Evers awards $75 million for 152 transportation projects

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday handed out $75 million in grants for 152 local transportation projects across Wisconsin.

The one-time funding approved in the state budget last year comes from a program to bolster local transportation projects.

Evers announced the grants for 84 towns, 34 cities and villages and 34 counties. They were selected from more than 1,600 applications for funding under the program, which makes funding available for local transportation needs including roads, bridges, harbors, railroads and both pedestrian and bike paths.

“No matter where you go in Wisconsin, folks can all agree that we need to fix our crumbling roads,” Evers said in a statement. “These newly funded projects are going to impact folks all across our state, improving safety, connectivity, and economic growth in each community.”

The Transportation Development Association, which advocates for road and transportation funding, said the fact that more than 1,400 projects won’t get funded speaks to the backlog that exists. Total applications sought nearly $1.5 billion in funding, the group said.

The budget Evers signed spent nearly $7 billion on transportation over two years. He vetoed $15 million out of the funding for the local grant program, leaving the $75 million that was awarded Wednesday.

STORY BY: AP NEWS