Current law requires that any major highway project, unlike other construction projects undertaken by DOT, receive the approval of the transportation projects commission (TPC) and the legislature before the project may be constructed. A major highway project is a project having a total cost of more than $5,000,000 and involving construction of a new highway 2.5 miles or more in length; reconstruction or reconditioning of an existing highway that relocates at least 2.5 miles of the highway or adds one or more lanes 5 miles or more in length to the highway; or improvement of an existing multilane divided highway to freeway standards. There are currently 66 enumerated major highway projects approved for construction.
This bill adds 3 major highway projects recommended by TPC to the list of enumerated projects.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -3056/2 ***
This bill creates a seasonal highway rehabilitation program to rehabilitate highways located in the northern part of the state, on which any special or seasonal weight limitation applies.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -0653/2 ***
This bill permits DOT to fund environmental clean-up activities on lands acquired by DOT that are not eligible to receive funding for the environmental clean-up activities as part of a highway improvement project.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -2207/1 ***
Current law imposes weight and width limitations for vehicles operating on highways in this state and specifies exceptions to those vehicle weight or width limits. Certain vehicle weight and width limit exceptions do not apply or are further restricted on highways that are part of the national system of interstate and defense highways. These exceptions include width limitations for farm tractors and weight limitations for the transportation of raw forest and agricultural products or of metallic or nonmetallic scrap.
This bill provides that, for purposes of vehicle weight and width limit exceptions, USH 51 between Wausau and the I 90/94 interchange near Portage is not part of the national system of interstate and defense highways upon its federal designation as I 39.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -1531/4 ***
Drivers and motor vehicles
Under current law, DOT administers a classified driver license system to implement the requirements of the federal commercial motor vehicle safety act of 1986. The classified driver license system provides a comprehensive single license authorizing the operation of specific classes and types of motor vehicles, including commercial motor vehicles. In addition, DOT disqualifies any driver who has committed certain serious traffic-related offenses from operating a commercial motor vehicle for a certain period of time, up to a lifetime disqualification.
This bill makes numerous changes to the classified driver license system. These changes include:
1. Creating new disqualifications for certain offenses relating to a commercial driver license application and for operating a commercial motor vehicle while ordered out-of-service for certain alcohol-related offenses. The bill imposes a longer period of disqualification for an out-of-service violation if the person was operating a hazardous materials transporter or a vehicle designed to carry, or which was actually carrying, 16 or more persons.
2. Requiring a person operating, upon a highway in this state, motorized construction equipment that is designed principally for off-road use, to possess a valid Wisconsin driver's license. The motorized construction equipment operator is exempt from any commercial driver licensing requirements. Current law exempts such operators from all licensing requirements of DOT.
3. Changing restricted commercial driver licenses to prohibit only the operation of commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce, rather than prohibiting commercial motor vehicle operation outside this state and in interstate commerce.
4. Increasing the fine that may be imposed on an employer who knowingly allows or authorizes an employe to operate a commercial motor vehicle when the employe is not validly authorized to operate the commercial motor vehicle. The penalty is increased from a fine of not more than $5,000 to a fine of not less than $2,500 nor more than $10,000.
5. Making ineligible for an occupational license any person whose license or operating privilege was revoked or suspended within the previous year for a controlled substances violation or a violation of the financial responsibility laws of this state.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -0641/3 ***
Under current law, an applicant for a driver's license to operate "Class D" vehicles (all noncommercial motor vehicles except Type 1 motorcycles) is required to successfully complete a knowledge test and a driving skills test. An instructor in a driver education course in a public school, private school, or technical college approved by the technical college system board may, if permitted by DOT, administer the knowledge test to students in the driver education course and certify the results to DOT. These instructors are not permitted to administer the driving skills test.
This bill permits DOT, by rule, to waive the driving skills test of an applicant for a driver's license to operate "Class D" vehicles who is under 18 years of age, has successfully completed an enhanced driver education course approved by the department of public instruction or the technical college system board, and whose instructor in that course certifies that the applicant satisfied the driving skills requirements of the course. This waiver provision applies only to driver education courses in public schools, private schools and technical colleges.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -0634/1 ***
Current law permits the secretary of transportation to suspend or revoke a person's operating privilege for repeated violations of state or local traffic laws. The secretary is authorized to establish a schedule of demerit points based on the seriousness of various traffic convictions. The secretary is required to reduce the accumulated demerit points assessed against a person by up to 3 points if the person successfully completes a rider course on motorcycle operation approved by the secretary. Point reduction applies only to demerit points assessed for violations committed before completion of the rider course while the person was driving or operating a Type 1 motorcycle and may not occur more than once.
This bill removes the prohibition against such point reduction occurring more than once per person.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -0597/1 ***
Under current law, the operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in total damage of $500 or more to a publicly owned vehicle or to private property must report the accident as soon as possible to the state patrol or to the law enforcement agency of the jurisdiction where the accident occurred. Failure to report an accident may result in a forfeiture of not less than $40 nor more than $200 or, for a 2nd or subsequent offense within a year, a forfeiture of not less than $200 nor more than $500.
Current law requires DOT to notify the operator or owner of a motor vehicle who is involved in an accident that results in property damage of $500 or more that he or she must submit to DOT a deposit of security for the accident. A deposit of security is not required if the person can provide proof of financial responsibility (an applicable motor vehicle liability insurance policy or bond in effect at the time of the accident providing minimum levels of liability insurance for bodily injury and property damage). With certain exceptions, failure to provide a deposit of security or proof of financial responsibility after an accident results in revocation of the operator's motor vehicle operating privilege or of the registration of any vehicles registered by the owner of the vehicle involved in the accident.
This bill raises the minimum property damage for these provisions from $500 to $1,000.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -3084/2 ***
Under current law, a motor vehicle dealer may accept from a vehicle purchaser applications and any required fees for registration or titling of the vehicle. The dealer must forward the application and fees to DOT within 7 days after the vehicle sale. DOT processes each application and forwards the applicable certificate of registration or titling to the purchaser.
This bill allows a motor vehicle dealer, by contract with DOT, to accept and process applications, and any applicable fees, for vehicle registration or title, and to issue certificates of registration, certificates of title, registration stickers and license plates. DOT may allow a motor vehicle dealer to charge an applicant a fee for such services.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -0912/2 ***
Currently, members of authorized special groups may obtain special distinguishing registration plates for certain vehicles registered with DOT that are owned or leased by special group members. Special plates may be obtained for automobiles, station wagons, motor homes and certain dual purpose motor homes, farm trucks and dual purpose farm trucks. In addition to the regular registration fee for the particular kind of vehicle, no fee is assessed to issue or reissue special plates associated with endangered resources, $15 is assessed to issue or reissue special plates related to certain campuses of the University of Wisconsin System and $10 is assessed to issue or reissue all other special distinguishing registration plates.
This bill provides that a fee of $15 be assessed for the issuance or reissuance of all special distinguishing registration plates, including endangered resources special plates.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -3053/3 ***
Under current law, DOT is required to take a photograph of any applicant for a driver's license or identification card and affix the photograph to the driver's license or identification card issued to that applicant.
This bill authorizes DOT to take and use a digitized image of an applicant in addition to, or in place of, a photograph for use on a driver's license or identification card issued to that applicant. The bill also requires that any photograph, including a digitized image, be kept confidential by DOT and be used only by DOT, by authorized law enforcement authorities, by state agencies, by federal agencies or as the applicant may direct.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -2280/3 ***
Transportation aids
Under current law, DOT administers a local transportation aids program. Under the program, DOT makes aid payments to a county based on a share of costs formula for counties, and to a municipality (city, village or town) based on the greater of a share of costs formula for municipalities or an aid rate per mile ($1,350 for 1995).
This bill provides that only towns are eligible for mileage-based aid under the program; aid payments to cities and villages are based solely on the share of costs formula for municipalities. The aid rate per mile for towns is increased to $1,415 in 1996 and to $1,480 for 1997 and thereafter.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -2201/5 ***
Under current law, DOT pays 42% of the operating expenses of an urban mass transit system if the local public body that provides the mass transit system is eligible for aid under the urban mass transit operating assistance program. DOT also makes supplemental operating assistance payments to eligible systems with annual operating expenses greater than $20,000,000 and an annual ridership of more than 7,000,000 one-way trips.
This bill revises the funding formula for the program and eliminates supplemental operating assistance payments. Under the bill, DOT makes state aid payments sufficient to ensure that the combination of state and federal aids contributed toward the operating expenses of an urban mass transit system equals the uniform percentage established by DOT for the mass transit system. The bill requires DOT to establish uniform percentages for each of the following: 1) mass transit systems in urban areas having a population of less than 50,000; 2) mass transit systems in urban areas having a population between 50,000 and 200,000; and 3) mass transit systems in urban areas having a population of more than 200,000.
The bill also requires DOT to establish, by rule, cost-efficiency standards for urban mass transit systems and, if a mass transit system incurs costs inconsistent with those standards, to exclude those costs from operating expenses for purposes of mass transit aid or to reduce the amount of aid for the mass transit system under the program. DOT is given emergency rule-making authority to establish the cost-efficiency standards.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -2197/2 ***
Currently, under the urban mass transit operating assistance program, each applicant is required to make a local contribution, exclusive of user fees, equal to at least 20% of the state aid allocations under the program. Any applicant that is served solely by a shared-ride taxicab system is not required to make a local contribution.
This bill requires any eligible applicant that is served solely by a shared-ride taxicab system to make a local contribution, exclusive of user fees, equal to at least 5% of the state aid allocations under the program for 1996, at least 10% of the state aid allocations under the program for 1997, at least 15% of the state aid allocations under the program for 1998 and at least 20% of the state aid allocations under the program for calendar year 1999 and thereafter.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -2189/2 ***
This bill increases the level of revenue bonding for major highway projects and transportation administrative facilities from $950,834,000 to $1,074,514,500, of which not more than $1,031,634,300 may be used to fund such projects and facilities.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -3023/1 ***
Under current law, DOT administers a local roads improvement program to reimburse counties, cities, villages and towns for up to 50% of eligible costs of local road improvements (highway construction projects with a projected design life of at least 10 years and highway feasibility studies). Under an entitlement formula, town road improvements are eligible for 28.5% of the funds available for reimbursements. In addition, $500,000 is allocated in each fiscal year for the reimbursement of town road improvements with eligible costs of not less than $100,000 notwithstanding any reimbursements made under the existing entitlement formula.
This bill increases this allocation in each fiscal year from $500,000 to $1,000,000.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -2217/3 ***
Under current law, DOT administers a surface transportation discretionary grants program. Under the program, DOT annually may award grants to local public bodies for surface transportation projects that promote nonhighway use or otherwise supplement existing transportation activities. Specific conditions apply to the awarding of grants to any local public body in an urbanized area served by a metropolitan planning organization (an organization that develops transportation plans and programs).
This bill permits DOT to conduct surface transportation projects under the program or to award grants to other state agencies for such projects.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -2203/2 ***
*** ANALYSIS FROM -3009/2 ***
Under current law, DOT administers an employment transit assistance program to provide transit assistance related to access to employment locations and the development of innovative transit service methods. Under the program, DOT may conduct projects with these objectives or may contract with an eligible applicant (a local public body or a private organization) to conduct a project. DOT may make grants to eligible applicants to conduct a project or to match a federal grant for a project. Grants by DOT may not exceed 80% of the cost of a project.
This bill changes eligibility requirements for a grant or contract under the program. Eligibility is limited to applicants who provide employment, training or job placement services in a county with a population of 500,000 or more and who are local public bodies or private organizations located in the county or 2 or more state agencies coordinating such services.
Currently, the program is funded solely with federal funds, including oil overcharge funds. This bill eliminates the use of federal oil overcharge funds for the program and appropriates state funds for the program.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -2194/3 ***
Rail and air transportation
Under current law, DOT is authorized to contract up to $10,000,000 in public debt for the acquisition of rail property and for grants and loans awarded by DOT for certain rail property acquisitions and improvements. This bill increases this authorized general obligation bonding limit from $10,000,000 to $14,500,000.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -2192/3 ***
Under current law, with specified exceptions, any aircraft based in this state is required to be registered annually by its owner with DOT. An annual registration fee is collected by DOT on the basis of the maximum gross weight of the aircraft, up to a maximum of $3,125 for aircraft with a maximum gross weight of more than 100,000 pounds. DOT collects a charge for late payment of the annual registration fee of up to 20% of the applicable fee.
This bill makes a number of changes in aircraft registration. The bill:
1. Establishes biennial registration for aircraft with a maximum gross weight of not more than 3,000 pounds, with the current annual registration fee for the aircraft doubled.
2. Requires a minimum late payment charge of $50.
3. Eliminates an aircraft dealer exemption from aircraft registration.
4. Changes the definition of "antique aircraft" to apply to any aircraft manufactured in 1944 or earlier instead of aircraft more than 35 years old. Current law permits antique aircraft to be registered with DOT for a one-time registration fee of $50 that remains valid while the aircraft is owned by the registrant.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -2199/4 ***
Other transportation
Under current law, the state is authorized to issue general obligation bonds to finance grants awarded by DOT for harbor improvements, with the principal repayment and interest payments to be made from transportation fund revenue.
This bill increases the authorized general obligation bonding limit for grants awarded by DOT for harbor improvements from $9,000,000 to $12,000,000.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -2220.2 ***
Under current law, with certain exceptions a condemnor may not require any person who occupies premises on the date that title to the premises is transferred to the condemnor to vacate the premises until a comparable replacement property is made available to the person.
This bill provides that whenever a business is condemned for transportation purposes, the condemnor may require any persons displaced as a result to vacate without making a comparable replacement business available. The condemnor must still take reasonable and necessary steps to assist owners of displaced business concerns in obtaining and becoming established in suitable replacement business locations.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -0652/1 ***
Under current law, DOT administers a demonstration and training program for the purpose of developing the capability of disadvantaged businesses to participate in DOT construction projects. Under the program, disadvantaged businesses include those businesses that are at least 51% owned by minority group members, women or other individuals found by DOT to be socially and economically disadvantaged according to certain federal criteria. The program is scheduled to expire on June 30, 1995.
This bill extends the expiration date for the disadvantaged business demonstration and training program until September 30, 1997.
*** ANALYSIS FROM -1289/2 ***
Under current law, an owner of property that is exempt from taxes is required to file a report on that property every 2 years with the clerk of the taxation district where the property is located. Certain exceptions are made. This bill adds an exception for certain railroad property that DOT acquires.
This bill will be referred to the joint survey committee on tax exemptions for a detailed analysis, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
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The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
(End)