Co-hosts:

UWM Institute for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation

Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Friday, October 4, 2024 – 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

UWM Student Union – Ballroom
2200 E. Kenwood Blvd.

PARKING: Parking garage on east side of building offers hourly parking for a fee.

  • Bringing academics, students and practitioners together to network and share information on topics of interest to transportation professionals in southeastern Wisconsin and beyond.
  • Showcasing practical applications of transportation related academic research.
  • Providing an opportunity for Wisconsin DOT and other presenters to share their innovative practices with the broader transportation community.

Registration for this event is now closed. Questions? Contact uwm-ipit@uwm.edu.

Schedule

7:45 – 8:15 a.mRegistration and Continental Breakfast
8:15 – 8:30 a.mCo-Hosts Welcome
Xiao Qin, Director, UW-Milwaukee, IPIT
Joel Nilsestuen, Assistant Deputy Secretary, WisDOT
8:30 – 9:15 a.mKeynote Speaker
Dr. C.Y. David Yang
President & Executive Director
AAA Foundation
9:15 – 9:30 a.mBreak and Networking
9:30 – 10:45 a.mBreakout Sessions 1-2
Innovative Projects & Best Practices Research
10:45 – 12 p.mBreakout Sessions 3-4
Safety
Mobility, Sustainability, & Equity
12 – 1:00 p.mBox Lunch with Speaker
Kristina Boardman, Secretary
WisDOT
1:00 – 2:30 p.mInteractive Workshop
Transportation Safe Systems Approach:  Improving Safety for Vulnerable Road Users
For More Information
Xiao Qin
qinx@uwm.edu
414-251-8866

Thanks to our Symposium Sponsors:

Lead Sponsors:


HNTB Logo

Supporting Sponsors:




KAPUR All In Logo

Transportation Development Association Logo

Speaker Biographies

Andrea Bill
Associate Director – UW-Madison Traffic Operations and Safety Lab

Andrea Bill is the Director of the Wisconsin Local Technical Assistance Program and Associate Director of the Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With these dual roles, she has been bringing research to technology transfer through in person and virtual webinars throughout Wisconsin and the U.S.  

Andrew McFadden
Researcher – UW-Madison Traffic Operations and Safety Lab

Andrew McFadden is a researcher at the TOPS Lab. He has a diverse background in private, municipal, state, and academic organizations. He has prepared numerous technical reports for state DOTs and has organized stakeholder meetings and technical workshops. He is currently working on multiple CAV projects in Wisconsin including an AV pilot with the City of Racine and Gateway Community College and a CV pilot with the City of Madison, TAPCO, and WisDOT. 

Brad Basten
WisDOT Strategic Initiatives Officer
Division of Budget and Strategic Initiatives

Mr. Brad Basten is the strategic initiatives officer for CAV in WisDOT’s Division of Budget and Strategic Initiatives. He led the 2018 Governor’s Steering Committee on Connected and Autonomous Vehicles and has managed the Wisconsin Automated Vehicle External Advisory Committee since its inception in 2020. His background is in electrical and mechanical engineering, having 25 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, process improvement and business consulting in various industries.

David Yang, PhD
President and Executive Director, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

Dr. C. Y. David Yang is the President and the Executive Director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

He has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers, and research reports on subjects related to vehicle technologies and automation, traffic safety, operations, and planning. Dr. Yang is an associate editor for the Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems: Technology, Planning, and Operations and a member of the editorial board for the International Journal of Transportation Science and Technology. In addition, he serves on the Transportation Research Board’s Committee on Transitioning Evidence-Based Research into Practice and Research and Technology Coordinating Committee. Further, he is an advisory board member for several university transportation research centers.

Dr. Yang attended Purdue University and received his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in the field of civil engineering.

Jason Matson
HNTB’s Project Manager

Jason is a senior transportation engineer with HNTB Corporation and has 24 years of progressive transportation design and construction responsibilities. His experience includes a diverse range of subjects, including Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) design and implementation, traffic signal design and operation, traffic signal communication design, ITS planning and design, systems engineering, intersection design and urban roadway design.

Jason currently serves as HNTB’s Project Manager for the Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (WEVI) program and has operated in this role since Spring 2022. In this capacity, Jason and his team assist the Wisconsin Department of Transportation with the planning and future deployment of approximately 60 electric vehicle chargers along Wisconsin’s Alternative Fuel Corridors.

Jeremy Kloss
Program and Policy Supervisor
Electric Vehicle Unit
Division of Budget and Strategic Initiatives
Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Jeremy Kloss serves as the Program and Policy Supervisor of the Electric Vehicle Unit in the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Division of Budget and Strategic Initiatives. In his current role, Jeremy is responsible for leading the Electric Vehicle Unit as Wisconsin implements the Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (WEVI) Program. Jeremy first joined WisDOT in 2019 as a Program and Policy Analyst with the Division of State Patrol’s Bureau of Transportation Safety. As an analyst, Jeremy was responsible for analyzing a variety of measurements as it pertains to traffic safety in Wisconsin and helping develop and lead the Predictive Analytics Pilot Program. Jeremy is a graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, History, and Political Science. And finally, Jeremy is the father to a 3-year-old Beagle mix named Brewer.

Jessica Wineberg
Vision Zero Policy Director, City of Milwaukee

As the first Vision Zero Policy Director for the City of Milwaukee, Jessica is honored to lead the citywide effort to eliminate traffic fatalities and life changing injuries by 2037.  Starting out as a Bicycle Ambassador and Union Organizer in Chicago, she has spent 20 years working for safer streets in Milwaukee including as the Deputy Director at the Wisconsin Bike Fed, founder of MilWALKee Walks, and as the Milwaukee County Trails Coordinator. Through collaboration and community involvement in transportation, she hopes to help support equity, health, safety, and climate resiliency for all, focusing on the most vulnerable.

Jeff Sponcia
Transportation Program Planning Manager
Milwaukee County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) – Director’s Office

A graduate of Marquette University and UW-Milwaukee’s Master’s of Geography program, Jeff Sponcia is in his 13th year working with Milwaukee County.  After spending nearly ten years in Transit Planning at Milwaukee County Transit System helping reimagine the bus system, Jeff has spent the last three years as Transportation Program Planning Manager with the Milwaukee County Department of Transportation in the Director’s Office.  In this role, Jeff manages all aspects of the federal and state transportation grant process, from applications to administration to project management.  Thus far, Milwaukee County DOT has been awarded nearly $2 million in federal and state funding towards safer streets throughout the county.

Jeff and his family live in the Silver City neighborhood of Milwaukee and you’ll often find him riding an MCTS bus or a Bublr bike.  With pride representing both Marquette and UW-Milwaukee on the local transportation scene, Jeff encourages everyone to leave their single-occupant auto at home whenever possible and utilize all the safe, fun and efficient modes of transportation we have at our disposal.

Joel Nilsestuen
Assistant Deputy Secretary
Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Joel Nilsestuen serves as the Assistant Deputy Secretary at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). In this role, he leads government relations, communication, and stakeholder engagement for the department. WisDOT is one of the largest state agencies, wi​th more than 3,200 employees and a biennial budget of more than $8 billion. The department supports all modes of transportation, including state highways, local roads, railroads, public transit systems, airports, and harbors. In addition, the department includes the Division of Motor Vehicles, which serves approximately 50,000 customers each week, and the Division of State Patrol that enforces laws and assists motorist throughout the state.

Before joining WisDOT, Joel led government relations and co​mmunity outreach for the University Wisconsin-Whitewater. He previously served as the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Workforce Development Association and worked in the legislature as a legislative and policy director.

Joel graduated from St. Olaf College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.

Joshua LeVeque, P.E.
Project Development Supervisor – SE Region
Division of Transportation System Development
Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Josh LeVeque is a Project Development Supervisor for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.  He has been with the department since 2001, and has worked on various design and construction projects.  Before his current position, he most recently served asa design project manager the Zoo Interchange project, I-94 East-West project, and various freeway rehabilitation projects.

Josh is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Wisconsin.

Kamden Stark
Business Economic Analyst
Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Kamden is a University of Wisconsin – Madison graduate with a B.A. in Economics and Environmental Studies and a certificate in Public Policy. In her current position as Business Economic Analyst for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Kamden is responsible for assisting in the administration of the WEVI Program, specifically through team data and research needs. Kamden also works with Wisconsin’s Alternative Fuel Corridor network, which not only includes electric vehicle charging corridors but other alternative fueling infrastructure as well. In her free time, Kamden enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, swimming, reading and spending time outside.

Kevin Muhs
City Engineer, City of Milwaukee

Kevin Muhs serves as the City Engineer for the City of Milwaukee. As City Engineer, Kevin leads the Infrastructure Services Division of the Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW) and is responsible for the design, operation, and maintenance of City-owned streets, lighting and underground conduit, sewers, green infrastructure, bridges, and buildings. At the direction of Mayor Cavalier Johnson and the Milwaukee Common Council, Kevin and his colleagues at Milwaukee DPW are working aggressively to transform City streets to eliminate traffic fatalities and life-changing injuries by 2037, and redesign public right of way to provide high-quality public space for residents and serve all users. Kevin is both a planner and engineer, and strongly believes that a robust multimodal transportation system is needed for the Milwaukee area to be economically competitive, resilient, and equitable.

Kristina Boardman
Secretary
Wisconsin Department of Transportation

In September 2024, Governor Tony Evers appointed Kristina Boardman to serve as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). WisDOT is one of the largest state agencies, with more than 3,200 employees and a biennial budget of more than $8 billion.

The department supports all modes of transportation, including state highways, local roads, railroads, public transit systems, airports, and harbors. In addition, the department includes the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which serves about 50,000 customers each week, and the Division of State Patrol that enforces laws and assists motorists throughout the state.

Kristina’s public service career began with the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1995. She transitioned to WisDOT in 2005 and held previous positions including Deputy Secretary, DMV Administrator, DMV Deputy Administrator, and the Director of DMV Field Services.

Kristina enjoys both policy and operations work, and especially appreciates the rewarding work of serving the public through the implementation of new programs.

Kristina plays an active role at the regional and national levels and served as Chair of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) International Board of Directors for the 2022-23 federal fiscal year.

Kristina has a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. 

Marissa Meyer
Senior Transportation Planner, City of Milwaukee

Marissa Meyer is a Senior Transportation Planner with the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works. She has worked on various planning and infrastructure projects related to pedestrian and bicyclist safety, transit access, Safe Routes to School, and crash data analysis, and she also has extensive experience in public involvement and working with community organizations. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and later moved to Milwaukee to complete a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. 

Nicholas Jarmusz
Director of Public Affairs
AAA – The Auto Club Group

Nick Jarmusz has served as Director of Public Affairs for AAA – The Auto Club Group since 2014.  In this role he manages external affairs, media relations, and advocacy efforts in Illinois, Indiana Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska.

Nick previously spent seven years as a Public Affairs Specialist for AAA, coordinating events, programs and special projects to promote safety among the most vulnerable roadway users: children, teens and seniors.  Prior to joining AAA, Nick worked for the Institute of Real Estate Management, the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Boy Scouts of America.

Nick is a graduate of DePaul University in Chicago, where he earned a B.A. in political science.  He and his wife, Carrie, live in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin with their three children.

Robert J. Schneider, PhD
Professor and Co-Chair
Department of Urban Planning
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Dr. Robert Schneider, Professor of Urban Planning at UW-Milwaukee, has 25 years of research and practical experience in the pedestrian and bicycle transportation field. He has led more than 30 peer-reviewed journal articles on topics such as active transportation safety, demand analysis, and data collection. Dr. Schneider chaired the TRB Pedestrian Committee from 2014 to 2020 and is currently Associate Director of the USDOT-funded Center for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety University Transportation Center. He is also co-chair of the UW-Milwaukee Department of Urban Planning.

Sikai (Sky) Chen
Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering; Mechanical Engineering (Courtesy)
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Dr. Sikai (Sky) Chen, is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Department of Mechanical Engineering (courtesy), University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with a focus on Computational Science & Engineering from Purdue University in 2019. His research centers around three major themes: human users, AI, and transportation. He aims to innovate and develop safe, efficient, sustainable, and human-centered transportation systems using cutting-edge methods and technologies. The focus is on incorporating human behaviors, interactive autonomy, digital infrastructure, and intelligent control frameworks. Dr. Chen serves as a PI/co-PI for USDOT-funded research projects at the Center for Connected and Automated Transportation (CCAT) with a total budget near $2 million. In addition, he is a member of two ASCE national committees: Connected & Autonomous Vehicle Impacts, and Economics & Finance; IEEE Emerging Transportation Technology Testing Technical Committee, and TRB Standing Committee on Statistical Methods (AED60).

Trevor Jung
Transit & Mobility Director
Transit Department
City of Racine – RYDE Racine

Trevor Jung serves as Transit and Mobility Director for RYDE Racine, the City of Racine’s public transportation system. While in this role, Racine has electrified or secured funding for the electrification of almost 40% of its transit fleet while integrating solar energy, launched a new vehicle locator application for the public, fostered greater institutional partnerships resulting in increased ridership, and reformed the management and employment structure of the transit department resulting in operational savings. Before assuming his current position, Trevor earned his Urban Studies degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and was twice elected to the City of Racine Common Council.

Xiao Qin
ProfessorCivil and Environmental Engineering
DirectorInstitute for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation (IPIT)
Founder and DirectorSafe and Smart Traffic Lab

Dr. Xiao Qin is the Lawrence E. Sivak ’71 Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) and the Director of UWM Institute for Physical Infrastructure & Transportation (IPIT). Dr. Qin has over 25 years of research and teaching experience in the transportation field. He is the author/co-author of over 150 articles and technical reports, and a recipient of several best paper awards. Qin’s research improves the safety and efficiency of the transportation system across all modes through data analytics and technologies. He is a committee member of the Transportation Research Board, an editor of several transportation journals such as Transportation Research Record, Journal of Transportation Safety & Security, Urban Lifeline, and a co-author of the textbook “Highway Safety Analytics and Modeling” published by Elsevier. Dr. Qin received his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut.

Breakout Sessions and Afternoon Workshop

Join us for an afternoon workshop in collaboration with the UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning (SARUP), where Dr. Schneider will lead an inspiring campus tour showcasing cutting-edge pedestrian and bicycle facility designs. Following the walk, dive into an immersive experience at SARUP’s XRLab, where you’ll explore the future of planning and design through virtual reality and the latest technological innovations.

Innovative Projects and Practices (9:30 – 10:45 a.m.) Ballroom East – Moderator Rebecca Burkel, WisDOT
TopicsPresenter(s)
National Avenue Project Update, and Successful Grant Application Submittal for “Reimagining the National Avenue Interchange”  
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works plan to rebuild 2.6 miles of W. National Avenue (WIS 59) between S. 1st Street and S. 39th Street.  The proposed design includes modern transportation features so people can move from one place to another quickly and safety.  This presentation will touch on the purpose and need of the project, proposed design details and improvements, and anticipated construction schedule.
 
The second half of the presentation will discuss an upcoming study for the I-43/National Avenue interchange, and why it was a good candidate for the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Planning Grant.
Josh Leveque, WisDOT; Kevin Muhs, City of Milwaukee
Vision Zero Milwaukee – Milwaukee’s Approach to Eliminating Fatal and Severe Crashes
Vision Zero is a growing international movement to eliminate traffic deaths and life-changing injury. The City of Milwaukee adopted Vision Zero in 2022 and Complete Streets in 2018 to usher in a new era of road design with safety and modal choice prioritized. This session will provide a comprehensive look at how multiple interventions from various agencies within the city are working to meet this goal.
Jessica Wineberg, City of Milwaukee; Marissa Meyer, City of Milwaukee
Research (9:30 – 10:45 a.m.) Room W191 – Moderator Xiao Qin, UW-Milwaukee
TopicsPresenter(s)
Connected and Automated Vehicles Attitudes and Perceptions.
With the potential for imminent adoption of Connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies in the near future, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is invested in exploring and implementing these emerging transportation technologies to make roadways safer and more efficient. Since CAV technology is still under development, market penetration is still low and the general population’s exposure has been minimal. Most knowledge about the public’s attitudes on CAVs have stemmed from national surveys and small-scale pilots. Despite the variety of methods and surveys deployed in the U.S. to study CAVs, currently little is known about Wisconsin specific attitudes towards them. This work presents the results of a detailed study of the Wisconsin public’s understanding of CAVs through a large-scale (N=915) survey based on a random sample of Wisconsin households.  The results include Wisconsinites’ acceptance of early testing; their perceived benefits, drawbacks, and barriers to CAV implementation; and the implications for potential WisDOT action.

Results indicate that Wisconsinites were generally willing to share the road with vehicles equipped with advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), were moderately comfortable with connected vehicle (CV) technologies, and not comfortable with automated vehicle (AV) systems. Results for willingness to use CAVs saw the same order of technology preference as comfort sharing the road. An exploratory factor analysis and latent class cluster analysis were conducted and yielded six factors and 5 latent clusters. These factors and clusters were used to create profiles of the Wisconsin population and document their attitudes and attributes.

The presentation will document the work conducted and results. The key takeaways will include public perceptions of CAV technology and ways to use this data to target effective projects and communications.
Brad Basten, WisDOT; Andrew McFadden, UW Madison TOPS Lab
Digital-Twin-Enabled Connected Intelligent Transportation to Enhance Vulnerable Road User Safety
In the rapidly evolving landscape of transportation, integrating AI and connected intelligent transportation presents transformative opportunities. This presentation discusses the potential of a digital-twin-enabled platform with human-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop methodologies, allowing for data collections and analysis of real-time interactions between vulnerable road users (VRUs) and connected intelligent transportation systems. The presentation will highlight the development of such a multi-agent digital-twin-enabled traffic simulation platform under development at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Leveraging virtual reality (VR), wearable devices, advanced algorithms, and real-time data integration, this platform aims to tackle safety challenges and improve the perception and decision-making mechanisms for both VRUs and connected/autonomous vehicles.
Sikai Chen, UW- Madison, School of Engineering
Geographic, Temporal, and Socioeconomic Shifts in Pedestrian Injuries During the 2010s
US pedestrian fatalities increased by more than 50% in the 2010s. To better understand system changes associated with the pedestrian safety crisis, we compared police-reported fatal and serious injury (K&A) pedestrian crashes from nine states, including Wisconsin, between 2008-2012 and 2017-2021. This presentation summarizes findings by neighborhood (census tract) and by hour of the week. Nationally, low-income, high-unemployment, and racial and ethnic minority populations were overrepresented in K&A pedestrian crashes in 2008-2012, and these groups were more likely to experience increases in K&A pedestrian crashes during the 2010s. Neighborhoods with at least one high-traffic arterial roadway, an interstate or other type of freeway, and higher proportions of retail jobs were also significantly more likely than other tracts to experience increases in K&A pedestrian crashes. Temporally, K&A pedestrian crashes were most likely to occur between 6 pm and midnight, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights. However, the largest increases during the 2010s were between midnight and 6 am on weekdays, suggesting a time shift in pedestrian and motor vehicle activity levels or pedestrian and driver behaviors. In addition to national results, we will share preliminary findings from a Wisconsin pedestrian crash trend analysis and local practitioner interviews.
Bob Schneider, UW-Milwaukee
Safety (10:45 a.m. – 12 noon) Room W191 – Moderator Casey Newman, WisDOT
TopicsPresenter(s)
Countermeasures to Prevent and Mitigate Bridge Hits by Motor Vehicles
Learn more about the recently completed NCHRP study on preventing and mitigating the risk of bridge/tunnel strikes by motor vehicles. Specifically, the presentation will cover a prototype national clearinghouse for collecting and analyzing data, a risk-based method for prioritizing bridge/tunnel for safety improvements and an extensive list of strategies and countermeasures that consider bridge/tunnel design, policy and operation, and technologies to prevent bridge/tunnel strike; and training and outreach materials for motor carrier industry, traffic operation groups, vehicle permitting, and public safety agencies.
Xiao Qin, UW-Milwaukee, IPIT
Uncovering the Spillover Effect from Posted Speed Limit Changes: A Tool to Examine Potential Safety Concerns
Speeding is a significant safety concern and has contributed to almost one-third of road fatalities in the past 20 years. This research investigated whether changing to higher posted speed limits on Interstates can cause spillover effects, or a systemic propagation of speeding behaviors that results in more crashes at nearby road segments. Findings presented in this study are useful in raising awareness of the safety impact after regulatory posted speed limits on Interstates were raised, especially among local agencies that may not have the tools to quantify any unintended safety consequences along adjacent roadways within their networks.
Nick Jarmusz, AAA
Safe System Approach Bridging the Gap Between Engineering and Behavioral Countermeasures to Get to Zero
The Safe System Approach is a paradigm shift in road safety that integrates engineering solutions with behavioral countermeasures to create a holistic strategy aimed at eliminating fatalities and serious injuries on our roads. Traditional approaches often focus on correcting human errors or improving infrastructure in isolation. However, the Safe System Approach recognizes that human errors are inevitable and thus emphasizes creating a transportation system that is forgiving and resilient to these errors. This presentation explores the synergy between engineering interventions—such as road design, vehicle technology, and traffic management—and behavioral strategies, including education, enforcement, and community engagement, to cultivate safer road environments. By examining case studies and data-driven examples, this presentation demonstrates how a collaborative approach that combines both disciplines can significantly reduce road traffic incidents. The goal is to outline a pathway to zero fatalities, emphasizing that safety is a shared responsibility among engineers, policymakers, and road users. This presentation will also discuss the challenges and opportunities in implementing the Safe System Approach, particularly in diverse urban and rural settings, and provide actionable insights for practitioners committed to advancing road safety toward the ultimate goal of zero fatalities.
Andi Bill, UW Madison TOPS Lab
Mobility, Sustainability and Equity (10:45 a.m. – 12 noon) Fireside Lounge – Moderator Lea Collins-Worachek, WisDOT

TopicsPresenter(s)
Milwaukee County Department of Transportation Complete Communities:  Increasing Multimodal Safety and Addressing Reckless Driving Across 19 Municipalities
Milwaukee County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is in its second year of the Complete Communities Transportation Planning Project.  This is an effort to increase multimodal safety and address reckless driving across all 19 municipalities in Milwaukee County.  With support from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and as part of the USDOT Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, Milwaukee County is working collaboratively with municipal leaders across the County to develop a comprehensive, data-driven, countywide plan. All 19 of Milwaukee County’s municipalities have been involved in one way or another and many are in the beginning stages of developing their Comprehensive Safety Action Plan alongside Milwaukee County as they chart a path towards Vision Zero—zero fatalities and serious injuries on all roadways in Milwaukee County.  This presentation will cover highlights of the project, thus far, and preview the next steps towards making all roadways in Milwaukee County safer and, ultimately, for the entire county to achieve Vision Zero.
Jeff Sponcia, Milwaukee County DOT
Greening Mass Transit: A Public Transportation Racine-issance
RYDE Racine, Racine’s public transportation system, encompasses fixed-route bus services, on-demand paratransit for seniors and disabled individuals, and a regional coach bus service linking Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee. Annually, RYDE Racine facilitates over one million unique rides across Eastern Racine County, spanning from Lake Michigan’s shores to Interstate-94.
 
To realize objectives of cost-efficiency, enhanced service, and environmental stewardship, RYDE Racine has tapped into federal funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other channels. This financial support has facilitated the beginning of the transition from conventional fossil fuel buses to their modern, eco-friendly electric counterparts. Additionally, the City of Racine has received support from the United States Department of Energy to construct a solar array at its bus storage facility, thereby offsetting the energy consumption associated with charging the electric fleet. These initiatives stem from the municipal leadership’s commitment to the principles of the Paris Climate Accord, which was locally adopted in April of 2018. Subsequently, city officials directed municipal staff to actively pursue sustainable initiatives.
 
During this session, learn about the City of Racine’s efforts to make public transportation more sustainable, exploring its positive social and environmental impacts.
Trevor Jung, RYDE Racine, City of Racine
Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (WEVI) Program
This presentation will focus on WisDOT’s efforts in implementation of the Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (WEVI) Program. The presentation will highlight the efforts to develop the program since the signing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allocated $78.65 million in federal funds to support the construction of electric vehicle charging stations in Wisconsin, to the first round of awarded locations announced in May 2024.
Jeremy Kloss, Kamden Stark, WisDOT; Jason Matson, HNTB