Archives for May 2024

Mobile equipment sales tax exemption forms required June 1

May 8, 2024 by Lane Kimble

A law WTBA helped pass, clarifying the manufacturing sales tax credit for important road building equipment, goes into effect soon.

Contractors who want to claim the credit on portable plants, crushers, and other machines must submit one of two forms with their equipment suppliers for anything bought on or after June 1, 2024. One form provides a paper copy, the other is an electronic submission.

Form S-211, Wisconsin Sales and Use Tax Exemption Certificate: Check the box for “other exemptions provided by law” and enter “Road Building Equipment.”

Form S-211E, Electronic Wisconsin Sales and Use Tax Exemption Certificate: Check the box for “Construction – Road Building Equipment.”

WTBA registered and testified in favor of the bill this past session. The state Department of Revenue detailed the changes in its quarterly Wisconsin Tax Bulletin this past week (Page 10, Item 7).

Fall Tribal Transportation Conference seeking presentation proposals

May 7, 2024 by Lane Kimble

You can help shape the state’s annual Tribal Transportation Conference agenda.

Organizers are seeking proposals for presentations at the conference, which runs Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 22-23, 2024 at Ho-Chunk Gaming in Wisconsin Dells.

Topics can include General Transportation, Labor & Business, Environmental & Cultural Resources, and Transportation Safety.

Held annually by WisDOT and the Inter-Tribal Task Force, the WTTC unites industry, tribal, state, and federal leaders to discuss ways to build and strengthen partnerships while offering new opportunities.

You can download a presentation proposal form HERE. Entries are due to Greg Blackdeerby Thursday, May 30.

State Rep. digs into quarry science on Walbec Group site tour

May 3, 2024 by Lane Kimble

DE PERE, Wis. — Joy Goeben – the former teacher-turned state representative – found herself the studentwhen she pulled into a Walbec Group quarry in De Pere on Thursday morning.

Nearly two hours later, Goeben (R-Hobart) walked away with a greater understanding and appreciation for aggregates, contractors, and the transportation construction industry as a whole.

“There’s so much science going on here,” Goeben said. “I never thought how much really was put into the thought processes behind the roads and trying to make them be as long lasting as possible and considering the costs. They’re really trying to find efficient, cost effective ways for the citizens of Wisconsin.”

The group, led by Walbec’s Director of Government Affairs Brandon Strand and Northeast Asphalt Area Manager Taylor Tauer, discussed quarry operations, blasting, water quality, and reclamation with Goeben, answering dozens of her questions. They also talked about transportation funding, the gas tax, and work zone safety before venturing down into the quarry itself.

“Just to educate our officials and Joy, specifically, on the amount of people that something like this serves,” Tauer said. “From the taxpayers to the people that are working for the different industries, the concrete, the asphalt, the aggregates, the contractors and how impactful something like this can be.”

Tauer stressed the importance of building strong relationships with communities where quarries are sited, noting it’s critical for contractors to have access to aggregate resources when working on projects like the nearby I-41 expansion.

“The company is working hard to ensure that (the quarry) isn’t causing adverse impact, so it’s good to see that so that if that issue arises, I am able to speak to it and say they’re doing a good job,” Goeben said. I love to meet with constituents who are working in the system who are so knowledgeable.”

Freeway Focus: Mega projects draw big attention during WPF transportation luncheon

May 3, 2024 by Lane Kimble

MILWAUKEE — The East-West Corridor and I-794 in Milwaukee share plenty of similarities beyond the obvious: one flows into the other. Their futures, though, could look quite different.

Those two stretches of freeway were the center of attention Wednesday afternoon at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino during the Wisconsin Policy Forum’s Transportation Viewpoint Luncheon.

About 200 people, including WTBA Executive Director Steve Baas, attended.

WisDOT Southeast Region Director Bob Gutierrez said work to expand the I-94 East-West Corridor from six to eight lanes while redesigning the Stadium Interchange will begin in 2025, despite an ongoing federal civil rights complaint over the expansion.

WisDOT received a federal record of decision this year approving the project.

“We had (a civil rights complaint) on the Zoo and we were able to work through that, ultimately, and provide resolution to that and I see the same thing for that,” Gutierrez said. “That complaint will not hold up the progress of this.”

Gutierrez said the project will also benefit city streets in places such as National Avenue, where crews will be able to install protected bike lanes thanks to reduced traffic. He added the $68 billion in freight that moves through the corridor is vital to maintain “not just (for) the city, it’s statewide.”

Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce President Dale Kooyenga, who was on a diverse stakeholder panel, agreed with that notion.

“We’re still a manufacturing community,” Kooyenga said.

“We’ve got to make sure we don’t have bottlenecks. That hits our productivity, that makes us unattractive for businesses to be in this region if we don’t have a part of our interstate that’s not moving traffic and you know that part of the interstate is not moving.”

Meanwhile, I-794’s future remains very much up in the air. The aging connection to the Hoan Bridge could either be rebuilt on its existing footprint, redesigned, or demolished altogether.

Supporters of demolition say it would better connect downtown Milwaukee with the Third Ward and open dozens of acres to commercial development, while opponents fear overcrowded city streets and cutting off the southern suburbs.

“There’s probably a win-win for a lot of the community as far as what they want to see,” Kooyenga said, adding MMAC is still gathering information from all of its members.

Gutierrez said WisDOT intends to whittle down numerous options in time for a public information meeting this fall. The Department will then choose its recommended alternative late this year or in early 2025.