Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), today announced an investment of $100 million for 55 projects to assist with fixing and upgrading aging local roads that support Wisconsin’s farmers and producers, as well as statewide agricultural and forestry industries in 36 counties across the state.

Projects receiving funding are focused on improving rural roads and culverts that are critical to moving and transporting agricultural and forestry products efficiently and effectively across the state. Wisconsin’s agricultural industry has a more than $116 billion economic impact that supports nearly 354,000 jobs. Created and funded by Gov. Evers as part of the 2023-25 biennial budget, this is the second round of Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) award announcements. The governor previously announced the first round of grants in July.

“It’s exceedingly important to have good roads and infrastructure, which not only ensure Wisconsinites can get from Point A to Point B safely but also make sure our farmers and agricultural industries can get products to market to put food on the tables of families the world over,” said Gov. Evers. “Contributing a combined $116.3 billion in economic impact and supporting nearly 354,000 jobs across the state, Wisconsin’s agriculture and food processing sectors are a critical part of our state’s history and our future. We must continue investing in repairing and fixing our roads and modernizing our infrastructure to support our farmers, agricultural industries, and rural communities across our state.”

In June 2023, Gov. Evers signed 2023 Wisconsin Act 13 to expand the Local Roads Improvement Program to include agricultural road improvement projects by creating the ARIP. Weeks later, in July 2023, Gov. Evers signed the 2023-25 biennial budget, which provided $150 million for ARIP to improve the transportation infrastructure that provides access to agricultural lands or facilities. ARIP funds up to 90 percent of total eligible project costs, with the remaining balance covered by the local project sponsor.

The first ARIP project solicitation awarded nearly $50 million in state investments to support 37 projects across 28 Wisconsin counties. Gov. Evers and WisDOT visited communities across the state earlier this summer that had received funding in the first round of awards to hear about how the funding was helping local farmers and producers. A full list of round one award recipients can be found here.

In the second ARIP project solicitation, 220 applications were received, totaling more than $370 million in requested project funding. Of these 220 applications, 74 were previously submitted for funding consideration in the first ARIP project solicitation, and 146 were new applications. Over both solicitation periods, WisDOT received 299 unique ARIP applications, reflecting $507 million in project costs, highlighting the increased statewide demand and interest in the program. A full list of round two award recipients can be found here.

“The number of applications received clearly demonstrates the need for this program,” said WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman. “ARIP funding is specifically targeted toward fixing roads and culverts in our rural communities. WisDOT is proud to support these improvements so our agricultural industries can safely and efficiently get products from point A to point B.”

Awarded projects from both ARIP solicitations support improvements to routes where more than 15 million tons of agricultural products, valued at over $12 billion, are transported every year. Many state industries will benefit from these improvements, including forestry, dairy, animal, grain and feed, manure and fertilizer, ethanol, cranberry, potato, and other vegetable producers. These projects impact industries that support more than 6,000 agricultural and forestry jobs in Wisconsin.

ARIP is a reimbursement program, which may pay up to a maximum of 90 percent of total eligible project costs, with the balance of the eligible costs funded by the local government where the work is performed.

To be eligible for funding, projects needed to meet the following criteria:

• The project highway, or the highway where the bridge or culvert is located, is functionally classified by the department as a local road or minor collector.
• The highway, bridge, or culvert provides access to agricultural lands or facilities used to produce agricultural goods, including forest products.
• The highway, bridge, or culvert is used by at least one agricultural producer.
• The highway is designated as a class “B” highway due to structural deficiencies or is subject to a posted weight limitation at least annually.
• After the improvement, the highway will not be designated as a class “B” highway and will not be subject to a posted weight limitation other than under extraordinary or emergency circumstances.
• The highway, bridge, or culvert is maintained by a political subdivision.

Source - https://urbanmilwaukee.com