolis area. 

Recipient: Wisconsin Department of Transportation on behalf of Outagamie County Regional Airport
Location: Madison
Amount:  $2,100,000

Description: The project at Outagamie County Regional Airport will reconstruct the north half of Taxiway B and rehabilitation/upgrade the taxiway lighting. The project’s primary purpose is to improve airport safety. The parallel taxiway for the primary air carrier runway has significant cracking at the corners of the joints and requires continued maintenance.  The cracked pavement must be repaired to help prevent foreign object damage to propellers and jet turbines.   The lighting system and associated cable for the taxiway was constructed in 1968.  The cable is buried directly in the ground and needs to be enclosed in conduit.  This will increase reliability and reduce annual maintenance costs. Outagamie County Airport serves the Fox Cities area, the third largest metropolitan area in Wisconsin and one of the fastest growing. Outagamie County Airport is Wisconsin’s third largest air cargo airport, transporting 10 million pounds of cargo (freight and mail) annually.  The airport generates $108 million in annual direct economic sales, 1,271 full-time jobs and $54 million in annual direct wages to the region and state economy.

Recipient: Wisconsin Department of Transportation on behalf of Prairie du Chien Airport
Location: Madison
Amount: $1,000,000

Description:  The project at the Prairie du Chien airport will reconstruct Runway 11/29 and widen Taxiway A; in addition, the project includes the rehabilitation/upgrade of runway lighting. The project’s primary purpose is to improve airport safety. The airport’s runway was last reconstructed in 1984. The pavement inspection report categorized the runway as “fair,” citing alligator, transverse and longitudinal cracking. This pavement is at the end of its useful life and must be repaved along with the adjacent taxiways.  The taxiways must be widened to meet the FAA standard of 35 feet (currently 25 feet wide) to accommodate the wider wheel gears of aircraft using the airport.

Recipient: Wisconsin Department of Transportation on behalf of Wittman Regional Airport
Location: Madison
Amount: $2,000,000

Description:  The project includes the reconstruction of Wittman Regional Airport’s terminal ramp and taxiway for safety purposes.  The pavement condition index, a detailed evaluation of the pavement, targets 2009-2010 for pavement replacement. The pavement is at the point where reconstruction is more cost-effective than routine maintenance.  New pavement will provide a smoother and safer surface for a growing corporate and general aviation aircraft base year round and, particularly, during EAA’s key annual event, AirVenture. This work is part of a long-term plan to keep the airport maintained to a safe standard.  The airport is a non-primary airport so passenger facility charges or other revenues available to primary airports of similar size are not available.

Department of Housing and Urban Development 

Recipient: Center for Veterans Issues, Ltd.
Location: Milwaukee
Amount: $500,000

Description: Funding will be used to construct a food service training facility within the Veterans Manor Apartment Building to provide extensive job-training and placement services for low-income veterans. The facility will prepare 2500-3000 meals daily to be distributed to satellite operations, such as the Milwaukee Public Schools, or consumed on site. Trainees will come from the ranks of unemployed veterans referred by the Center for Veterans Issues Supportive Housing Program. Construction of Veterans Manor is expected to finish in mid-2011.

Recipient: City of Madison
Location: Madison
Amount: $500,000

Description: Funding will be used for construction of the Madison Public Market, a year-round facility to compliment the nationally recognized outdoor Dane County Farmers Market. The 41,000 square foot facility will generate almost $2 million in new agriculture income for hundreds of Wisconsin farmers. The need for this facility was first documented seven years ago in a study by the City of Madison and several agriculture groups. The City of Madison followed-up with a business plan and feasibility study in 2007, resulting in a preferred site for construction in downtown Madison.

Recipient: City of Milwaukee Housing Authority
Location: Milwaukee
Amount: $500,000

Description: Westlawn is the largest public housing development in Wisconsin, with over 75 acres and 726 public housing units. This distressed housing will be revitalized through the development of a mixed use, mixed income community. Westlawn shares many problems typical of housing projects from its era – poor site design, barracks-style buildings in non-standard patterns on oddly-configured blocks, and large, ambiguously defined open spaces and parking areas that cause security challenges. The units are small, poorly configured and completely inaccessible to the disabled. Federal funds will be used for predevelopment activities, including abatement and deconstruction activities that will provide opportunities for an estimated 20 youth and young adults. Expediting this predevelopment work is crucial to an award of low-income housing tax credits needed for the comprehensive revitalization.

Recipient: Milwaukee Dept. of City Development
Location: Milwaukee
Amount: $500,000

Description: The Woodlands is a 576-unit development offering an affordable homeownership option for low-income families. Declining neighborhood conditions had caused many owners to move out and the development became predominantly rental, seriously undermining the viability of The Woodlands and making it a blight on the surrounding neighborhood. The federal funds will be used to make physical improvements to make the development more livable for residents by increasing green space, improving security, creating common areas, and improving stormwater management. This project is part of a substantial investment in time, effort, and resources by the Milwaukee Department of City Development to revitalize The Woodlands. This investment is already showing returns, as crime is down and owner occupancy has increased from 100 to over 200 units.

Recipient: Town of Madison
Location: Madison
Amount: $500,000

Description: The Novation Technology Campus is working to revitalize one of the poorest neighborhoods in Dane County by bringing well-paying jobs to the area and commercial development to generate economic activity. To date, seven buildings have been completed, including a job training center, and 1300 permanent jobs are now committed to the campus. The current phase of the project is an office building which will house 350 additional full-time jobs when completed. Federal funds are needed to make this project economically viable due to the environmental challenges of the brownfield site, which was previously two solid waste landfills. These funds will support site preparation and foundation for the difficult soil conditions and surface and underground infrastructure. The Federal funds will leverage at least $15,000,000 in private investment.

Recipient: United Community Center
Location: Milwaukee
Amount: $2,600,000

Description: The Olga Village is an innovative model for delivering community-based services by combining independent residential units with culturally and linguistically appropriate supportive services designed specifically for Hispanic elderly. Funding will be used to construct a senior center within Olga Village in order to reach a broader clientele of Milwaukee seniors through enhanced and expanded services, facilitate the use of existing campus space in a more cohesive format, and contribute to state and national research studies related to Hispanic elderly. The Senior Center will reduce isolation and depression among the elderly that leads to a decline in health, which in turn increases the burden on the health care system. The Senior Center will include a health center, meals, transportation, social, recreational, and intergenerational activities.  The energy efficient facility will feature geothermal heating and cooling systems, solar panels, lighting occupancy sensors, and other innovations that will result in near-zero carbon emissions. Ground was broken in September 2009 and the project is expected to be completed by August 2011.

Recipient: United Way of Dane County
Location: Madison
Amount: $300,000

Description: Funding will be used to construct two facilities to provide housing and services for homeless men and women. The Safe Haven building will provide temporary housing and intensive services for 14 chronically homeless individuals with severe and persistent mental illness to help them transition into stable long-term housing. The Nekoosa Trail Supportive Housing program will provide 24 units of permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals. A 2009 study by United Way of Dane County and the Madison Police Department found that a local population of 66 chronically homeless individuals cost the city $3.4 million annually, primarily for uncompensated medical costs and criminal justice expenses. Investing in homelessness prevention will reduce the burden on government services and save taxpayer dollars.

Recipient: Urban Ecology Center
Location: Milwaukee
Amount: $250,000

Description: A national model of urban environmental education, the Urban Ecology Center Menomonee Valley branch will serve thousands of youth annually from surrounding South Side Milwaukee neighborhoods with hands-on, outdoor science education. The school program will be complemented by year-round after school, evening and weekend community programs. Funding will be used to renovate a vacant and blighted building to house the center. In addition to removing blight from the neighborhood, UEC’s renovation work will create a facility that will be an interactive example of green design and re-use of an existing building through solar technology, energy efficient mechanical systems, water conservation methods, and reclaimed building materials. Conceptual design has begun on the building, which was acquired in 2009, and will be renovated in 2011 to serve as UEC’s third environmental community center in Milwaukee, following the successful programs operated out of Riverside Park and Washington Park.