Chapter 85

85.09(2) (2) First right of acquisition.

85.09(2)(a) (a) The department of transportation shall have the first right to acquire, for present or future transportational or recreational purposes, any property used in operating a railroad or railway, including land and rails, ties, switches, trestles, bridges, and the like located on that property, that has been abandoned. The department of transportation may, in connection with abandoned rail property, assign this right to a state agency, the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, any county or municipality, or any transit commission. Acquisition by the department of transportation may be by gift, purchase, or condemnation in accordance with the procedure under s. 32.05, except that the power of condemnation may not be used to acquire property for the purpose of establishing or extending a recreational trail; a bicycle way, as defined in s. 340.01 (5s); a bicycle lane, as defined in s. 340.01 (5e); or a pedestrian way, as defined in s. 346.02 (8) (a). In addition to its property management authority under s. 85.15, the department of transportation may, subject to any prior action under s. 13.48 (14) (am) or 16.848 (1), lease and collect rents and fees for any use of rail property pending discharge of the department’s duty to convey property that is not necessary for a public purpose. No person owning abandoned rail property, including any person to whom ownership reverts upon abandonment, may convey or dispose of any abandoned rail property without first obtaining a written release from the department of transportation indicating that the first right of acquisition under this subsection will not be exercised or assigned. No railroad or railway may convey any rail property prior to abandonment if the rail property is part of a rail line shown on the railroad’s system map as in the process of abandonment, expected to be abandoned, or under study for possible abandonment unless the conveyance or disposal is for the purpose of providing continued rail service under another company or agency. Any conveyance made without obtaining such release is void. The first right of acquisition of the department of transportation under this subsection does not apply to any rail property declared by the department to be abandoned before January 1, 1977. The department of transportation may acquire any abandoned rail property under this section regardless of the date of its abandonment.

85.09(2)(b) (b) The first right of acquisition under this subsection applies only to the following property:

85.09(2)(b)1. 1. In unincorporated areas, any land measured 50 feet from the center line of each outermost track bed and any land between such tracks.

85.09(2)(b)2. 2. In incorporated areas, any land measured 33 feet from the center line of each outermost track bed and any land between such tracks.

85.09(2)(b)3. 3. Any property not included in subds. 1. and 2. that consists of a loading or unloading facility, a vehicular access facility, or a building that is, in the department’s judgment, suitable for a freight or rail passenger station.

85.09(3) (3) Determination of abandonment. For purposes of this section, rail property shall be deemed abandoned if par. (a) or (b) applies:

85.09(3)(a) (a) A certificate or approval of abandonment has been issued by the federal surface transportation board or federal court or any other federal or state agency having jurisdiction over the rail property.

85.09(3)(b) (b) A certificate or approval of abandonment is not required and the use of the rail property for railroad or railway purposes has been discontinued with the intent not to resume. Intent not to resume may be inferred from circumstances including, but not limited to, the following:

85.09(3)(b)1. 1. If the rail property is not used for railroad purposes for 2 consecutive years.

85.09(3)(b)2. 2. If the facilities on the rail property are removed or rendered unfit for service.

85.09(3)(b)3. 3. If the rail property is used for other than railroad purposes.

85.09(4) (4) Acquisition and conveyance. Upon its own initiative, the department may determine at any time whether the rail property is abandoned, and whether it is in the best interest of the state to acquire the rail property. Within 90 days after being requested by any state agency, any railroad or any county or municipality in which the rail property is located, the department shall, subject to sub. (5) (b), make a determination of the abandonment status and, if found to be abandoned, shall determine whether it is in the best interest of the public to acquire the rail property. If it is determined to acquire the rail property or any part or interest therein, the department shall, within 180 days of the determination of its abandoned status, or the interstate commerce commission’s final order permitting the abandonment, or the termination of any efforts to negotiate an agreement for continual operation of rail service on the line, whichever occurs last, determine the fair market value of the rail property and acquire the rail property at a price deemed reasonable by the department or make a relocation order under s. 32.05. In making its determination, the department shall consider long-range potential for use of the rail property for restoration of railroad service and for other transportation related purposes. The department shall solicit the opinions of appropriate state agencies, affected counties and municipalities and other interested persons. The department shall give due consideration to an expressed desire by a state agency or an affected county or municipality to acquire, in whole or in part, the rail property under consideration. Subject to any prior action under s. 13.48 (14) (am) or 16.848 (1) and subject to sub. (6), all or part of any interest in abandoned rail property acquired by the department under this section or under s. 66.941 (7), 1975 stats., may be subsequently conveyed to another state agency or a county or municipality for transportational purposes, recreational purposes, scenic purposes or for the purpose of constructing a correctional institution, or to a railroad for continued railroad transportation operations when the railroad has operated on the rail property for 5 years and the department may make such conveyances for such purposes. Any determination of the department under this section that rail property is not abandoned shall not preclude the undertaking of a subsequent investigation and determination concerning the same rail property or any portion thereof. If at any time subsequent to the acquisition of rail property under this section the department determines that the rail property is not suitable for transportational purposes, recreational purposes, scenic purposes or for the purpose of constructing a correctional institution, or that the rail property or any interest therein may be conveyed to any other person on terms which are not inconsistent with the potential use of the rail property for transportational purposes, recreational purposes, scenic purposes or for the purpose of constructing a correctional institution or which yield a benefit, including financial benefits, to the state which outweighs the benefit derived from the rail property if used for transportational purposes, recreational purposes, scenic purposes or for the purpose of constructing a correctional institution, the department may convey the rail property or such interest therein, subject to any prior action under s. 13.48 (14) (am) or 16.848 (1) and subject to sub. (6). The department shall give notice of its intention to make the conveyance, and state and local units of government shall have the first 6 months in which to exercise their opportunity to acquire the rail property or interest therein. The railroad from which the rail property was acquired shall have the next 6 months in which to exercise its opportunity to reacquire the rail property or interest therein.

85.09(4i) (4i) Disposal of rail property. The department, subject to any prior action under s. 13.48 (14) (am) or 16.848 (1), shall sell at public or private sale rail property acquired under sub. (4) when the department determines that the rail property is not necessary for a public purpose and, if real property, the real property is not the subject of a petition under s. 16.310 (2). Upon receipt of the full purchase price, the department shall, by appropriate instrument, transfer the rail property to the purchaser. The funds derived from sales under this subsection shall be deposited in the transportation fund, and the expense incurred by the department in connection with the sale shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (2) (bq).

85.09(4m) (4m) Relocation plan. The department is exempt from s. 32.25 (1) if the department determines that acquiring rail property under this section will not result in any displaced persons as defined in s. 32.19 (2) (e). The department shall file a statement of its determinations with the department of administration.

85.09(5) (5) Duties of railroads and others.

85.09(5)(a) (a) Any railroad which places a rail line or portion of a line on a system diagram map shall within 60 days of such action provide to the department one legible copy of each map in the railroad’s possession which shows rail property boundaries or engineering stations for the line involved. At the same time the railroad shall provide to the department all other pertinent information in its possession requested by the department relating to the title to the rail property covered by the line involved. The department shall determine the reasonable cost to the railroad of providing documents and information under this paragraph and shall reimburse the railroad in this amount. Any conveyance by the railroad made without providing the information required by this paragraph is void.

85.09(5)(b) (b) Any state agency, railroad, county or municipality which requests the department to make a determination of abandonment status and public interest in acquisition of rail property under sub. (4) shall provide a formal legal description of the rail property which is the subject of the request. The department may decline to take action on requests which do not contain an adequate description of the rail property involved. When the department provides a release of its first right to acquire rail property, the state agency, railroad, county or municipality which receives the release shall within 90 days have the release recorded by the register of deeds for each county in which the rail property is located.

85.09(6) (6) State rights subordinate to federal law. To the extent that the first or subsequent rights of acquisition under this section conflict with rights conferred by 49 USC 10905 (f) (4) or 10910 (h), the rights conferred by this section are subordinate to such federal rights and shall take effect only when consistent with 49 USC 10905 (f) (4) and 10910 (h).

85.09(7) (7) Rules. The department may adopt such rules as it deems necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section.

85.09 History History: 1977 c. 29, 418; 1979 c. 34 s. 1018; Stats. 1979 s. 85.09; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 27, 192; 1985 a. 29 ss. 1583 to 1586, 3200 (51); 1985 a. 332 s. 253; 1987 a. 5; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27 ss. 3525, 9116 (5); 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 179; 2007 a. 20; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20; 2017 a. 59

85.09 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Trans 29, Wis. adm. code.

85.093 85.093 Intermodal freight assistance. The department may make grants to public or private applicants for intermodal freight facilities that the department determines have a public purpose. In the 2019-21 fiscal biennium, a grant made under this section shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (2) (bu). After July 1, 2021, a grant made under this section shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (uw). For the 2019-21 fiscal biennium, grants under this section cannot exceed $1,500,000.

85.093 History History: 2019 a. 9.

85.095 85.095 Harbor assistance program.

85.095(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

85.095(1)(a) (a) “Eligible applicant” means a county, municipality, town or agency thereof, a board of harbor commissioners organized under s. 30.37, or a person who owns a harbor facility.

85.095(1)(am) (am) “Harbor facility” has the meaning given in s. 30.01 (3).

85.095(1)(b) (b) “Harbor improvements” means any dock wall repair and maintenance, construction of new dock walls, dredging of materials from a harbor or the placement of dredged materials in containment facilities.

85.095(2) (2) Administration. The department, in consultation with the Wisconsin coastal management council created under s. 14.019, shall administer the harbor assistance program and shall have the following powers:

85.095(2)(a) (a) To make grants for the purpose of reimbursing eligible applicants for moneys expended to make harbor improvements and to fund other harbor assistance and improvement projects. The amount of a grant may not exceed 80 percent of the moneys expended by the eligible applicant for harbor improvements.

85.095(2)(b) (b) To establish criteria for evaluating applications for harbor assistance grants in order to provide for the disbursement of grants. In establishing these criteria, the department shall give priority to applicants based on the amount of tonnage and waterborne transportation handled in the harbor.

85.095(2)(c) (c) To receive and review applications for grants under this section and to prescribe the form, nature and extent of the information which shall be contained in the applications.

85.095(2)(d) (d) To direct, with the approval of the governor, that state debt subject to the limitations in s. 20.866 (2) (uv) be contracted in accordance with ch. 18 to fund harbor improvements and other harbor assistance and improvement projects.

85.095(3) (3) Planning requirements.

85.095(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (c), no grant may be made under this section unless the eligible applicant submits information to the department regarding harbor projects for which the eligible applicant may request state aid under this section or federal aid, or both, during the next 3-year period. The information shall be submitted prior to the April 1 which precedes the fiscal year in which the eligible applicant seeks aid under this section.

85.095(3)(b) (b) The department shall, by rule, establish the starting date of each 3-year period and the form, nature and extent of the notice required under par. (a).

85.095(3)(c) (c) The department may waive the requirements under this subsection.

85.095(4) (4) Harbor improvements on Mississippi River. An eligible applicant may receive a grant under this section for harbor improvements located on an island in the Mississippi River regardless of the state in which the island is located if the island is owned by a city, village, town or county in this state.

85.095(5) (5) Private harbor facility eligibility.

85.095(5)(a) (a) Notwithstanding subs. (2) and (3), the department may award a grant under this section to fund harbor improvements and other harbor assistance and improvement projects to a privately owned harbor facility only if the harbor facility is to be held open for public use for at least 10 years following completion of the improvement or project for which reimbursement is provided under sub. (2) (a) or for any period specified by the department in any grant agreement, whichever is longer.

85.095(5)(b) (b) If the recipient of a grant described under par. (a) fails to hold the harbor facility open for public use for the period specified in par. (a), the grant recipient shall repay the grant funds to the department to the extent and in the manner directed by the department, and the department shall include this requirement in any grant agreement with the grant recipient.

85.095 History History: 1979 c. 34, 221, 355; 1981 c. 314; 1983 a. 27; 1987 a. 27, 399; 1989 a. 31, 359; 1995 a. 27 s. 9116 (5); 1995 a. 130; 2003 a. 208; 2011 a. 32.

85.095 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Trans 28, Wis. adm. code.

85.10 85.10 Sale of aerial photographic survey products. The department may sell to any person the selection of photographic products from the aerial photographic survey conducted under s. 23.325. The department may retain an amount equal to the costs that it incurs in selling and reproducing the photographic products.

85.10 History History: 1977 c. 418; 1979 c. 175 s. 53; 1987 a. 27; 1991 a. 39.

85.103 85.103 Disclosure of personal identifiers.

85.103(1) (1) In this section, “personal identifier” means a name, social security number, telephone number, street address, post-office box number or 9-digit extended zip code.

85.103(2) (2) The department shall include on any form for application for original registration under s. 341.08, for application for renewal of registration under s. 341.08, for application for a certificate of title under s. 342.06, for application for a license or identification card or renewal of a license or identification card under s. 343.14 and for application for a special identification card under s. 343.51, a place for the individual to designate that the individual’s personal identifiers may not be disclosed in information compiled or maintained by the department that contains the personal identifiers of 10 or more individuals, a statement indicating the effect of making such a designation and a place for an applicant or registrant who has made a designation under this subsection or sub. (3) to reverse the designation.

85.103(3) (3) The department shall provide to an individual upon request a form that includes a place for the individual to designate that the individual’s personal identifiers may not be disclosed in information compiled or maintained by the department that contains the personal identifiers of 10 or more individuals, a statement indicating the effect of making such a designation and a place for an applicant or registrant who has made a designation under this subsection or sub. (2) to reverse the designation.

85.103(4) (4) The department shall treat a designation made under s. 341.08 (1m), 1997 stats., s. 342.06 (1) (i), 1997 stats., s. 343.14 (2m), 1997 stats., or s. 343.51 (1m), 1997 stats., as if the designation were made under sub. (2) or (3).

85.103(5) (5) In providing a person with any information that is collected or prepared by the department and that consists in whole or in part of the personal identifiers of 10 or more persons, the department may not disclose the personal identifier of any person who has made a designation under sub. (2) or (3), except as provided in sub. (6).

85.103(6) (6) The department may disclose the personal identifier of any person who has made a designation under sub. (2) or (3) if the department discloses the personal identifier under s. 341.17 (9), 342.06, 343.027, 343.14, 343.234, 343.235, 343.24 (3) and (4), or 343.247.

85.103(7) (7) 

85.103(7)(a) (a) The department shall establish by rule a reasonable period for complying with designations made under subs. (2) and (3).

85.103(7)(b) (b) If an unanticipated number of designations result in the department not being able to comply with a reasonable effort with designations made under subs. (2) and (3) within the period established by the department under par. (a), the department may establish the temporary extension by rule, using the procedure under s. 227.24.

85.103 History History: 1999 a. 88; 2001 a. 93; 2005 a. 25, 59; 2009 a. 326.

85.105 85.105 Sale of motor vehicle records.

85.105(1) (1) Notwithstanding s. 343.24 (2m), the department may contract with a person to periodically furnish that person with any records on computer tape or other electronic media that contain information from files of motor vehicle accidents or uniform traffic citations and that were produced for or developed by the department for purposes related to maintenance of the operating record file database. The department and the person desiring to contract with the department shall make a good faith effort to negotiate the purchase price for the records to be provided under this section.

85.105(2) (2) Beginning with contracts entered into, extended, modified or renewed on November 1, 2000, in providing information under this section that contains the personal identifiers, as defined in s. 85.103 (1), of 10 or more individuals, the department may not include a personal identifier of any person who has made a designation under s. 85.103 (2) or (3).

85.105 History History: 1997 a. 27 s. 5504, 5505; Stats. 1997 s. 85.105; 1999 a. 88, 185.

85.107 85.107 Scholarship and loan repayment incentive grant program.

85.107(1) (1) Purpose. The scholarship and loan repayment incentive grant program is created to assist in improving the representation of targeted group members within job classifications in which targeted group members are underutilized in the department.

85.107(2m) (2m) Definitions. In this section:

85.107(2m)(am) (am) “Person with a disability” means any person who has a physical or mental disability that constitutes or results in a substantial barrier to employment.

85.107(2m)(b) (b) “Targeted group member” means a person with disabilities, or a person who belongs to a class of race, color, or sex, whose percent of the workforce within any job classification in the department is less than that class’s percent of the statewide labor market for such job activities.

85.107(3) (3) Administration. From the appropriation under s. 20.395 (4) (aq), the department may:

85.107(3)(a) (a) Award scholarships to targeted group members who are enrolled full time and registered as sophomores, juniors or seniors in a bachelor degree program offered by an accredited institution of higher education in this state. Scholarships under this paragraph shall not exceed the following amounts:

85.107(3)(a)1. 1. For a sophomore, $1,500.

85.107(3)(a)2. 2. For a junior, $2,000.

85.107(3)(a)3. 3. For a senior, $2,500.

85.107(3)(am) (am) Award scholarships of not more than $2,000 each to any targeted group member who is registered in his or her 2nd year of full-time enrollment in an associate degree program, as defined in s. 38.01 (1), or vocational diploma program, as defined in s. 38.01 (11), at a technical college in this state.

85.107(3)(b) (b)

85.107(3)(b)1. 1. Make loan repayment grants to targeted group members who are employed by the department and have education loans outstanding. Subject to subd. 2., loan repayment grants under this subdivision shall not exceed the following amounts:

85.107(3)(b)1.a. a. After one year of employment by the department, $1,000.

85.107(3)(b)1.b. b. After 2 years of employment by the department, an additional $1,200.

85.107(3)(b)1.c. c. After 3 years of employment by the department, an additional $1,700.

85.107(3)(b)1.d. d. After 4 years of employment by the department, an additional $2,100.

85.107(3)(b)2. 2. The total amount of loan repayment grants under this paragraph made to an employee shall not exceed the amount of the employee’s education loans outstanding.

85.107(4) (4) Rule making. The department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.

85.107 History History: 1987 a. 27; 2001 a. 16.

85.107 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Trans 403, Wis. adm. code.

85.12 85.12 Statewide public safety radio management program.

85.12(1) (1) The department shall administer a statewide public safety radio management program. From the appropriations under s. 20.395 (5) (dk) and (dq), the department may provide statewide tower site management, public safety frequency management, public safety database administration and planning services related to statewide public safety radio management.

85.12(2) (2) The department shall maintain any existing communications equipment at state patrol towers and stations that is used by emergency medical services programs under s. 256.12 unless the cost of maintaining the equipment exceeds the benefits that will result from such maintenance.

85.12(3) (3) The department may contract with any local governmental unit, as defined in s. 16.97 (7), to provide that local governmental unit with services under this section.

85.12 History History: 1993 a. 16; 1999 a. 9, 185; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33; 2007 a. 130.

85.13 85.13 Cost of traffic violation and registration program. The department shall develop a system for charging local units of government or other authority as defined in s. 345.28 (1) (a) for the cost of the development and operation of the traffic violation and registration program under ss. 341.08 (4m), 341.10 (7) and (7m), 341.63 (1) (c), 345.28 (4) and 345.47 (1) (d) based on the number of transactions processed by the local unit of government or other authority. A notice under s. 345.28 (4) submitted by an authority with respect to unpaid towing and storage charges shall be considered a separate transaction for purposes of this section. No notices under s. 345.28 (4) submitted by an authority or under s. 345.47 (1) (d) submitted by the court may be processed by the department unless the local unit of government or other authority involved has paid the department the appropriate amount determined by the department under this section.

85.13 History History: 1979 c. 221 s. 903x; 1981 c. 165; 1983 a. 330; 2003 a. 201.