Finally Fixing Farm Roads New $150 million Ag Road Program and Increased Aid for Local Governments

The broken-down condition of our rural town and county roads has been a long-standing problem for Wisconsin farmers. A decade ago, the legislature attempted to address the problems created by the disparity between the modern agricultural equipment farmers were investing in to stay competitive and the roads outside the farms that the state was not investing in. This was done by updating our antiquated regulations on implements of husbandry. While the update was overdue, the discussion failed to address the elephant in the room – these roads need to be fixed and modernized if rural Wisconsin’s economy is to succeed.

In recent years, the crumbling state of rural roads has started to get attention in Madison with new funding directed toward existing local aid programs at the Department of Transportation, but those programs prioritize funding the highest traffic routes for commuters, not farm roads. This year, that is finally starting to change.

Legislation requested by Wisconsin Farm Bureau and the groups within the Ag Coalition to create an Agricultural Road Improvement Program (ARIP) focused specifically on modernizing infrastructure in farm country was introduced the day before Ag Day at the Capitol in. The bill, authored by Sen. Howard Marklein, Sen. Cory Tomczyk and Sen. Joan Ballweg, and Rep. Travis Tranel and Rep. Nancy VanderMeer, was passed and signed into law by Gov. Evers as Act 13 in June. The $150 million for the program was included in the state budget, along with historic investments in state aids to local governments, and an increase of more than $360 million for local roads and bridges. These investments, along with the use of federal money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, have put Wisconsin in a position to make real investments in rural infrastructure.

Farm Bureau will be working closely with the DOT to implement the new law. The department is starting work on the application and approval process for the grants, and more information will be forthcoming, but for now farmers and local governments should look at routes that may be good candidates for the new grant program.

The ARIP program is modeled on existing programs at the DOT that provide state assistance for local road projects but with specific metrics to ensure the funding will go to routes that currently create the greatest barriers for agriculture. To be eligible for a grant under the program a route or structure must have been posted for weight for at least one month in the previous year, be maintained by a local government, and provide access to agricultural lands or facilities.

ARIP grants will be awarded on a competitive basis prioritizing projects that have the greatest positive economic impact for agricultural operations. Elimination of redundant trips, allowing equipment to go from point A to point B without lengthy detours and limiting fuel, labor, and other costs to farmers will all be factors in the grant process.

The original bill would have created a 100% state funded program, but the final bill included a 10% matching requirement for local governments. While some may see this as a deterrent for locals to take advantage of the program, in the context of the historic investment in additional shared revenue and the fact that this remains the most generous grant program DOT has, we expect to see a great deal of interest in the program.

WFBF will provide updates for members as work on program implementation moves forward.