Let's Connect Wisconsin!

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Planning NOW for the future of transportation in Wisconsin

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Welcome to Connect 2050

What should our transportation system look like in 2050?

What should we do between now and then to get there?

Wisconsin‘s transportation policy plan, Connect 2050, will answer those questions and many more.

This long-range plan will guide the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s decision-making about changes to and investments in our statewide system for the next approximately 30 years.

The plan will impact all types of transportation – from roads to ports to sidewalks – across our entire state.

Setting clear goals now is important as we figure out how best to support our economy, environment, and safe, efficient travel for everyone well into the future.

Let's Connect Wisconsin!

Planning NOW for the future of transportation in Wisconsin

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Welcome to Connect 2050

What do you want our transportation system to look like in 2050?

What should we do between now and then to get there?

Wisconsin‘s transportation policy plan, Connect 2050, will answer those questions and many more.

This long-range plan will guide the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s decision-making about changes to and investments in our statewide system for the next roughly 30 years.

The plan will impact all types of transportation – from roads to ports to sidewalks – across our entire state.

Setting clear goals now is important as we figure out how best to support our economy, environment, and safe, efficient travel for everyone well into the future.

Passengers de-boarding Amtrak Hiawatha train in Wisconsin
Wilfred Sykes ship in harbor
Driver assists passenger in wheelchair de-board transit vehicle in Wisconsin
Two motorcyclists stopped at an interesection
Typical state highway in rural area of Wisconsin
Aerial view of cargo planes at MKE airport
WIS 42 as rural main street in northern Wisconsin
Urban intersection showing buses and pedestrians in Wisconsin
Unlike a transportation project that is happening now or in the near future, a long-range plan guides decisions about many different projects that will be completed – and funded – years from now.

Why do you need my input?

What are other Wisconsinites saying about Connect 2050?

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We need honest, representative feedback to build a shared vision for Wisconsin’s transportation future.

We know that the very people who regularly use Wisconsin's transportation system have valuable insights that can help us prioritize needs.

This is your opportunity to share your opinions and inform the use of future transportation dollars.
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Do you get to work by your vehicle, a bus, your feet or bike?
Does your job involve transporting people or goods?
Are you simply an interested or concerned Wisconsinite?

We want to hear from you!

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So, what's our transportation system like now?

WisDOT plans, builds, maintains, or financially supports all these types of transportation, which make up Wisconsin's statewide network.

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Airports
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Ports, Harbors and Ferry
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Highways and Bridges
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Bicycles and Pedestrians
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Passenger Rail
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Freight Rail
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Transit
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Intercity Passenger Bus

Transportation in Wisconsin:

By the numbers

Airports

15 million
The number of estimated passengers and local businesses that Wisconsin’s airports expect to serve annually by 2030.

Ports, Harbors and Ferry

$3 Billion
The approximate value of the more than 27 million tons of cargo Wisconsin’s commercial ports process annually.

State Highways

60%
The annual percentage of total miles traveled by vehicles on Wisconsin’s state highways, which make up only 10% of our entire roadway network.

Bicycles and Pedestrians

10%
The percentage of total passenger trips in 2017 for which Wisconsinites biked or walked.

Passenger Rail

875,000
The number of people that Amtrak’s Hiawatha line, the Midwest’s busiest passenger rail service, transported in 2019 between Milwaukee and Chicago.

Freight Rail

$150 Billion
The approximate value of the 190 million tons of cargo that 11 Wisconsin freight rail companies moved in 2017.

Our journey is just beginning!

We will collect public input and develop Connect 2050 through 2021.
We will also provide continuous and varied ways for you to participate.
Subscribe for updates, check back here often, or follow us to stay connected!
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Note: The Connect 2050 public involvement process that the Public Involvement Plan originally outlined has been updated to reflect the impacts of the COVID-19 virus. All proposed pop-up events have been cancelled; however, WisDOT will conduct virtual or in-person public meetings in accordance with state and local public health guidelines for group gatherings during this pandemic.

What are our vision and goals?

Connect 2050 Vision

WisDOT envisions an integrated, multimodal transportation system that maximizes the safe and efficient movement of people and products throughout the state, enhancing economic productivity and the quality of Wisconsin’s communities while minimizing impacts to the natural environment.

Connect 2050 goals

Economic
Vitality
Safety &
Security
Life &
Environment
Integration &
Connectivity
system
Management

Economic Vitality

Maintain and improve the state’s transportation system so it is responsive to global and regional economic needs and changing conditions.

Safety and Security

Create a system that is safe for all users, and agile in preventing, preparing for, and coordinating responses to any incident, whether natural or the result of human activity.

Quality of Life and Natural Environment

Implement and manage a system that balances transportation needs with the natural environment and resource conservation.

System Integration and Connectivity

Bring modes of transportation together to provide a properly integrated system.

System Management

Utilize cost-effective preservation and maintenance techniques to maximize transportation investments.

Population

Our state’s population is expected to grow by almost 800,000 people – a 13.5 percent rise – between 2013 and 2040.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Administration, 2010-2040 Population Projection Report

Travel Patterns

The total number of trips in Wisconsin is projected to increase from 4.4 billion in 2020 to 5.3 billion in 2050.
Source: Wisconsin Statewide Travel Demand Model

Safety

Wisconsin has the 13th lowest highway fatality rate in the United States.
Source: USDOT. Transportation Performance Management State Profile: Wisconsin.

Economic Activity

Wisconsin has the 12th most reliable Interstate travel in the country. Reliable travel times are essential for our substantial trucking, farming, tourism and manufacturing industries.
Source: USDOT. Transportation Performance Management State Profile: Wisconsin.

Energy and Environment

WisDOT’s wetland mitigation program has restored more than 5,800 acres of wetlands.
Source: WisDOT Bureau of Highway Maintenance

Connected and Automated Vehicles

WisDOT will consider infrastructure, policy, administrative needs and enforcement as we prepare for automated vehicles on Wisconsin’s roadways.
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In this section:
Connect 2050 Toolkit
Library of Plans
Virtual Open House
Webinars
View Comments

Connect 2050 toolkit

Help us drive participation!

We encourage you to use the toolkit information to ...

  • Present or send an email about Connect 2050 to your board, constituents or employees

  • Post about Connect 2050 on social media

  • Distribute more information on the plan

These resources are also helpful for those who do not have access to the internet.

DAIM NTAWV QHIA TXOG YAM TSHIABSFOLLETOS EXPLICATIVOS
I want to ...
Select action
Download ALL Connect 2050 materials
Get hard-copy project materials
Present Connect 2050 information
Share information on social media
Connect 2050 Toolkit
Select an action above
View, share, download or print the following Connect 2050 project materials:
  • PowerPoint overview presentation file
  • Recorded presentation (.mp4 file)
  • Plan overview factsheet
  • Social media sharing resources
  • Trends factsheets (English, Hmong and Spanish versions)
  • Survey (long and short versions), returnable by U.S. mail or email
  • Comment form, returnable by U.S. mail or email
Go to FilesDAIM NTAWV QHIA TXOG YAM TSHIABSFOLLETOS EXPLICATIVOS
Updated: Oct. 21, 2020
View, share, download or print the following Connect 2050 materials:
  • Plan overview factsheet
  • Trends factsheets (English, Hmong and Spanish versions)
  • Survey (long and short versions), returnable by U.S. mail or email
  • Comment form, returnable by U.S. mail or email
Go to FilesDAIM NTAWV QHIA TXOG YAM TSHIABSFOLLETOS EXPLICATIVOS
Updated: Oct. 21, 2020
Interested in talking to your board, constituents or neighbors about Connect 2050? View, share, download or print the following materials:
  • PowerPoint presentation (with talking points) giving a brief overview of the plan and how to participate
  • Recorded, narrated Connect 2050 presentation (.mp4 file)
  • Survey (long and short versions), returnable by U.S. mail or email
  • Comment form, returnable by U.S. mail or email
Go to Files
Updated: Oct. 21, 2020
Go to Files
Updated: Oct. 21, 2020
I want to ...
I want to ...
Select action:
Select action:
Download
ALL materials
Click here
Get hard-copy
materials
Click here
Present
information
Click here
Share information on social media
Click here
Connect 2050 Toolkit
Select an action above
Select an action At Left
View, share, download or print the following Connect 2050 project materials:
  • PowerPoint overview presentation file
  • Recorded presentation (.mp4 file)
  • Plan overview factsheet
  • Social media sharing resources
  • Trends factsheets (English, Hmong and Spanish versions)
  • Survey (long and short versions), returnable by U.S. mail or email
  • Comment form, returnable by U.S. mail or email
Go to FilesDAIM NTAWV QHIA TXOG YAM TSHIABSFOLLETOS EXPLICATIVOS
Updated: Oct. 21, 2020
Interested in talking to your board, constituents or neighbors about Connect 2050? View, share, download or print the following materials:
  • PowerPoint presentation (with talking points) giving a brief overview of the plan and how to participate
  • Recorded, narrated Connect 2050 presentation (.mp4 file)
  • Survey (long and short versions), returnable by U.S. mail or email
  • Comment form, returnable by U.S. mail or email
Go to Files

Updated: Oct. 21, 2020

We have suggested posts for ...
  • Community members
  • Business owners and representatives
  • Industry stakeholders
... to use on the following platforms:

Library of plans

Connect 2050 our the statewide, comprehensive, long-term plan that identifies what we want to accomplish.

Other types of plans that WisDOT develops identify how we will meet the goals and implement the policies outlined in the final Connect 2050 plan.

We develop or collaborate with our transportation partners to develop the following four types of plans:

You may know WisDOT repairs bridges and constructs roadways. But we do so much more – like planning decades ahead for our transportation system!

Modal plans, or plans for a specific mode of transportation
Operational plans, which guide how we carry out specific actions and activities
Regional and local plans (collaborating with our transportation partners)
Wisconsin’s long-range, statewide multimodal transportation plan (this year, we're calling it Connect 2050)

Each type of plan has a specific purpose, but they all work together to shape our entire transportation system.

See Regions Map
A Note about the Plans

The Regional and Local Plans links below are categorized by WisDOT's five regions: North Central, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest.

The links will take you to the WisDOT website, where you can view the projects and studies in the listed region's counties and communities.

Operational plans
Regional and local plans
Long-range plan
State Highway Plan 2020
view plan
Transportation Asset Management Plan
view plan
North Central Region
View plans
Connections 2030
view plan
Wisconsin State Airport System Plan 2030
view plan
Strategic Highway Safety Plan
view plan
Northeast Region
View plans
Wisconsin Bicycle Transportation Plan 2020
view plan
State Freight Plan 2018
view plan
Northwest Region
View plans
Wisconsin Pedestrian Policy Plan 2020
view plan
Southeast Region
View plans
Wisconsin Rail Plan 2030
view plan
Southwest Region
View plans
State Highway Plan 2020
view plan
Wisconsin State Airport System Plan 2030
view plan
Wisconsin Bicycle Transportation Plan 2020
view plan
Wisconsin Pedestrian Policy Plan 2020
view plan
Wisconsin Rail Plan 2030
view plan

Operational plans

Transportation Asset Management Plan
view plan
Strategic Highway Safety Plan
view plan
State Freight Plan 2018
view plan

Regional and local plans

North Central Region
View plans
Northeast Region
View plans
Northwest Region
View plans
Southeast Region
View plans
Southwest Region
View plans

Long-range plan

Connections 2030
view plan
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