James E. Doyle
Attorney General
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
January 29, 1996
The Honorable, The Legislature:
As part of our ongoing audit of the Department of Transportation, we have reviewed the administration and funding of the State's railroad crossing safety program. Both the Department of Transportation and the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads share responsibility for the safety of 4,792 public railroad crossings in Wisconsin, which include safety equipment such as railroad warning signs, side-of-the-road or overhead flashing lights, and barrier gates.
From 1974 through 1994, the number of vehicle/train accidents declined from 401 to 165, or 0.1 percent of all vehicle accidents in 1994, and the fatality rate in Wisconsin is lower than the national rate and the rates of other midwestern states. However, Wisconsin's accident and injury rates per 1,000 crossings are higher than the national average and those of most neighboring states. Further, economic costs and the chances of serious injury or death are substantially higher in accidents that involve vehicles and trains than in those that involve vehicles alone.
While the Department has, in recent years, allocated federal funds to railroad crossing safety projects in addition to the federal and state funds appropriated for this purpose, this practice may end because of anticipated demands on federal funds for other transportation purposes. For each year of the 1995-97 biennium, expenditures for new crossing safety equipment are estimated at $2.4 million, continuing the decline in program expenditures from the program's peak year, fiscal year (FY) 1992-93, when $3.6 million was spent. Equipment maintenance funds will remain at FY 1993-94 levels.
At the same time, a growing waiting list of projects identified by the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads includes 34 safety projects with estimated costs of $2.9 million. Another 60 projects await review, which is likely to result in approval of approximately 15 projects with an estimated cost totaling $1.1 million. In addition, the Department has initiated an effort to review safety at all crossings over the next three years.
S559
Alternative sources of funding to provide safety equipment at more crossings may include federal discretionary funds, federal highway safety funds, state funds currently used to reimburse railroad companies for maintenance of safety equipment, local funds when the additional safety equipment results from local road improvement projects, or other funds from the Transportation Fund.
Attached is a more complete discussion of our findings with regard to railroad crossing safety equipment. We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by staff of the Department of Transportation and the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads.
Sincerely,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
January 30, 1996
The Honorable, The Senate:
I am pleased to nominate and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint Henke
, Mary E.,
of Milwaukee, as a member of the State Fair Park Board, to serve for the term ending May 1, 2000
Sincerely,
TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Governor
Read and referred to committee on Transportation, Agriculture and Local Affairs.
Senator Ellis, with unanimous consent, asked that all action be immediately messaged to the Assembly.
__________________
Senator Moen, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate recess until 11:56 A.M..
10:30 A.M.
__________________
11:56 A.M.
The Senate reconvened.
Senator Rude in the chair.
Senator Farrow, with unanimous consent, asked that all the appointments be taken up en masse.
Brown
, Dennis G.,
of Waunakee, as a member of the Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Geologists, Professional Engineers, Designers and Land Surveyors, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1999
Read.
Dittmar, Beverly,
of Wausau, as a member of the Snowmobile Recreation Council, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1998.
Read.
Forbes
, Georgina,
of Madison, as a member of the Pharmacy Examining Board, to serve for the initial term ending July 1, 1996 and for the full term ending July 1, 2000.
Read.
Hilliard, Susan M.,
of Briggsville, as a member of the Snowmobile Recreation Council, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1998.
Read.
Hoffman, Melvyn L.,
of La Crosse, as a member of the Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Geologists, Professional Engineers, Designers and Land Surveyors, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1999
Read.
Larsen
, Mark,
of River Falls, as a member of the Snowmobile Recreation Council, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1998.
Read.
Margitan, John,
of Minocqua, as a member of the Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Geologists, Professional Engineers, Designers and Land Surveyors, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1999.
Read.
McCullough, W. Clint,
of Madison, as a member of the Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Geologists, Professional Engineers, Designers and Land Surveyors, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1999
Read.
Mickelson, David M.,
of Madison, as a member of the Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Geologists, Professional Engineers, Designers and Land Surveyors, to serve for the initial term ending July 1, 1996 and for the full term ending July 1, 2000.
Read.
Ruehlow, Donald C.,
of Prairie du Chien, as a member of the Snowmobile Recreation Council, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1998.
Read.
Van Duzee, Dirk,
of Wabeno, as a member of the Snowmobile Recreation Council, to serve for the term ending July 1, 1998.
Read.
The question was: Confirmation?
The ayes and noes were required and the vote was: ayes, 32; noes, 0; absent or not voting, 1; as follows:
Ayes - Senators Adelman, Andrea, Breske, Buettner, Burke, Chvala, Clausing, Cowles, Darling, Decker, Drzewiecki, Ellis, Farrow, Fitzgerald, George, Grobschmidt, Huelsman, A. Lasee, Moen, Moore, Panzer, Petak, C. Potter, Risser, Rosenzweig, Rude, Schultz, Shibilski, Weeden, Welch, Wineke and Zien - 32.
Noes - None.
Absent or not voting - Senator Jauch - 1.
Confirmed.
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The committee on Health, Human Services and Aging reports and recommends:
Relating to the conduct of youth on aftercare supervision following their release from youth correctional institutions, and revocation of a youth's aftercare for violation of a rule or special condition of aftercare.
No action taken.
Relating to fees for registration of ionizing radiation installations.
No action taken.
Carol Buettner
Chairperson
The committee on Transportation, Agriculture and Local Affairs reports and recommends:
Relating to food processing plants.
No action taken.
Alan Lasee
Chairperson
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By Charles Sanders, chief clerk.
Mr. President:
I am directed to inform you that the Assembly has passed and asks concurrence in:
Assembly Bill 183
Assembly Bill 444
Assembly Bill 506
