Committee endorses SMA amendment with WisDOT for North Avenue reconstruction

The Financial Affairs Committee voted to approve Amendment 1 to the state municipal agreement (SMA) with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the North Avenue reconstruction project between 90 Fifth Street and Wauwatosa Avenue (CIP 1127). The amendment adds construction funding and updates the cost‑share breakdown between the DOT and the city.

City engineering staff told the committee the original SMA approved by the Common Council in 2023 did not include the full construction funding. The city successfully applied for additional construction funding from the DOT; Amendment 1 incorporates the updated estimates and the DOT’s maximum contribution for the construction portion of the project.

Staff pointed to the standard DOT cost‑share for this class of project—roughly 80% DOT / 20% city—capped in this agreement at $19,339,173 for the DOT portion. The total estimated project cost presented in the packet was $24,198,966 (shown during the presentation), with a city share in that table of about $4,000,859. Staff said those numbers will be updated in the city’s capital improvement plan for 2026 as design advances.

Committee members asked about the date on the state agreement (a November revision nearly a year old) and whether figures remained accurate; staff said the figures are accurate as of December and will continue to be updated during design. Alder Phillips moved approval of the staff recommendation; Alder Gustafson seconded. The committee took a voice vote and the chair recorded the motion as passing (recorded in the transcript as “7 2 0”). No public commenters spoke on the item during the committee meeting.

The agreement covers typical DOT‑eligible items for such projects—roadway, storm sewer, sidewalk and lighting—and staff said the city will execute the SMA amendment and update CIP numbers as the design progresses.