Board OKs WisDOT agreement for citywide traffic modeling; city share estimated at $24,000

The Board of Public Works on June 17 approved a state municipal agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to fund citywide traffic signal modeling and analytics, with an estimated project cost of $120,000 and a local match of $24,000.

Acting public works official Josh Marwitz said the project is funded through a federal pass-through grant administered by WisDOT under the Carbon Reduction Program, established by the bipartisan infrastructure law of 2021. "The project estimate is at $120,000, and the grant is an 80% state share, 20% local. So our share of that would be $24,000," Marwitz said. The work will analyze about 27 signalized intersections to adjust timing and improve coordination across the city.

Marwitz said the project is scheduled for state fiscal year 2027, with proposals to be solicited in the second half of 2026. He noted the city's last full signal timing analysis was at least 10 years ago and that the study aims to coordinate signals so drivers can travel through consecutive greens where possible.

During public comment, an attendee identified as Jen asked whether the study could speed specific intersections on Veterans south of town and whether it would reduce long waits at lights on streets such as Vine and Parkway. Marwitz replied that some signals are actuated and that the study would "make everything as efficient as possible," but that exact results for particular intersections would depend on the study's findings.

The board approved the state municipal agreement and authorized execution of the same. No roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript. The project will proceed to vendor solicitation and later implementation pending standard procurement and scheduling steps.