Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding

Updated: December 8, 2023

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is a historic investment and WisDOT is working hard to maximize this opportunity for Wisconsin. BIL funding comes to the state in two primary ways.

First is formula funding. This is money that moves through various state-administered programs to pay for construction and received a significant increase through BIL.

The second way federal funding makes improvements in Wisconsin is through discretionary grants. The grant programs included were authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), or Annual Appropriation (AA). Individual communities and eligible organizations can apply for these highly competitive grants through U.S. DOT and other agencies. WisDOT is not the grant administrator for these opportunities but has resources to support local government leaders in their application process.

EXPLORE STATE PROGRAMS

Federally funded:

Federal formula funding received a significant increase through BIL. Links to these programs will further explain how to tap into new funding resources.

State funded:

Federally and State funded:

DISCOVER FEDERAL DISCRETIONARY GRANTS

The U.S. Department of Transportation and other agencies award federal discretionary grants to eligible applicants through a highly-competitive nationwide process based on qualifications and merit. Discover how to compete for these federal discretionary grants with the link above.

WisDOT offers many resources, including the opportunity to request a Letter of Support to supplement only U.S. DOT Federal Grant Applications.


WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson recaps WisDOT’s efforts and resources now available to help find and develop successful grant proposals:

Find transportation grant opportunities through WisDOT and the Federal Government. WisDOT experts walk through the available resources. Topics bookmarked within the webinars further tailor the information.

This map of WisDOT’s Improvement Program provides basic information about current and planned transportation improvement projects in Wisconsin. It includes the construction ID, work type, route, project limits and cost range. The Highway Projects and Studies map offers more details on these projects.

Wisconsin Discretionary Funds Awarded

Communities all across Wisconsin will receive critical investments and will position the state for success. The White House shares this fact sheet on how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering in Wisconsin.

Most recent federal discretionary grant awards (listed in award announcement date order)

Click image for GSA's current map (most recent pictured is August 2023)

Corridor Identification and Development Program (FRA) FY22. Funding for four studies submitted by WisDOT, one by Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, and one by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) will explore the expansion of passenger rail service in the state. The $500,000 grants announced under this program will fully cover the costs of studying these proposals:

  • Including Eau Claire and Madison along the route between Milwaukee and the Twin Cities
  • Extending the Hiawatha Service from Milwaukee to Green Bay (Hiawatha service extension)
  • Increasing the number of round trips on the Hiawatha service between Milwaukee and Chicago
  • Adding an additional round trip between Milwaukee and the Twin Cities
  • Studying passenger rail service via Eau Claire County to St. Paul on an existing corridor
  • Connecting Minneapolis to Duluth, Minnesota, through Superior, Wisconsin

Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program (RTA) FY23. City of Elkhorn will receive $320,000 to Design of Centralia Street Reconstruction and Bicycle Lane Addition.

Capital Investment Grants (CIG) FY24. City of Madison will receive $110,000,000 construction award for the new East-West Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.

Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) FY23. Port Milwaukee will receive $9,276,352 to construct storage silos and upgrades to expand the capacity of the port to move grain commodities.

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) FY23. Wisconsin will receive $985,718 to help communities plan safety projects. This announcement for planning and demonstration projects is the first of two award announcements. The following Wisconsin applicants will receive funding:

  • City of Beloit -- $400,400
  • City of La Crosse -- $160,000
  • Milwaukee County DOT -- $219,918
  • Oneida Nation -- $100,400
  • Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians -- $105,000

Tribal Transit Program (TTP) FY23. These Tribes in Wisconsin received funding for transit improvements:

  • Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians — $25,000
  • Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of WI — $150,000
  • Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin — $540,000

Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) FY23.
Fox Valley & Lake Superior Rail System (FOXY) will receive up to $2,045,160 for the rehabilitation of three moveable swing bridges over the Fox River on the rail line.

Commercial Driver's License Program Implementation (CDLPI) FY23. WisDOT DMV will receive $801,375 to support training and equipment to help DMV comply with federal mandates and improve Commercial Driver License (CDL) programs.

Areas of Persistent Poverty (AoPP) FY23.

  • The City of Madison will receive $258,480 for a plan for its proposed North-South "B" bus rapid transit line, which will provide high-quality service to areas of persistent poverty.
  • Milwaukee County Department of Transportation will receive $400,000 to study the feasibility of a shared Bus-Bike Only Lane on 35th Street (a major arterial street) between W. Vliet Street and W. National Avenue connecting the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County's North and South Sides.

Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund (TTPSF) FY23. Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin will receive $48,315 for Road Safety Audits at 11 Priority Locations.

RAISE FY23. Wisconsin will receive nearly $35 million to complete critical transportation infrastructure projects in southeastern Wisconsin.

  • WisDOT in Milwaukee County — $15,000,000
  • City of Milwaukee — $14,300,000
  • City Kenosha — $5,500,000

Bus and Low and No Emission FY23. The cities of Beloit and Madison will receive funding ($653,184 and $37,962,840) to replace older buses and address maintenance needs to improve service to customer while reducing emissions.

Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Program FY22. The City of Eau Claire will receive up to $9,999,600 to support project development, final design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction activities to replace two at-grade crossings (vehicle and pedestrian) with grade-separated overpasses over Union Pacific's rail line. The project is Galloway Street Vehicular and Pedestrian Rail Crossing Eliminations and Construction of Galloway St. Rail Overpass. The new overpasses will connect to the Chippewa River Regional Pedestrian Bike/Pedestrian Trail.

National Scenic Byways FY22. The Forest County Potawatomi Community Tribe in Wisconsin will receive $302,893 funding to enhance the Tribe’s biking and pedestrian trail by designing and constructing four culturally interpretive rest areas along a path which parallels the Nicolet-Wolf River Scenic Byway, adding cultural artwork to the biking/pedestrian underpass and installing wayfinding signage.

Bridge Investment Program FY22. City of Madison will receive $15.1 million for the John Nolen Drive Bridges to replace six bridges that serve 45,000 vehicles per day and an adjacent multi-use path along a major artery into downtown Madison.

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) FY22. $6 million in federal grants will be distributed to eight Wisconsin counties and municipalities to help develop comprehensive plans to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries.

  • The city of Milwaukee will receive $4.4 million to fund a project that addresses safety concerns for pedestrians and cyclists at 26 intersections in the city.
  • Seven communities will receive a total of more than $2.28 million in grants to build action plans to redesign roads, sidewalks, and crosswalks to make them safer for all road users. The Wisconsin cities include:
  • Milwaukee County — $800,000
  • St. Croix County — $500,000
  • City of Madison — $267,680
  • Kenosha County — $240,000
  • Brown County — $200,000
  • City of Park Falls — $144,000
  • Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians — $132,500

Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Program FY22. Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) received two federal grants to develop innovations to enhance work zone safety in Wisconsin. Funding is available through the first round of the new federal SMART Grants Program for these two programs:

  • To develop technology for a prototype autonomous truck-mounted attenuator (ATMA) to shield maintenance and construction workers from errant drivers. The ATMA is a crash cushion attached to the rear of a vehicle to absorb the impact of a crash. This project will receive over $1.8 million from the grant.
  • To extend the Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) to the local road network using smart work zone devices. WZDx incorporates real-time information on road conditions, such as lane closures in work zones, and shares the data through the 511 Wisconsin Traveler Information System at 511wi.gov and via the mobile app. Wisconsin will receive $250,000 purchase additional smart zone devices, such as connected arrow boards or connected location markers.

FAA Contract Tower Program FY23. Two Wisconsin airports will receive federal finding through the FAA Contract Tower Program for fiscal year 2023. Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee will receive $608,000 and Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh will receive $200,000 for improved operations and safety. Funding for both projects will enhance airfield safety. The project for Central Wisconsin Airport will replace non-standard equipment in a tracking system and improving radio communication between the tower and on-the-ground support vehicles. Wittman Regional Airport’s project will replace old control tower equipment.

Airport Terminals Grant Program FY23. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport will receive $5,100,000 to replace the flat roof areas over Concourse D at MKE that have reached their useful life.


​For more information, contact:

Local programs:

Chris Brooks, BIL Primary Point of Contact
(608) 267-3611, christopher.brooks1@dot.wi.gov

Discretionary funds:

Jessica L. Wagner, WisDOT Federal Program Officer
(608) 267-6979, jessical.wagner@dot.wi.gov