Gov. Scott Walker's moves free up $100 million for Wisconsin roads

MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker said Thursday the state has found a way to dedicate another $100 million to transportation projects in the upcoming budget.

State officials project they will have an extra $38 million in revenue available. And Walker said he is directing the state Department of Transportation to move $65 million in projects statewide into the 2017 fiscal year.

"In total, these actions free up more than $100 million in funds for additional transportation projects due to new revenues and savings," Walker said.

In Neenah Thursday, Walker said: "This is just another example where we’re trying to work with the Legislature in ways to help them meet their transportation goals, while we still make sure it’s not taken from education or some other budget priorities."

Transportation has been an extremely contentious issue in state budget discussions, with Walker battling allies like Assembly Speaker Robin Vos of Rochester and other GOP leaders over the issue.

"He wants to put a bit more into transportation," Walker said of Vos. "I’m willing to work with him on that."

The state DOT will fund another 21 projects around the state in June, DOT Secretary Dave Ross said. The list does not include I-94.

"I call dibs for I-94 N-S!" state Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) tweeted of the massive north-south project.

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One Assembly Republican called the announcement "positive movement" from Walker.

"We'll continue to look for long-term solutions to help reduce dependence on borrowing," state Rep. Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) tweeted.

Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) said the money, if it's "real," would help but wouldn't get Wisconsin where it needs to be in terms of funding road projects.

"It doesn't address the short-term problem, and it doesn't address the long-term problem," Erpenbach said. "The governor has not begun to address the glaring problem that we are starving the DOT and we are starving roads to death."

State officials said lower fuel prices and more competitive bids on projects led to increased savings on road projects.

The 21 projects set to receive funding include part of state Highway 16 in Waukesha County and stretches of U.S. 12 and U.S. 18 in Dunn, Juneau and Jefferson counties.

Madeleine Behr of the USA TODAY Network-Wisconsin contributed to this story from Neenah.