Chapter 86

86.196(3) (3) Upon the request of any person, a local authority that has adopted an ordinance permitting the erection of tourist-oriented directional signs may authorize their erection within the right-of-way of any highway under the jurisdiction of the local authority, except that tourist-oriented directional signs may be erected only outside of urban areas and not within the right-of-way of a freeway or the right-of-way of any highway designated in s. 86.195 (2) (ag) for specific information signs. No tourist-oriented directional sign may be erected unless it is erected in compliance with rules promulgated by the department for such signs.

86.196(4) (4) The department may contract for the erection, installation and maintenance of tourist-oriented directional signs within the right-of-way of any highway under the jurisdiction of the department, except that tourist-oriented directional signs may be erected only outside of urban areas and not within the right-of-way of a freeway or the right-of-way of any highway designated in s. 86.195 (2) (ag) for specific information signs. No tourist-oriented directional sign may be erected unless it is erected in compliance with rules promulgated by the department for such signs.

86.196(5) (5) A tourist-related business, service or activity may not be located more than 5 miles from the highway on which the tourist-oriented directional sign for that business, service or activity is erected.

86.196(6) (6) Notwithstanding any eligibility criteria established under this section and rules promulgated under this section, the department shall install and maintain, on I 94 in Milwaukee County, 2 signs meeting the specifications under this section and rules promulgated under this section. One sign shall be viewable from the northbound lanes of I 94 and shall be located between Rawson Avenue and College Avenue. The other sign shall be viewable from the eastbound lanes of I 94 and shall be located in the proximity of the Waukesha County line. Both signs shall highlight lakefront attractions in the city of Milwaukee and shall include information about the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, Discovery World, Summerfest, and the Milwaukee County War Memorial.

86.196 History History: 1989 a. 98, 315; 2007 a. 20.

86.196 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. Trans 200.03 and 200.08, Wis. adm. code.

86.20 86.20 Interstate bridge corporations. Any corporation organized for the purpose of constructing, operating and maintaining a bridge over navigable boundary waters of this state and authorized by congress to erect such bridge shall have all the rights and powers with respect to entry upon, and acquisition, of real estate for the construction, operation and maintenance of such bridge, with the necessary approaches, terminals and appurtenances thereto, that are possessed by railroad corporations.

86.21 86.21 Interstate toll bridges.

86.21(1) (1) Any county or town, or any village or city however organized, bordering upon any navigable waters which form the boundary line between this and another state, may construct, maintain and operate a foot and vehicular toll bridge over and across such river or waters, commencing at a point within or near the limits of such county, town, village or city, and may acquire land in this and in such other state for approaches, abutments and piers, or may acquire, maintain and operate any such toll bridge which spans any such river or waters, whether such bridge is located wholly or partly only within the boundaries of this state and whether such bridge is located within or only partly within and partly without the limits of such county, town, village or city.

86.21(2) (2) 

86.21(2)(a) (a) Before any such toll bridge is constructed or acquired under this section, a resolution authorizing the construction or acquisition thereof, and specifying the method of payment therefor, shall be adopted by a majority of the members of the governing body of such county, town, village or city at a regular meeting, after publication of said resolution, as a class 2 notice, under ch. 985. The resolution shall include a general description of the property it is proposed to acquire or construct. Any county, town, village or city constructing or acquiring a toll bridge under this section may provide for the payment of the same or any part thereof from the general fund, from taxation, or from the proceeds of either municipal bonds, revenue bonds or as otherwise provided by law. Such resolution shall not be effective until 15 days after its passage and publication. If within said 15 days a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 is filed with the clerk of such municipality, and filed as provided in s. 8.37, signed by at least 20 percent of the electors thereof requesting that the question of acquiring such toll bridge be submitted to the said electors, such question shall be submitted at the next general or regular municipal election that is held not sooner than 70 days from the date of filing such petition. The question submitted to the electors shall specify the method of payment for such toll bridge as provided in the resolution for the acquisition thereof. If no such petition is filed, or if the majority of votes cast at such referendum election are in favor of the acquisition of such toll bridge, then the resolution of the governing body for the acquisition of such toll bridge shall be in effect.

86.21(2)(b) (b) Where such payment is to be made in whole or in part through the issuance of revenue bonds, such bonds shall be issued as provided in s. 66.0621. The amount of all incidental expenses incurred in connection with the construction or acquisition of the bridge and in connection with the authorization and issuance of the bonds may be included in the amount for which bonds are issued. Such revenue bonds shall be payable solely from the revenues to be derived from the operation of the bridge or bridges as acquired or constructed, and shall not constitute an indebtedness of the county, town, village or city. Any toll bridge property owned or acquired pursuant to this section is declared to be a public utility. The provisions of s. 66.0805 shall be applicable to the management of such bridge and the provisions of ss. 66.0621 and 66.0805 shall govern insofar as they may be applicable. For purposes of management, operation and financing, 2 or more such bridges, whether acquired or constructed, may be combined into a single project or public utility, and such revenue bonds may be issued payable from the revenues of such combined project or utility.

86.21 History History: 1983 a. 207; 1989 a. 192; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 1999 a. 182; 2005 a. 146; 2011 a. 75.

86.22 86.22 Interstate railroad bridges must have convenient approaches. Each corporation incorporated under the laws of this state and granted a franchise or permit by the U.S. congress to construct, maintain and operate a railroad bridge and provide for the passage of persons and vehicles across the waters forming a boundary line between this and any other state and to forever maintain the bridge in accessible and serviceable condition, shall construct or cause to be constructed, approaches making the bridge accessible and serviceable for the use of persons and vehicles as a connection between this state and the state connected therewith by the bridge, so that the bridge shall be accessible and serviceable to persons and vehicles at the time such bridge is used for railroad service, and if any such corporation fails or refuses to comply with this section within one year from the time the bridge is used for railroad service the charter of the corporation granted by this state shall thereupon be forfeited, as a result of the failure or refusal to comply with this section, without any further action whatever and the corporation shall forthwith discontinue the transaction or operation of its business in this state.

86.22 History History: 1979 c. 110, 355; 1985 a. 187.

86.23 86.23 Maintenance of drawbridges owned jointly.

86.23(1) (1) Each swing or drawbridge built or purchased by any city and town or by any other 2 municipalities, situated so that a part of the bridge is in one municipality and a part in another, shall be operated and maintained at the joint expense of the municipalities that built or purchased the bridge in proportion to the amount of the cost of the bridge borne by each. If either municipality does not provide for or pay its full share of the expense of operating or maintaining the bridge in any year the other may provide for or pay the expense.

86.23(2) (2) A municipality that pays any portion of another municipality’s share of the expenses of operating and maintaining a bridge under sub. (1) may recover the amount of the payment from the defaulting municipality, with interest from the time of payment and costs of suit. No action under this subsection to recover a payment may be brought until 30 days after demand of payment is made.

86.23 History History: 1997 a. 253.

86.25 86.25 Municipal cooperation as to highways improved with state or federal aid.

86.25(1) (1) Any county, city, village or town may by any lawful means provide funds to match or supplement state or federal aid for the construction, reconstruction or improvement, under ch. 84, of any highway, street or bridge which it is authorized to construct, reconstruct or improve, and to pay such funds to the department or state treasury as provided in s. 84.03 (1) (b).

86.25(1m) (1m) If lands or interests in lands necessary for an improvement under ch. 84 are acquired by a county or local municipality specifically for such improvement, the department may reimburse such county or local municipality therefor from funds available for such improvement.

86.25(2) (2) Any county, city, village or town, through its governing body or a committee which it may designate, may enter into agreements with the department providing for the construction, reconstruction or improvement with state or federal aid, of highways, streets or bridges which such county, city, village or town is authorized to construct, reconstruct or improve, providing for the subsequent maintenance by such county, city, village or town of any such highway, street or bridge improved with state or federal aid which it has authority to maintain, and providing for the subsequent regulation as to the location, form and character of informational, regulatory and warning signs, curb and pavement or other markings and traffic signals on any such highway, street or bridge improved with state or federal aid.

86.25(3) (3) Any city, village or town may levy special assessments under s. 66.0703 not exceeding the cost to the city, village or town against the property benefited thereby to provide funds to match or supplement state or federal aid or both for the construction, reconstruction or improvement under ch. 84, or under any other statute of any highway or street which it is authorized to construct, reconstruct or improve, and any city, village or town is authorized to pay the proceeds of such assessments, certificates or special assessment bonds issued to finance the improvement to the department or state treasury as provided in s. 84.03 (1) (b).

86.25(4) (4) Sections 61.54, 62.15 and 66.0901 (1) and (2) to (9) shall not apply to funds provided or agreements made pursuant to this section.

86.25 History History: 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (8) (c); 1977 c. 418 s. 924 (48); 1981 c. 314; 1987 a. 137 s. 6; 1993 a. 246; 1995 a. 225; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2009 a. 173; 2011 a. 32.

86.255 86.255 Limitation on moneys used to purchase land remote from highway project.

86.255(1) (1) Notwithstanding ss. 84.09 and 86.25, beginning with purchase contracts executed on October 29, 1999, and with relocation orders initially filed under ch. 32 on October 29, 1999, the department may not encumber or expend any moneys from the appropriations under s. 20.395 (3) for purposes related to the purchase of land, easements, or development rights in land, unless the land or interest in land is purchased in association with a highway project and the land or interest in land is located within one-quarter mile of the highway.

86.255(2) (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any of the following:

86.255(2)(a) (a) The purchase of any land that is acquired as compensatory mitigation for another wetland, as defined in s. 23.32 (1), that will suffer an adverse impact by degradation or destruction as part of a highway project.

86.255(2)(b) (b) The purchase of any land, easements, or development rights in land, under an agreement executed in the name of the department before October 29, 1999, or under a relocation order filed under ch. 32 before October 29, 1999.

86.255 History History: 1999 a. 9.

86.257 86.257 Transfer of highways. The department or a political subdivision, as defined in s. 86.31 (1) (d), may transfer jurisdiction and ownership of, or other property interest in, a highway that is under the jurisdiction of the department or political subdivision to a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state or an agency of the United States government that is acting on behalf of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state by entering into a jurisdictional transfer agreement with the tribe or band or agency. The jurisdictional transfer agreement shall contain all of the following:

86.257(1) (1) A dispute resolution procedure.

86.257(2) (2) A provision that requires that the transferred highway remain open to the use of the public as a matter of right for the purposes of vehicular traffic unless the tribe or band or agency conducts proceedings, makes findings, and meets other conditions for discontinuation that would be applicable to the governing body of a 1st class city under s. 62.73, if the highway is located in a 1st class city; the governing body of a village or city, except a 1st class city, under s. 66.1003, if the highway is located in a village or city, except a 1st class city; or the governing body of a town under s. 82.10, if the highway is located in a town.

86.257 History History: 2009 a. 231.

86.30 86.30 General transportation aids.

86.30(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

86.30(1)(b) (b) “Mileage aids” means the amount determined under sub. (2) (a) 3.

86.30(1)(c) (c) “Municipality” means a city, village or town.

86.30(1)(d) (d) “Share of costs” means the amount determined under sub. (2) (a) 2. a. or b.

86.30(1)(e) (e) “Statewide county average cost-sharing percentage” means a factor determined for counties by which multiyear average costs under s. 86.303 are multiplied to fully distribute the amounts specified in sub. (9) (b) for the purpose of determining the share of costs.

86.30(1)(f) (f) “Statewide municipal average cost-sharing percentage” means a factor determined for municipalities by which multiyear average costs under s. 86.303 are multiplied to fully distribute the amounts specified in sub. (9) (c) for the purpose of determining the share of costs.

86.30(1)(g) (g) “Three-year average costs” means the amount determined based on the 3 most recent years of actual costs established under s. 86.303.

86.30(2) (2) Transportation aids distribution.

86.30(2)(a) (a) Amount of aids payment.

86.30(2)(a)1. 1. Except as provided in pars. (b), (d) and (dm) and s. 86.303, the amount of transportation aids payable by the department to each county shall be the aids amount calculated under subd. 2. and to each municipality shall be the aids amount calculated under subd. 2. or 3., whichever is greater. If the amounts calculated for a municipality under subd. 2. or 3. are the same, transportation aids to that municipality shall be paid under subd. 2.

86.30(2)(a)2. 2.

86.30(2)(a)2.a. a. The share of costs for a municipality is the amount determined by multiplying the statewide municipal average cost-sharing percentage by the municipality’s multiyear average costs under s. 86.303.

86.30(2)(a)2.b. b. The share of costs for a county is the amount determined by multiplying the statewide county average cost-sharing percentage by the county’s multiyear average costs under s. 86.303.

86.30(2)(a)3. 3. For each mile of road or street under the jurisdiction of a municipality as determined under s. 86.302, the mileage aid payment shall be $2,628 in calendar years 2020 and 2021, $2,681 in calendar year 2022, and $2,734 in calendar year 2023 and thereafter.

86.30(2)(b) (b) Minimum and maximum payments.

86.30(2)(b)1. 1. Except as provided under par. (d) and s. 86.303 (5), no municipality whose aid is determined under par. (a) 2. may receive an increase in its annual transportation aid payment in excess of 15 percent of its last previous calendar year aid payment or a decrease in its annual transportation aid payment in excess of 10 percent of its last previous calendar year transportation aid payment.

86.30(2)(b)1g. 1g. Except as provided under par. (d) and s. 86.303 (5), no municipality whose aid is determined under par. (a) 3. may receive a decrease in its annual transportation aid payment in excess of 10 percent of its last previous calendar year transportation aid payment.

86.30(2)(b)1r. 1r. Except as provided under s. 86.303, no county may receive an increase in its annual transportation aid payment in excess of 15 percent of its last previous calendar year aid payment. Except as provided under par. (dm) and s. 86.303, no county may receive a decrease in its annual transportation aid payment in excess of 10 percent of its last previous calendar year transportation aid payment.

86.30(2)(b)2. 2. The last previous calendar year aid payment to a municipality whose aid is determined under par. (a) 3. is adjusted in proportion to changes in the mileage under the jurisdiction of the municipality before an adjustment under subd. 1g. is made.

86.30(2)(d) (d) Aid limitation based on reported costs.

86.30(2)(d)1. 1. No municipality may be paid an amount under this section greater than 85 percent of its 3-year average costs, except as provided in subd. 2.

86.30(2)(d)2. 2. A town for which the equalized value of the town in the previous year was in the bottom quartile of equalized values of towns in the state for that year cannot be paid an amount under this section greater than 98 percent of its 3-year average costs. Equalized values under this subdivision shall be those determined by the department of revenue under s. 70.57.

86.30(2)(dm) (dm) Fiscal limits aid reductions.

86.30(2)(dm)1. 1. If the department of revenue requests the department to reduce the aids paid to a county under par. (e), the department shall reduce those aids by the amount specified under s. 59.605 (4) (b).

86.30(2)(dm)2. 2. An amount equal to the amount of the reductions under subd. 1. is lapsed to the transportation fund.

86.30(2)(dr) (dr) Aid reduction related to outdoor advertising sign condemnation. The department may reduce aids paid to a county or municipality under par. (e) as provided in s. 84.30 (5r) (c).

86.30(2)(e) (e) Aid payments. General transportation aids under this section shall be calculated and distributed on the basis of a calendar year. General transportation aids to municipalities shall be paid in 4 equal installments on the first Monday in January, April, July and October. General transportation aids to counties shall be paid in 3 installments consisting of 25 percent of the amount under sub. (9) (b) on the first Monday in January, 50 percent of the amount under sub. (9) (b) on the first Monday in July, and 25 percent of the amount under sub. (9) (b) on the first Monday in October. If adjustments are necessary, the department may adjust any of the scheduled aid payments in a calendar year. The payments shall be made from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (1) (as) or (at) for the fiscal year in which the payments are made.

86.30(2)(f) (f) Corrections of aid payments. In making corrections to transportation aid payments under this section:

86.30(2)(f)1. 1. If the sum of all underpayments and overpayments results in a net underpayment, the net underpayment shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (1) (ar).

86.30(2)(f)2. 2. If the sum of all underpayments and overpayments results in a net overpayment, the net overpayment shall be returned to the transportation fund.

86.30(2m) (2m) Adjustments for certain aid limitations. If the amount of transportation aids paid to a town is limited by sub. (2) (d) to an amount less than the amount calculated under sub. (2) (a) and the department determines that the limitation was caused by the timing of a reimbursement for an expenditure made by the town, the department shall make an additional payment of transportation aids to the town from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (1) (aw) in an amount that the department determines will compensate the town for the diminished payments. If the moneys appropriated under s. 20.395 (1) (aw) are not sufficient to fully compensate towns qualifying for payments under this subsection, the department may prorate the payments among the qualifying towns.

86.30(3) (3) Supplemental transportation aids.

86.30(3)(a) (a) Amount of aids payments. Notwithstanding sub. (2) and subject to pars. (b) and (c), for a town for which the amount of aid determined under sub. (2) (a) 3. is limited by sub. (2) (d), the amount of aid under this subsection is calculated by dividing $2,500,000 by the total mileage of town roads in towns eligible to receive aid under this subsection and then multiplying that amount by the total mileage of town roads in the town receiving aid. The department shall determine the amount of aid payable under this paragraph prior to the calender year in which the aid would be payable.

86.30(3)(b) (b) Limit on aids payments. A town may not receive aid under par. (a) that, when combined with the amount the town received under sub. (2), exceeds 100 percent of the town’s 3-year average costs.

86.30(3)(c) (c) Recalculation of amount of aids payments. As the department makes aid payments under par. (a), the department shall recalculate the amount of aid payable under par. (a) for all towns that remain below 100 percent of the town’s 3-year average costs. The department shall continue to make aids payments until an amount up to $2,500,000 is expended from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (1) (av), or each town eligible for aid under this subsection has received an amount equal to 100 percent of the town’s 3-year average costs, whichever occurs first.

86.30(3)(d) (d) Aids payments. The department shall make the payments calculated under par. (a) no later than the first Monday in January of each year.

86.30(3)(e) (e) Sunset. This subsection does not apply after June 30, 2021.

86.30(7) (7) Use of aids. All transportation aids distributed under this section shall be used for transportation related expenditures.

86.30(9) (9) Aids calculations.

86.30(9)(b) (b) For the purpose of calculating and distributing aids under sub. (2), the amounts for aids to counties are $127,140,200 in calendar year 2023. In calendar year 2024, the amounts for aids to counties are $129,683,000. In calendar year 2025 and thereafter, the amounts for aids to counties are $132,276,700. These amounts, to the extent practicable, shall be used to determine the statewide county average cost-sharing percentage in the particular calendar year.

86.30(9)(c) (c) For the purpose of calculating and distributing aids under sub. (2), the amounts for aids to municipalities are $398,996,800 in calendar year 2023. In calendar year 2024, the amounts for aids to municipalities are $406,976,700. In calendar year 2025 and thereafter, the amounts for aids to municipalities are $415,116,200. These amounts, to the extent practicable, shall be used to determine the statewide municipal average cost-sharing percentage in the particular calendar year.

86.30(11) (11) Local segregated account required.

86.30(11)(a) (a) Notwithstanding sub. (2), the department may not pay state aid under this section to a municipality or county unless the municipality or county does all of the following:

86.30(11)(a)1. 1. Establishes and administers a separate segregated account from which moneys may be used only for purposes related to local highways.

86.30(11)(a)2. 2. Deposits in the account established under subd. 1. all moneys received from this state and from the federal government for local highway purposes.

86.30(11)(b) (b) If a municipality or county does not meet the requirements under par. (a) at the time that aid should be paid under this section, the aid payment may be forfeited.

86.30(11)(c) (c) Rules implementing this subsection may not require any eligible applicant to do any of the following:

86.30(11)(c)1. 1. Pay expenses related to law enforcement using moneys from an account established under this subsection.

86.30(11)(c)2. 2. Maintain separate checking accounts to implement this subsection, if the eligible applicant implements this subsection by segregating revenues and expenditures described in this subsection in the eligible applicant’s bookkeeping system.

86.30 History History: 1977 c. 29; 1979 c. 32 s. 92 (1); 1979 c. 34 ss. 934b, 2102 (52) (a); 1981 c. 20, 248; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 29 ss. 1604 to 1616r; 3202 (51); 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39, 269; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 113, 338; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 20, 226; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20; 2017 a. 59; 2019 a. 9, 69; 2021 a. 58; 2023 a. 19.

86.302 86.302 Local roads; inventory.

86.302(1d) (1d)