Chapter 84

84.062(13)(b)5. 5. There is evidence that a member of the technical review committee has a conflict of interest because the committee member, a member of his or her immediate family, as defined in s. 19.42 (7), or any organization or business with which the member is associated, as defined in s. 19.42 (2), may benefit from the intent to award a contract.

84.062(13)(b)6. 6. The technical proposal or cost proposal submitted by the design-builder that received the notice of intent to award a contract is not responsive to the request for proposals, contains conditions or qualifications not provided for in the request for proposals, or does not assign costs to all services identified in the technical proposal or is otherwise materially unbalanced.

84.062(13)(c) (c) If the office prevails upon judicial review, following any protest and appellate court proceedings, the office shall be entitled to recover all costs and charges included in the final order or judgment, excluding attorney fees. Upon payment of costs and charges by the protester, the bond shall be returned. If the protesting party prevails, the protesting party shall be entitled to recover from the office all costs and charges included in the final order or judgment, excluding attorney fees. The entire amount of the bond shall be forfeited if the hearing officer determines that a protest was filed for a frivolous or improper purpose, including the purpose of harassing, causing unnecessary delay, or causing needless cost for the office or parties.

84.062(14) (14) Deliverables.

84.062(14)(c) (c) No later than December 31, 2026, the office shall submit a report to the joint committee on finance and the senate and assembly standing committees having jurisdiction over transportation matters summarizing observations of the process utilized for alternative project delivery methods and describing the effectiveness of the alternative project delivery methods contracting procedures. The report shall include discussion on scope of work, history of projects selected, evaluation criteria, selection process, contract administration, work progression, time and cost comparisons between the traditional contracting method and alternative delivery methods, claims, and changes.

84.062(14)(d) (d) No later than 6 months after receipt of the report required under par. (c), the joint committee on finance shall determine whether the alternative project delivery pilot program was successful in providing the department with additional tools that allow innovation, reduced project completion time, cost certainty, or reduced cost or other advantages or benefits and shall make a recommendation to the legislature as to whether the pilot program should be made permanent.

84.062 History History: 2019 a. 9; 2021 a. 58; 2021 a. 240 s. 30; 2023 a. 46.

84.063 84.063 Utility facilities relocation.

84.063(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

84.063(1)(c) (c) “Contractor” means a person who is seeking or has entered into a highway improvement contract with the department under s. 84.06.

84.063(1)(d) (d) “Highway improvement” means a state trunk highway improvement project.

84.063(1)(e) (e) “Owner” means an owner of a utility facility.

84.063(1)(f) (f) “Utility facility” means any pipe, pipeline, duct, wire line, conduit, pole, tower, equipment or other structure, whether aboveground or underground, used for any of the following:

84.063(1)(f)1. 1. The transmission or distribution of electrical power or light.

84.063(1)(f)2. 2. The transmission, distribution or delivery of heat, water, gas, sewer, telegraph or telecommunication services.

84.063(1)(g) (g) “Utility relocation delay” means a change in operations of a contractor or the rescheduling of work by a contractor that is caused by the uncompleted relocation or adjustment of a utility facility located in the right-of-way, regardless of whether the relocation or adjustment of the utility facility is identified in a plan under sub. (3).

84.063(2) (2) Notification.

84.063(2)(a) (a) If a utility facility is within the right-of-way of a proposed highway improvement, the department shall identify the owner and notify the owner in writing of the proposed improvement.

84.063(2)(b) (b) Within a specified period after the date the notice is received, the utility facility owner shall provide the department with a description and the general location of each utility facility in the proposed highway improvement right-of-way.

84.063(3) (3) Plans.

84.063(3)(a) (a) If a utility facility owner provides the information required under sub. (2), the department shall send the utility facility owner at least one set of available project plans for the proposed highway improvement, including the location of the owner’s existing utility facilities.

84.063(3)(b) (b) Within a specified period after receiving the project plans, the owner shall provide the department with a work plan. The period of time within which the owner is required to provide the department with a work plan shall reflect whether the utility facility owner is required to coordinate its work plan with another utility facility owner. The work plan provided by the owner shall include all of the following:

84.063(3)(b)1. 1. A copy of the project plans that verifies the location of all of the owner’s existing utility facilities specified on the plans by the department and that identifies the owners’ proposed location of relocated or additional utility facilities within the right-of-way of the proposed improvement.

84.063(3)(b)2. 2. A plan and a schedule of working days necessary to obtain any approval required by a governmental agency and to accomplish any proposed relocation or adjustment required by the proposed improvement.

84.063(3)(c) (c) The department shall review and approve a work plan submitted under par. (b) for compliance with permit requirements and to ensure that the plan is reasonable. Approval of a work plan under this paragraph does not waive any requirement for approval of the work plan by any other governmental agency. The utility facility owner shall notify the department when all required approvals have been obtained. After receiving notification that all approvals have been obtained, the department shall notify the owner of the date on which the owner may proceed with its utility facility relocation work.

84.063(3)(d) (d) The department shall notify the utility facility owner of any change in the highway improvement that requires additional relocation or adjustment of utility facilities. The department and the owner shall agree on a reasonable time to accomplish the additional work.

84.063(4) (4) Responsibilities.

84.063(4)(a) (a) If additional utility facility relocation or adjustment work is required under sub. (3) (d), the department shall reimburse the owner for the additional work.

84.063(4)(b) (b) The project contractor shall be responsible for any damages negligently caused to a utility facility.

84.063(4)(c) (c) If the utility facility owner fails to comply with sub. (3), the department or its contractor shall not be liable to the owner for damages to a utility facility resulting from the highway improvement if the department or its contractor complies with s. 182.0175 (2), and the owner shall be liable to the department or its contractor for damages resulting from the failure to comply.

84.063(4m) (4m) Utility relocation delay damages claims.

84.063(4m)(a) (a) A contractor that incurs costs as a result of a utility relocation delay may file a utility relocation delay damages claim with the department.

84.063(4m)(b) (b) The department shall notify the owner of the relevant utility facility upon receipt of a claim under par. (a). The owner may respond to the claim by providing additional information related to the claim. The owner may not request a contested case hearing under par. (d) 2. unless the owner provides additional information under this paragraph.

84.063(4m)(c) (c) The department shall consider all information provided by the contractor under par. (a) and, if applicable, the owner under par. (b). If the department determines that a utility relocation delay occurred, the department shall compensate the contractor for costs incurred as a result of the utility relocation delay. The department may not impose liquidated damages for work required by the contract that is not completed within the contract time or within extra time allowed by the department as a result of the utility relocation delay. The amount of compensation under this paragraph shall be calculated and paid in accordance with the department’s standard specifications for compensable delays.

84.063(4m)(d) (d)

84.063(4m)(d)1. 1. If a utility relocation delay identified under par. (c) was caused by an owner’s failure to complete a relocation in accordance with a work plan approved by the department under sub. (3), the owner shall be liable to the department for compensation paid to a contractor under par. (c). An owner shall not be liable under this subdivision when the failure to complete a relocation is caused by circumstances outside of the owner’s reasonable control, as determined by the department upon consideration of any information provided by the owner to the department under sub. (3) or this subsection, including a delay caused by another owner identified in the work plan or reliance on a 3rd party to identify and verify the location of a utility facility requiring relocation. The department may not assess against the owner any fees, costs, or expenses in excess of the compensation paid under par. (c). Subject to subd. 2., an owner shall make payment to the department no later than 90 days after receiving notice of the amount owed.

84.063(4m)(d)2. 2. Within 90 days after receiving an assessment notice under subd. 1., an owner may request a contested case hearing under s. 227.42 to review the decision of the department under subd. 1., and a hearing shall be scheduled if the owner previously responded to the claim as provided in par. (b). Any amount that the owner owes to the department under subd. 1. shall be stayed pending the contested case hearing.

84.063(4m)(d)3. 3. If an owner fails to make payment of amounts owed to the department under this paragraph, the department may seek remedy by filing a civil suit against the owner.

84.063(4m)(e) (e) The department may not consider amounts paid or owed under par. (d) when making a determination on an owner’s permit application, amounts paid to the owner under sub. (4) (a) or s. 84.09, or any other matter involving the owner.

84.063(5) (5) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.

84.063 History History: 1991 a. 39; 1999 a. 85; 2023 a. 46.

84.063 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Trans 220, Wis. adm. code.

84.065 84.065 Railroad and utility alteration and relocation loan program.

84.065(1) (1) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to promote the state’s interest in preserving and improving state trunk and connecting highways by means of a program to provide loans for railroad and public utility alterations and relocations associated with highway improvement projects.

84.065(2) (2) Definitions. In this section:

84.065(2)(a) (a) “Improvement” has the meaning given in s. 84.06 (1).

84.065(2)(b) (b) “Public utility” has the meaning given in s. 196.01 (5) and includes a telecommunications carrier, as defined in s. 196.01 (8m).

84.065(2)(c) (c) “Railroad” has the meaning given in s. 195.02 (1).

84.065(3) (3) Administration. The department shall administer a loan program to assist public utilities and railroads with the costs of utility and railroad alterations and relocations that are associated with state trunk and connecting highway improvement projects and that are not subject to reimbursement by the department. The department shall have all powers necessary and convenient to implement this section, including the following powers:

84.065(3)(a) (a) To specify conditions of eligibility for loans under this section. Such conditions shall include the requirement that the utility or railroad alteration or relocation must be part of a planned state trunk or connecting highway improvement project.

84.065(3)(b) (b) To receive applications for loans under this section and to prescribe the form, nature and extent of the information which shall be contained in applications.

84.065(3)(c) (c) To establish standards for the approval of loans under this section.

84.065(3)(d) (d) To enter into loan agreements with applicants to ensure the proper use and prompt repayment of loans under this section. The loan agreement shall permit the loan to be repaid without interest before the date on which the contract for the improvement project with which the utility or railroad alteration is associated is awarded. The loan agreement shall require the payment of interest on the outstanding balance of any loan that is not repaid by the date on which that contract is awarded, accruing from the date on which that contract is awarded. Interest shall be charged at a rate equal to the weekly prime rate for the week prior to the date on which the contract is awarded, as reported by the federal reserve board in federal reserve statistical release H. 15, plus 1 percent. The loan agreement shall require repayment of the principal and payment of any accrued interest within one year of the date on which the contract is awarded.

84.065(3)(e) (e) To audit and inspect the records of loan recipients.

84.065(4) (4) Funds. Subject to s. 86.255, the department may make loans under this section from the appropriations under s. 20.395 (3) (bv) and (cv). The total outstanding balance of loans under this section may not exceed $500,000.

84.065(5) (5) Rules. The department may promulgate rules as necessary to implement this section.

84.065 History History: 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 496; 1999 a. 9.

84.065 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Trans 30, Wis. adm. code.

84.07 84.07 Maintenance of state trunk highways.

84.07(1) (1) Routine maintenance. Subject to sub. (1r), the state trunk highway system shall be maintained by the state at state expense. The department shall prescribe by rule specifications for such maintenance and may contract with any county highway committee or municipality to have all or certain parts of the work of maintaining the state trunk highways within or beyond the limits of the county or municipality, including interstate bridges, performed by the county or municipality, and any county or municipality may enter into such contract. Maintenance activities include the application of protective coatings, the removal and control of snow, the removal, treatment and sanding of ice, interim repair of highway surfaces and adjacent structures, and all other operations, activities and processes required on a regular, continuing basis for the preservation of the highways on the state trunk system, and including the care and protection of trees and other roadside vegetation and suitable planting to prevent soil erosion or to beautify highways pursuant to s. 66.1037, and all routine measures deemed necessary to provide adequate traffic service. Maintenance activities also include the installation, replacement, rehabilitation, or maintenance of highway signs, highway lighting, and pavement markings, and the maintenance of traffic control signals and intelligent transportation systems. The department may contract with a private entity for services or materials or both associated with the installation, replacement, rehabilitation, or maintenance of highway signs, highway lighting, and pavement markings and the maintenance of traffic control signals and intelligent transportation systems.

84.07(1b) (1b) Emergency repair and protection of state trunk highways. To accomplish prompt repair, protection or preservation of any state trunk highway which has been closed or is being jeopardized by extraordinary damage by flood, structure failure, slides, or other extraordinary condition of necessity and emergency, the department may, if it is deemed for the best interest of the state, proceed at once to repair or protect the highway with forces and services of private constructors and agencies, summarily engaged by the department and cause said work to be done by negotiated contract or agreement without calling for competitive bids, provided that any such contract or agreement involving an estimated expenditure in excess of $10,000 shall be subject to approval of the governor before it becomes effective.

84.07(1m) (1m) Mass transit system, maintenance. When the public mass transportation system uses a state trunk highway, such facilities shall be maintained by the state at state expense in accordance with this section. Maintenance shall be performed within the highway right-of-way, upon facilities and lands within the highway corridor, and upon such terminal and parking facilities as may be reasonably adjacent to the highway corridor.

84.07(1r) (1r) Sponsorship agreements. The department may enter into sponsorship agreements under s. 84.01 (36) that require the sponsor to perform maintenance activities, in accordance with the department’s standards, for the benefit of the department.

84.07(2) (2) Repayment for state work.

84.07(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), when any county or municipality maintains the state trunk highways within or beyond the limits of the county or municipality, including interstate bridges, in compliance with the arrangement with the department, the department shall pay the actual cost of the maintenance, including the allowance for materials and the use of county or municipal machinery and overhead expenses agreed upon in advance. Except as provided in par. (b), the payments shall be made upon presentation by the county highway committee or municipal clerk of a properly itemized and verified account. For payments made under this paragraph, the county highway committee or municipal clerk shall present the itemized accounts for maintenance work no later than one month following the period during which the work is performed.

84.07(2)(b) (b) When any county or municipality maintains the state trunk highways within or beyond the limits of the county or municipality, including interstate bridges, in compliance with the arrangement with the department, the department and the county or municipality may agree to a payment method and terms other than that specified in par. (a), including payment according to a contract price for maintenance services rather than payment of the actual cost of the maintenance.

84.07(3) (3) Weed control. The highway patrolman shall destroy all noxious weeds as provided in s. 66.0407 on any highway which he or she patrols.

84.07(4) (4) Emergency repairs; blocking streets or roads; detours. Except in case of emergency, no city, village or town shall obstruct any street or road over which any state trunk highway is marked unless it first makes arrangements with the department for marking a detour.

84.07(5) (5) County highway department maintenance capacity and funding. The department shall work cooperatively with county highway departments to determine an appropriate level of state work sufficient to fully utilize manpower and equipment needed for winter maintenance.

84.07(7) (7) Deer killed by vehicles. The department shall establish a program for the removal and disposal of deer killed by vehicles on state trunk highways.

84.07 History History: 1971 c. 125; 1975 c. 39; 1975 c. 394 s. 27; 1975 c. 421; 1977 c. 29 ss. 933 to 935, 1654 (8) (a); 1977 c. 418; 1979 c. 161; 1985 a. 29; 1993 a. 246; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33, 214; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20; 2017 a. 59 s. 578ym.

84.07 Note NOTE: 2003 Wis. Act 214, which affected this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.

84.072 84.072 Unified disadvantaged business certification program.

84.072(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

84.072(1)(a) (a) “Business” means a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, or corporation that is operated for profit.

84.072(1)(am) (am) “Certifying authority” means the department or, if authorized under sub. (5m), a municipality or county.

84.072(1)(b) (b) “Disadvantaged business” means a business that is all of the following:

84.072(1)(b)1. 1. At least 51 percent owned by one or more disadvantaged individuals who are U.S. citizens or persons lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence, as defined in 8 USC 1101 (a) (20).

84.072(1)(b)2. 2. Controlled in its management and daily business operations by one or more of the disadvantaged individuals who own the business.

84.072(1)(b)3. 3. A small business concern within the meaning given in 49 CFR 26.5.

84.072(1)(c) (c) “Disadvantaged individual” means an individual found by a certifying authority to be socially and economically disadvantaged within the meaning given in 49 CFR 26.5.

84.072(1)(d) (d) “Municipality” means a city, village, or town.

84.072(2) (2) Certification.

84.072(2)(a) (a) Any business may apply to a certifying authority for certification as a disadvantaged business. All applications shall be sworn and notarized. A certifying authority shall certify as a disadvantaged business any business that meets the requirements under 49 CFR 26, subpart D, for such certification. A certifying authority shall follow all certification procedures and standards provided in 49 CFR 26 and all certification determinations shall strictly conform with 49 CFR 26 and federal guidelines established under that section. A certifying authority shall complete review and issue a decision concerning an application within 90 days after receiving the completed application, except that a certifying authority may extend its review period to not more than 150 days if, within those 90 days, the certifying authority provides written notice to the applicant specifying the reasons for the extension. No person may certify a business as a disadvantaged business for purposes of 49 CFR 26, except as provided in this section. A certifying authority may charge and collect reasonable fees for reviewing an application submitted under this paragraph.

84.072(2)(b) (b)

84.072(2)(b)1. 1. Except as provided in sub. (6), a certifying authority is not required to review an application submitted by a business that has its principal place of business in another state, unless the business is certified as a disadvantaged business under a unified certification program that strictly conforms to 49 CFR 26 and to which that other state is a party.

84.072(2)(b)2. 2. If the department receives an application for a business that is certified as a disadvantaged business under a federally approved unified certification program pursuant to 49 CFR 26, the department may do any of the following:

84.072(2)(b)2.a. a. Grant certification in reliance of the certification determination under the federally approved unified certification program.

84.072(2)(b)2.b. b. Make an independent certification determination based on material submitted by the other certifying agency, supplemented by whatever additional information the department may request from the applicant.