DOT Maintains Funding for Local Road Projects

State grant dollars awarded for critical transportation projects around the state, including four within Door County, will be funded after all. 

The Multimodal Local Supplement (MLS) grant program was created through Gov. Tony Evers’ partial veto of the 2019-21 budget. Then the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned that veto July 10, putting the MLS grant program in jeopardy, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). WisDOT then notified awardees – including the Village of Egg Harbor, Town of Brussels, City of Sturgeon Bay and Door County – that the veto could have an effect on the grant money awarded.

After an analysis of the ruling and the development of a contingency plan to fund projects, WisDOT notified the awardees July 30 that it would fund the MLS projects at the same funding levels as previously awarded. 

Local grant money includes $450,100 for improvements to the County J bridge for Door County; $142,889.85 for improvements to Cemetery Road for the Town of Brussels; $200,000 for improvements to South Neenah Avenue for Sturgeon Bay; and $1 million for a multimodal road, bike and pedestrian project on Church Street for the Village of Egg Harbor.