February 14, 2026
By Lane Kimble
PEWAUKEE — Are you a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty kind of person?
To Steve Baas, they’re not mutually exclusive.
That’s why the WTBA Executive Director brought two glasses filled to the halfway mark with construction cone-colored orange soda as he presented last Friday at the Wisconsin Concrete Pavement Association’s Annual Conference in Pewaukee.
In one glass, Baas explained, the transportation construction industry is in good shape thanks to $1.5 billion in new and ongoing money in the last two state budgets, hundreds of new projects each year, and record-setting let levels.
In the other? A more than $1 billion transportation funding shortfall awaits us in the next budget cycle, with several huge and critical projects like I-94 East-West in Milwaukee and I-39/90/94 from Madison to Wisconsin Dells already underway or on track to begin.
“The challenges we face in the half-empty glass are not going to be solved by one section or one sector of the industry alone. It’s going to take all of us working together,” Baas said, shortly before handing off to his presenting partner Debby Jackson with TDA.
Friday’s presentation gave Baas and Jackson the chance to demonstrate how industry coordination will be the key to solving that significant funding hurdle. The duo laid out the groundwork and gameplan WTBA, TDA, and other partners have already begun, giving the room plenty of optimism.
“We’re going to take that half-empty (glass) and, if we do this right and do it together, we’re going to make that full,” Baas said.
The goal, Jackson explained, is to make the general public understand this issue impacts everyone–not just transportation builders. It will require a multi-pronged approach, helping people realize funding shortfalls impact their community streets, rural bridges, freeways, and connecting highways that get us to work, school, and vacations.
Baas stepped in again momentarily, this time with his arms raised over his head.
“I’m going to date myself here for a moment,” Baas admitted. “This is our Diane Court strategy.”
Referencing the 1989 classic romcom “Say Anything,” Baas urged attendees to make the need for transportation investments impossible for lawmakers to ignore as we head into the 2027 budget process.
“What does Lloyd do,” Baas asked. “He’s standing out under her bedroom window with the boombox playing ‘In Your Eyes’, right?
“This campaign is Lloyd, with the boombox… until eventually Diane Court realizes that she loves him and it all works out together.”
A series of upcoming public discussions on transportation and the importance of a well-funded system provide an early opportunity to Say Something.
There will be six “Turnout for Transportation” roundtables held May 14-28. Locations include Appleton, Oak Creek, Janesville, Wausau, Eau Claire and La Crosse. Each morning’s discussion will run from 7:30-9 a.m. and will include community leaders, industry partners, lawmakers and candidates for office.
Click HERE for more information and for free registration.
