Chapter 84

84.41(6) (6) No state debt created. Nothing contained in this section or s. 84.40 shall create a debt of the state.

84.41(7) (7) Securing of federal aids. The department shall do all things necessary to secure federal aids in carrying out the purposes of this section and s. 84.40.

84.41 History History: 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (8) (a); 1979 c. 32 s. 92 (5), (9); 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59.

84.42 84.42 Limitations on bonding. The department’s authority to act under ss. 84.40 and 84.41 is limited to completion of highway I-94 between Tomah and Eau Claire, the interstate bridge, including the approaches, on highway I-94 at Hudson and highway I-90 between Tomah and La Crosse.

84.42 History History: 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (8) (a).

84.51 84.51 Construction of state highways.

84.51(1) (1) The secretary with approval of the governor and subject to the limits of s. 20.866 (2) (ur), (us) and (uu) may direct that state debt be contracted for the purposes set forth in subs. (2) and (3) subject to the limits set forth in subs. (2) and (3). Said debts shall be contracted in accordance with ch. 18.

84.51(2) (2) It is the intent of the legislature that state debt not to exceed $185,000,000 for the construction of highways be appropriated over a 6-year period except that if funds allocated to any project hereunder are not used for such project or if additional highway construction funds are made available hereunder, they shall first be used for development of state trunk highway 45 from the intersection with highway 41 to and including the West Bend bypass, and except that no funds shall be used for the construction of the proposed Bay freeway and no funds shall be used for the “Augusta Bypass” project in Eau Claire County. Nothing in this section shall be construed so as to allow the redevelopment of state trunk highway 83 in Washington and Waukesha counties. U.S. numbered highway 16 from Tomah to the interchange with I-90 east of Sparta shall be retained as part of the state highway system in the same route as in use on November 1, 1969. The improvement project for state trunk highway 23 from Sheboygan to Fond du Lac shall be undertaken as swiftly as practicable.

84.51(3) (3) It is the intent of the legislature that state debt not to exceed $15,000,000 shall be incurred for the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, development, enlargement or improvement of the connecting highway facility known as the 27th Street viaduct in Milwaukee County.

84.51 History History: 1971 c. 40, 202, 264, 307; 1973 c. 90; 1977 c. 29; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 212; 1989 a. 56 s. 259.

84.52 84.52 Construction of intrastate and interstate bridges.

84.52(1) (1) The secretary, with the approval of the governor and subject to the limits of s. 20.866 (2) (ug), may direct that state debt be contracted for the construction of bridges as set forth in sub. (2) and subject to the limits set therein. Said debts shall be contracted in accordance with ch. 18.

84.52(2) (2) It is the intent of the legislature that state debt not to exceed $46,849,800 may be incurred for the construction or reconstruction of local bridges as provided by s. 84.11 and interstate bridges as provided by s. 84.12. Construction under this subsection shall be in accordance with the bridge needs of the state as determined in the biennial budget bill.

84.52 History History: 1973 c. 333; 1977 c. 29; 1981 c. 27; 1989 a. 31.

84.53 84.53 Matching of federal aid.

84.53(1) (1) The secretary with the approval of the governor, subject to the limits of s. 20.866 (2) (ut), may direct that state debt be contracted for the matching of federal aid as set forth in sub. (2) and subject to the limits set therein. Said debt shall be contracted in accordance with ch. 18.

84.53(2) (2) It is the intent of the legislature that state debt not to exceed $10,000,000 may be incurred for the purpose of matching federal aid for the construction of highway facilities.

84.53 History History: 1973 c. 333; 1977 c. 29

84.54 84.54 Minimum federal expenditures for projects receiving federal funding.

84.54(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), for all of the following projects on which the department expends federal moneys, the department shall expend federal moneys on not less than 70 percent of the aggregate project components eligible for federal funding each fiscal year:

84.54(1)(a) (a) Southeast Wisconsin freeway megaprojects.

84.54(1)(b) (b) Major highway development projects.

84.54(1)(c) (c) State highway rehabilitation projects with a total cost of less than $10 million.

84.54(2) (2) If the department determines that it cannot meet the requirements under sub. (1) or that it can make more effective and efficient use of federal moneys than the use required under sub. (1), the department may submit a proposed alternate funding plan to the joint committee on finance. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the department within 14 working days after the date of the department’s submittal that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed plan, the department may expend moneys as proposed in the plan. If, within 14 working days after the date of the submittal, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the department that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed plan, the department may expend moneys as proposed in the plan only upon approval of the committee. The department may continue with any projects subject to the funding requirement under sub. (1) while the committee conducts its review, including any hearings conducted by the committee.

84.54 History History: 2017 a. 368.

84.555 84.555 Additional funding of major highway and rehabilitation projects.

84.555(1) (1) Notwithstanding ss. 84.51 and 84.59, major highway projects, as defined under s. 84.013 (1) (a), for the purposes of ss. 84.06 and 84.09, southeast Wisconsin freeway rehabilitation projects under s. 84.014, and state highway rehabilitation projects for the purposes specified in s. 20.395 (3) (cq), may be funded with the proceeds of general obligation bonds issued under s. 20.866 (2) (uum) if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

84.555(1)(a) (a) The department’s most recent estimate of the amount of federal funds, as defined in s. 84.03 (2) (a) 1., that the department will be appropriated under s. 20.395 in the current state fiscal year is less than 95 percent of the amount of federal funds shown in the schedule, as defined in s. 84.03 (2) (a) 2., for the appropriations under s. 20.395 in that fiscal year.

84.555(1)(b) (b) The secretary has submitted a plan to the joint committee on finance for the use of proceeds of general obligation bonds issued under s. 20.866 (2) (uum) and the joint committee on finance has approved the plan, except that the secretary may not submit, and the joint committee on finance may not approve, a plan for the use of an amount of proceeds of general obligation bonds that exceeds the difference between the amount of federal funds, as defined in s. 84.03 (2) (a) 1., actually available to the department to be appropriated under s. 20.395 in the current state fiscal year and the amount of federal funds shown in the schedule, as defined in s. 84.03 (2) (a) 2., for the appropriations under s. 20.395 in that fiscal year.

84.555(1m) (1m) Notwithstanding sub. (1) and ss. 84.51 and 84.59, the proceeds of general obligation bonds issued under s. 20.866 (2) (uum) are allocated for expenditure obligations under s. 84.95 and s. 84.014, the proceeds of general obligation bonds issued under s. 20.866 (2) (uup) and (uuv) may be used to fund expenditure obligations for the Marquette interchange reconstruction project under s. 84.014, for the reconstruction of the I 94 north-south corridor, as defined in s. 84.014 (5m) (ag) 1m., for the reconstruction of the Zoo interchange, as defined in s. 84.014 (5m) (ag) 2., for the reconstruction of the I 94 east-west corridor, as defined in s. 84.014 (5m) (ag) 1e., for southeast Wisconsin freeway megaprojects under s. 84.0145, and for high-cost state highway bridge projects under s. 84.017, and the proceeds of general obligation bonds issued under s. 20.866 (2) (uur) and (uuv) may be used to fund expenditure obligations for southeast Wisconsin freeway megaprojects under s. 84.0145.

84.555(2) (2) The joint committee on finance may approve, or modify and approve, a plan received under sub. (1) (b) using the procedure specified in s. 84.03 (2) (c). No plan submitted under sub. (1) (b) may be implemented unless the joint committee on finance has approved, or modified and approved, the plan.

84.555(3) (3) The secretary may submit a plan under sub. (1) (b) at any time during a state fiscal year after the condition specified in sub. (1) (a) is satisfied for that fiscal year.

84.555 History History: 2001 a. 109; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 20, 100; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20; 2021 a. 58.

84.56 84.56 Additional funding for major highway projects. Notwithstanding ss. 84.51, 84.53, 84.555, and 84.59, major highway projects, as defined under s. 84.013 (1) (a), for the purposes of ss. 84.06 and 84.09, may be funded with the proceeds of general obligation bonds issued under s. 20.866 (2) (uus) and (uuv).

84.56 History History: 2009 a. 28; 2021 a. 58.

84.57 84.57 Additional funding for certain state highway rehabilitation projects.

84.57(1) (1) Notwithstanding ss. 84.51, 84.53, 84.555, 84.59, and 84.95, and subject to sub. (2), state highway rehabilitation projects for the purposes specified in s. 20.395 (6) (aq) may be funded with the proceeds of general obligation bonds issued under s. 20.866 (2) (uut) and (uuv).

84.57(2) (2) Only state highway reconstruction projects, pavement replacement projects, and bridge replacement projects may be funded with the proceeds of general obligation bonds issued under s. 20.866 (2) (uut).

84.57 History History: 2009 a. 28; 2021 a. 58.

84.58 84.58 Additional contingent funding for major highway and rehabilitation projects. Subject to 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, section 9145 (1v), the proceeds of general obligation bonds issued under s. 20.866 (2) (uuu) may be used to fund major highway projects under s. 84.013 and state highway rehabilitation projects for the purposes specified in s. 20.395 (3) (cq).

84.58 History History: 2015 a. 55.

84.585 84.585 Additional contingent funding for southeast Wisconsin freeway megaprojects. Subject to 2017 Wisconsin Act 58, section 60 (1c), the proceeds of general obligation bonds issued under s. 20.866 (2) (uuz) may be used to fund southeast Wisconsin freeway megaprojects under s. 84.0145 (3) (b) 1.

84.585 History History: 2017 a. 58.

84.59 84.59 Funding of transportation facilities and highway projects.

84.59(1) (1) Transportation facilities under s. 84.01 (28) and major highway projects as defined under s. 84.013 (1) (a) for the purposes under ss. 84.06 and 84.09 may be funded with the proceeds of revenue obligations issued subject to and in accordance with subch. II of ch. 18.

84.59(2) (2) 

84.59(2)(a) (a) The department may, under s. 18.561 or 18.562, deposit in a separate and distinct fund outside the state treasury, in an account maintained by a trustee, revenues derived under s. 341.25. The revenues deposited are the trustee’s revenues in accordance with the agreement between this state and the trustee or in accordance with the resolution pledging the revenues to the repayment of revenue obligations issued under this section.

84.59(2)(b) (b) The department may, under s. 18.562, deposit in a separate and distinct special fund outside the state treasury, in an account maintained by a trustee, revenues derived under ss. 341.09 (2) (d), (2m) (a) 1., (4), and (7), 341.14 (2), (2m), (6) (d), (6m) (a), (6r) (b) 2., (6w), and (8), 341.145 (3), 341.147 (3), 341.16 (1) (a) and (b), (2), (2e), and (2m), 341.17 (8), 341.19 (1), 341.25, 341.255 (1), (2) (a), (b), and (c), and (5), 341.26 (1), (2), (2m) (am) and (b), (3), (3m), (4), (5), and (7), 341.264 (1), 341.265 (1), 341.266 (2) (b) and (3), 341.268 (2) (b) and (3), 341.269 (2) (b), 341.30 (3), 341.305 (3), 341.308 (3), 341.36 (1) and (1m), 341.51 (2), and 342.14 and from any payments received with respect to agreements or ancillary arrangements entered into under s. 18.55 (6) with respect to revenue obligations issued under this section. The revenues deposited are the trustee’s revenues in accordance with the agreement between this state and the trustee or in accordance with the resolution pledging the revenues to the repayment of revenue obligations issued under this section. Revenue obligations issued for the purposes specified in sub. (1) and for the repayment of which revenues are deposited under this paragraph are special fund obligations, as defined in s. 18.52 (7), issued for special fund programs, as defined in s. 18.52 (8).

84.59(3) (3) The secretary may pledge revenues received or to be received in any fund established under sub. (2) to secure revenue obligations issued under this section. The pledge shall provide for the transfer to this state of all pledged revenues, including any interest earned on the revenues, which are in excess of the amounts required to be paid under s. 20.395 (6) (as). The pledge shall provide that the transfers be made at least twice yearly, that the transferred amounts be deposited in the transportation fund and that the transferred amounts are free of any prior pledge.

84.59(4) (4) The department shall have all other powers necessary and convenient to distribute the pledged revenues and to distribute the proceeds of the revenue obligations in accordance with subch. II of ch. 18.

84.59(5) (5) The department may enter into agreements with the federal government or its agencies, political subdivisions of this state or private individuals or entities to insure or in any other manner provide additional security for the revenue obligations issued under this section.

84.59(6) (6) The building commission may contract revenue obligations when it reasonably appears to the building commission that all obligations incurred under this section can be fully paid from moneys received or anticipated and pledged to be received on a timely basis. Except as provided in this subsection, the principal amount of revenue obligations issued under this section may not exceed $4,055,372,900, excluding any obligations that have been defeased under a cash optimization program administered by the building commission, to be used for transportation facilities under s. 84.01 (28) and major highway projects for the purposes under ss. 84.06 and 84.09. In addition to the foregoing limit on principal amount, the building commission may contract revenue obligations under this section up to $142,254,600, excluding any obligations that have been defeased under a cash optimization program administered by the building commission, to be used for transportation facilities under s. 84.01 (28) and major highway projects for the purposes under ss. 84.06 and 84.09. In addition to the foregoing limit on principal amount, the building commission may contract revenue obligations under this section up to $128,258,200, excluding any obligations that have been defeased under a cash optimization program administered by the building commission, to be used for transportation facilities under s. 84.01 (28) and major highway projects for the purposes under ss. 84.06 and 84.09. In addition to the foregoing limits on principal amount, the building commission may contract revenue obligations under this section as the building commission determines is desirable to refund outstanding revenue obligations contracted under this section, to make payments under agreements or ancillary arrangements entered into under s. 18.55 (6) with respect to revenue obligations issued under this section, and to pay expenses associated with revenue obligations contracted under this section.

84.59(7) (7) Unless otherwise expressly provided in resolutions authorizing the issuance of revenue obligations or in other agreements with the holders of revenue obligations, each issue of revenue obligations under this section shall be on a parity with every other revenue obligation issued under this section and in accordance with subch. II of ch. 18.

84.59 History History: 1983 a. 27, 212; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 113; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28, 135; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20, 363; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59; 2019 a. 9; 2021 a. 58, 178.

84.60 84.60 Bikeways.

84.60(1) (1) In this section:

84.60(1)(a) (a) “Bikeway” means a public path, trail, lane or other way, including structures, traffic control devices and related support facilities and parking areas, designated for use by bicycles, electric scooters, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and other vehicles propelled by human power. The term also includes “bicycle lane” as defined in s. 340.01 (5e) and “bicycle way” as defined in s. 340.01 (5s).

84.60(1)(b) (b) “Highway” means any state trunk highway, national parkway, expressway, interstate highway or freeway.

84.60(2) (2) The department may establish a bikeway separately or in conjunction with any existing highway.

84.60(3) (3) Bikeways established under this section shall be considered highways for the purposes of ss. 84.06, 84.07 and 84.09.

84.60 History History: 1977 c. 29; 2001 a. 90; 2019 a. 11.

84.95 84.95 General obligation bonding for highway rehabilitation projects. Notwithstanding ss. 84.51, 84.53, and 84.59, state highway rehabilitation projects for the purposes specified in s. 20.395 (3) (cq) may, under s. 84.555, be funded with the proceeds of general obligation bonds issued under s. 20.866 (2) (uum) and such projects may be funded with the proceeds of general obligation bonds issued under s. 20.866 (2) (uur).

84.95 History History: 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25.