November 14, 2026

By Lane Kimble

MADISON — The handshakes, hugs, and happiness seemed never-ending as Gov.-elect David Crowley worked the room with purpose following his speech Thursday morning.

No request for a picture or quick chat was too small.

Indeed, Crowley expects–heck, he even hopes–to hear a lot more from the transportation industry in the coming months.

“I want to make sure you all have a seat at the table,” Crowley said. “And I want us to have honest conversations about what is working, where we are falling short, and what it will take to meet the needs of the next generation.”

Crowley essentially served as the kickoff speaker for the Transportation Development Association’s (TDA) Annual Meeting at Monona Terrace.

It was one of Crowley’s first big public appearances since winning the race for governor Nov. 3.

The 40-year-old Democrat from Milwaukee was jovial but also honest during his 10-minute remarks to about 100 attendees.  He alluded to the $1 billion transportation funding shortfall headed into his first state budget.

“The challenges facing our transportation system, we all know in this room that they are real. The decisions we make today, they’re going to shape Wisconsin for decades to come,” Crowley said.

The room was representative of the kind of coalition TDA brings together and the type of diverse group Crowley says he aims to unite under his administration.

There were WTBA contractors, engineers, fellow association leaders, local government representatives, and WisDOT staff all in attendance.

“We will have some differences of opinion on some (budget) policy, probably.  That’s OK,” outgoing TDA President Robb Kahl told attendees.

“What we need to do, though, is maintain that consistency and agreement.  We need to fight for more dollars, period.

“And the way we get that done is by doing it together.”

The governor-elect faces a busy next few months.  He’ll be sworn in Jan. 4 on Inauguration Day, then must prepare a State of the State speech and his own Budget Address by late-February.

That also means juggling dozens of state agencies and interests all seeking more funding in the 2027-29 budget, but Crowley said long-term, sustainable transportation funding will be a priority.

“The cost of failing to invest today will only make tomorrow’s challenges even more difficult and that much more expensive,” Crowley said.  “Together we have a great opportunity to do more than just maintain the status quo.”