Transportation Commission to hold public listening session in Eau Claire on May 31

May 24, 2012

Citizens interested in Wisconsin’s transportation future are invited to attend a public listening session hosted by the state’s Transportation Finance and Policy Commission Thursday, May 31, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Hospital’s Community Auditorium, 900 W. Clairemont Avenue, Eau Claire.

"We hope interested citizens will use the listening session to provide the Commission with input on Wisconsin's transportation future, especially as it pertains to prioritizing and funding our long-range transportation needs," said Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Secretary Mark Gottlieb, who serves as Commission chair.

Secretary Gottlieb said information presented to the Commission indicates there is a potential $15 billion gap between the funding needed to sustain current transportation services and the amount of revenue that’s expected from existing sources over the next 10 years. The Commission is statutorily required to recommend how to bring transportation expenditures and revenues into a stable balance.

The Wisconsin Legislature established the Commission as part of the 2011-13 biennial budget to examine issues related to the future of transportation finance in Wisconsin. The Commission is required to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature no later than March 1, 2013.

The Eau Claire meeting is the fourth public listening session the Commission has held around the state – previous meetings were held in Madison, Milwaukee and Appleton. Prior to the public listening session, the Commission will hold its regular meeting beginning at 9 a.m.

People unable to attend the listening session are invited to send comments to the Commission via e-mail.

More information about the Commission, its members, meetings and listening sessions can be found on the WisDOT web site.

For more information, contact: 
Rob Miller, WisDOT Office of Public Affairs
(608) 266-2405, robert.miller@dot.wi.gov