Governor Tony Evers told reporters on October 5 that the final General Transportation Aid (GTA) payments of his administration are a direct fulfillment of his promise to fix Wisconsin’s roads. “When I took office, I promised to fix the darn roads, and today we’re delivering on that promise,” Evers said, noting that more than 9,600 miles of road and 2,400 bridges have been improved or repaired since he took office in 2019.
Quarterly payment details
The fourth‑quarter disbursement totals $152,117,468.33. The funds are allocated to municipalities for construction, maintenance and operation of local roads, to connecting‑highway aid for state highways that run through cities and towns, and to expressway‑policing aid that helps the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office patrol the county’s expressways.
Local governments will receive more than $570 million in GTA assistance for calendar year 2026. Over the 2025‑27 biennium, municipalities are slated to get $33.2 million more than in the previous biennium, while counties will receive nearly $10 million extra.
Funding background
The bipartisan 2025‑27 Biennial Budget, signed by Evers last year, added $1.1 billion in new transportation funding. That includes a three‑percent annual increase to the GTA program, a supplemental $100 million for the Local Roads Improvement Program (LRIP), and a $150 million investment in the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP), of which $30 million targets culvert and small‑structure repairs.
In addition to the GTA boost, the budget generates nearly $200 million in additional revenue for the state transportation fund, improving its long‑term sustainability.
WisDOT perspective
WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman emphasized the broader impact of the aid. “When we invest in our local roads, we’re not just investing in pavement and steel; we’re investing in the safety and mobility of everyone in our state,” Boardman said. She added that WisDOT is committed to making every mile of a traveler’s journey safe and efficient.
How payments are distributed
Quarterly payments to cities, villages and towns are sent on the first Monday of January, April, July and October. County payments are made in three installments: 25 percent on the first Monday of January, 50 percent on the first Monday of July, and the remaining 25 percent on the first Monday of October.
A complete list of the fourth‑quarter payments is available on the WisDOT website.
Local impact
County and municipal officials across Wisconsin have welcomed the funding, noting that the aid will enable critical resurfacing projects, bridge repairs and safety upgrades that support families, businesses and emergency responders. The infusion of GTA money aligns with the administration’s broader goal of providing 21st‑century infrastructure that underpins the state’s workforce and economy.
Overall, the GTA program now accounts for almost one‑third of Wisconsin’s transportation budget, underscoring the state’s commitment to keeping roads and bridges in good repair for the benefit of all Wisconsinites.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
