Wisconsin RAISE Grants Improve Transportation Infrastructure

Rails to Trails (RTC) crunched the numbers and reported that sixty-four percent of projects focused at least a portion of their RAISE funding on active transportation infrastructure, with many of these projects recognizing the importance of connecting to everyday destinations. In total, over $425 million granted in this round of RAISE was invested in projects focused solely on bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

RTC’s Kevin Mills points out that, while this investment is significant, further investment in infrastructure that supports safe active transportation is needed:

“Demand for connected walking and biking infrastructure continues to grow for communities of all sizes and types due to urgent needs to prevent traffic crashes and improve access to economic opportunities. With each round of federal infrastructure grants, we continue to see an influx of projects that close gaps in trail and active transportation systems to create new connections and mobility options for people across the country. These are the investments that make communities function better for everyone—necessary improvements that local leaders are championing and Congress is celebrating.”

Kevin Mills, RTC’s vice president of policy

One such RAISE award was to the City of Waukesha who received $1.1 million for two key trail bridges within the Route of the Badger which will address safety concerns at highway intersections. Funds will support the planning and design of two bicycle and pedestrian structures over US Highway 18/State Trunk Highway 59 and US Highway 18/State Trunk Highway 59/State Trunk Highway 164.

The Route of the Badger is a regional trail network project that is part of the Rails to Trails Conservancy’s TrailNation initiative to catalyze trails and active transportation networks across the Country. The Bike Fed and the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) are partners on the Route of the Badger. Progress to date can be viewed on this map that includes existing trails, planned trails, funded trails, existing on-street, planned on-street and funded on-street segments.