MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), today announced over $31 million in funding from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program to support local projects aimed at reducing vehicle congestion and improving air quality, such as building multi-use bike trails, replacing outdated diesel buses, and installing new traffic signal equipment and other intersection improvements.
“Protecting the environment and ensuring the sustainability and reliability of our roads and infrastructure have been critical priorities of my administration since Day One, and with this latest round of funding through the CMAQ Improvement Program we’re continuing to focus on connecting those dots,” said Gov. Evers. “I’m jazzed that these investments are making it easier for folks to travel throughout these communities while contributing to our efforts to improve air quality across the state.”
This announcement builds on Gov. Evers’ efforts over the past seven-plus years to bolster the state’s transportation system and build multi-modal and clean energy infrastructure to meet the needs of the 21st Century, reduce carbon emissions, and improve the health and well-being of Wisconsinites across the state.
The CMAQ Improvement Program supports projects that improve traffic flow, upgrade technologies, or enhance roadway mobility, including upgrading public transit, expanding bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and supporting ridesharing programs. Wisconsin’s over $31 million in CMAQ funds will support 13 projects to implement sustainable transportation solutions, such as:
- Creating a new multi-purpose trail in the town of Gibraltar in Door County;
- Converting a signalized intersection into a roundabout and updating traffic signal equipment in Waukesha County;
- Replacing 30 outdated diesel buses, installing transponder equipment on 77 buses and optimizing traffic signals at over 30 intersections, and increasing awareness of public transit in Milwaukee County; and
- Adding bus boarding islands and other pedestrian- and transit-related improvements along 2.2 miles of N. Teutonia Ave. in the city of Milwaukee.
A complete list of the 13 awarded projects can be found on WisDOT’s website.
The CMAQ Improvement Program is a federal reimbursement program administered by WisDOT that provides an 80 percent federal cost share to assist eligible communities with transportation projects that improve traffic congestion and air quality.
“WisDOT’s core mission is to improve safety and efficiency for all types of transportation,” said WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman. “Eligible Wisconsin counties and their residents deserve reliable and accessible public transportation to easily get around their communities, get to school or get to work. These projects will help support that goal while also modernizing our transportation infrastructure.”
The CMAQ program funds transportation projects located in eligible counties in the Northeast and Southeast regions of Wisconsin that result in emissions reductions. During the 2026-2030 CMAQ cycle, WisDOT received and awarded project proposals from both regions. WisDOT anticipates releasing information on the 2028-2032 CMAQ Program Cycle in the summer of 2027. Application materials, including application instructions and guidelines, will be posted to WisDOT’s CMAQ webpage.
ADDITIONAL EFFORTS BY THE EVERS ADMINISTRATION TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, BUILD A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE IN WISCONSIN
Gov. Evers has long championed efforts to promote climate resilience through innovative transportation infrastructure and clean energy initiatives. Gov. Evers created the Wisconsin Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy (OSCE) in 2019 with the goal of developing the Wisconsin Clean Energy Plan to promote the development and use of clean and renewable energy across the state, advance innovative sustainability solutions that improve the state’s economy and environment, and diversify the resources used to meet the state’s energy needs. The order also established the state’s goal to reach 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2050 and charged the OSCE with ensuring the state is fulfilling the carbon reduction goals of the Paris Agreement.
Last month, Gov. Evers announced that the Evers Administration has adopted a new Clean Fleet Policy, requiring state agencies to purchase alternative fuel vehicles, such as electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids, for new fleet vehicle acquisitions unless an approved exemption applies. The Clean Fleet Policy, created in partnership with OSCE, will ensure the state of Wisconsin—one of the state’s largest employers—is continuing to do its part to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants, improving air quality for Wisconsinites and reducing the state’s climate impact, actions that are especially important amid federal efforts to roll back clean vehicle and emission standards nationwide. The state’s fleet is comprised of just over 6,000 vehicles, only 14 percent of which are currently alternative fuel vehicles.
Similarly, as co-chair of the U.S. Climate Alliance, Gov. Evers announced last year that Wisconsin would be joining the Alliance’s Affordable Clean Cars Coalition. This multi-state initiative is aimed at sustaining America’s transition to cleaner and more affordable cars, supporting U.S. automotive manufacturers and workers, and improving air quality for all. The Clean Fleet Policy also follows recommendations made by the state’s Clean Energy Plan, which recommends the state work to transition the state’s vehicle fleet to clean fuels and zero-emission vehicles. The policy also ensures continued compliance with requirements from the federal Energy Policy Act, as well as state statute, both of which encourage a transition to alternative fuel vehicles.
Further, this announcement builds upon the work of Gov. Evers and the Evers Administration to improve safety and efficiency on Wisconsin’s roads. Under Gov. Evers’ leadership, the state has improved more than 9,600 miles of roads and 2,400 bridges statewide since 2019. Wisconsinites could drive from Wausau, Wisconsin, to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and back three times with miles to spare on the miles of roads fixed.
In each of his biennial budgets, Gov. Evers has secured historic investments in Wisconsin’s transportation infrastructure, and improving Wisconsin’s roads and bridges continued to be a priority for the governor in the state’s most recent budget.
The final 2025-27 Biennial Budget signed by Gov. Evers provides $1.1 billion in new funding for key transportation investments. This includes:
- Increasing General Transportation Aids (GTA) by three percent in both 2026 and 2027, which will provide municipalities with $33.2 million more over the biennium and counties with nearly $10 million over the biennium;
- A historic increase of nearly $333 million over the biennium in the state highway rehabilitation program;
- $100 million for the Local Roads Improvement Program-Supplemental program component;
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Continuing support for the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program, created by Gov. Evers in the 2023-25 biennium, with a $150 million investment to continue repairing and improving Wisconsin’s rural roads to help farmers and producers and the state’s agricultural and forestry industries move products to market safely and efficiently;
- $30 million of the $150 million secured for ARIP will be specifically targeted to bridge and culvert repair to help improve and repair deteriorating bridges across the state.
- $244.5 million to keep key projects, such as I-41 and I-39/90, on schedule;
- A 10 percent increase to paratransit aids, increasing funding by $687,600 over the biennium;
- Improving safety on Milwaukee County expressways with $38 million in expressway policing aids; and
- $50 million for the harbor assistance program, including $15 million for the Menominee Harbor Project and $20 million for the Port of Green Bay.
The 2025-27 Biennial Budget also improves ongoing transportation fund revenues by generating nearly $200 million in additional revenue to improve the sustainability of the transportation fund.
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