State Operations Budget ShortfallImpact to Lift Bridge Operations in Winnebago County

1
State Operations Budget Shortfall-Impact to Lift
Bridge Operations in Winnebago County

• WISDOT
• Transportation District 3
• December 14, 2004

2
Issue

• Shortfall in State Operations Budget impacting
  lift bridge operations schedule (level of
  service) for 2005 in Winnebago County (Oshkosh,
  Winneconne Menasha).

3
Meeting Purpose

• Provide information regarding
• Lift bridge ownership and operations
• Funding
• Navigation Authority/Regulation
• Scheduling
• Gather public feedback for determination of
  approach for short and long term service levels,
  including lift schedule for 2005.

4
Background

• WisDOT owns and operates 14 lift bridges in
  Wisconsin.
• 13 are located in Northeast Wisconsin
• 7 in Winnebago County
• 2 in Door County
• 1 in Marinette County
• 3 in Brown County

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Winnebago County Lift Bridges

• Tayco Street (WIS 114)
• Racine Street
• Congress Avenue (WIS 21)
• Wisconsin Street (WIS 44)
• Jackson-Oregon Street
• Main Street (US 45)
• Winneconne (WIS 116)

6
Lift Bridge Ownership

• WisDOT owns and operates Oshkosh and Menasha (off
  State-system, connecting highways and local road)
  lift bridges by Stats. 84.10.
• WisDOT owns and operates Winneconne (on
  State-system, STH) lift bridge by Stats. Chapter
  84.
• WisDOT does not own or operate railroad
  structures in Oshkosh or Menasha.

7
Lift Bridge Operation

• Winnebago County employees operate the lift
  bridges in Oshkosh and Winneconne.
• City of Oshkosh
• Wisconsin Street (WIS 44)-Connecting Highway,
  Stats 84.10
• Congress Street (WIS 21)-Connecting Highway,
  Stats 84.10
• Main Street (US 45)-Connecting Highway, Stats
  84.10
• Oregon-Jackson Street-Local Road, Stats 84.10
•  
• Village of Winneconne
•  WIS 116

8

Lift Bridge Operation

• City of Menasha employees operate the lift
  bridges in Menasha.
• City of Menasha
• Tayco Street (WIS 114)-Connecting Highway, Stats
  84.10
• Racine Street-Local Road, Stats 84.10

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Regulations and Schedules
Schedules Regulated by USCG
Schedules Not Regulated by USCG
6 bridges outside of Winnebago County
7 bridges in Winnebago County
10
Navigation Authority on Fox River
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USCG Regulation Departure from the Fox River

• 1950-1962
• USACE gave up ownership and regulation of the
  Upper Fox River (Portage Omro).
• 1982
• Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1982 amended
  General Bridge Act of 1946 and other Acts to
  exclude from specified bridge operation
  provisions bridges over waters not subject to the
  ebb and flow of the tide and not used in
  interstate or foreign commerce.

12
USCG Regulation Departure from the Fox River

• 1983
• State of Wisconsin took over operation of the
  Lower Fox River Lock System.
• 1985
• USACE discontinued maintenance of Lower Fox River
  (above DePere) in 1985 Coast Guard removed all
  federal aids to navigation on discontinuance of
  USACE maintenance. Waterway no longer regulated
  by USCG for bridge operations.

13
USCG Regulation Departure from the Fox River

• September 11, 2000
• USACE agreed to transfer ownership of the Fox
  River Lock System (above DePere) to State of
  Wisconsin (Memorandum of Agreement).
• September 17, 2004
• Transfer of ownership of Fox River Lock System
  from USACE to State of Wisconsin. Waterway no
  longer owned or administered by USACE/USCG.

14
USCG Regulation Departure from the Fox River

• October 4, 2004
• WisDOT requested clarification on USCG Navigation
  Regulations (USCG Pilot) in Oshkosh, Winneconne
  and Menasha.
• October 7, 2004
• USCG clarified intent to remove drawbridge
  regulations from the USCG Pilot.

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Funding
Operations funded through the State
Transportation Budget (99 state funds)
Operations Appropriation Funds

• Snowplowing
• Salt
• Preventative Roadway Shoulder Maintenance
• Signing
• Pavement Marking
• Traffic Signals

• Transportation-system Related Utility Costs
• Rest Areas and Waysides Operations and
  Maintenance
• Vegetation Management (noxious weed control,
  mowing, brushing)
• Freeway Service Patrols
• Traffic Operations Center (Milwaukee)

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Budget Shortfall and Operations
State Operations Appropriation 30 million per
year shortfall in the last biennium (FY 04/05)

• WisDOT has reduced and cut services the past
  two-years to meet the shortfall.
• District Three must manage its lift bridge
  operations funding within available resources
  (1.49 million dollars) for CY 2005.

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WisDOT Prioritization Strategy

• WisDOT prioritization strategy to meet State
  Operations Budget shortfall
• Safety and Mobility
• System Preservation
• Everything Else

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Schedule Challenges for 2005

• Projected Operating Costs for CY 2005 is 1.92
  million

Budget shortfall of 430,000 must be absorbed by

• Reducing service/schedule.
• Finding a less expensive way to operate the
  bridges.

Finding additional funding. Changing WisDOT
prioritization strategy.
Or
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Primary Reasons for Funding Shortfall

• Flat funding in state operations budget.

FY 1998
FY 2005
142.4 million
165.8 million
Inflation Conversion
FY 2005
165.5 million
CPI Inflation Conversion rate of 1.164 applied.
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Primary Reasons for Funding Shortfall

• Annual addition of new highway miles and number
  of bridges.
• Statutory language change to stats. 84.06, 84.07
  per 2001 Wisconsin Act 16.

State Operations Budget
Size And Scope
State operations budget now includes
installation, replacement, rehabilitation or
maintenance of

• Highway signs
• Traffic control signals
• Highway lighting

• Pavement markings
• Intelligent transportation systems

21
Secondary Reasons for Funding Shortfall

• Increase in labor costs for bridge tenders.
• Flat funding for lift bridge operations (no
  increase since prior to 1998-reflective of larger
  budget problem).

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Operating Lift Bridge Costs

• 90 labor.
• 10 utility cost, supplies and routine
  maintenance.

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Impacts to Lift Bridge Schedule

• 430,000 District lift bridge funding shortfall
  equates to a 50-60 reduction in service for
  Winnebago County Lift Bridges.
• WisDOT has made no final decision on specific
  schedule for 2005.
• Lift bridge schedule will be developed with
  public input and within available resources.

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Lift Bridge Schedule Examples-Oshkosh/Winneconne
Current Oshkosh/Winneconne Schedule Mon, Tues,
Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun---800 AM 1200
AM Season Length---24 weeks (April 30 - Oct 17)
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Lift Bridge Schedule Examples-Oshkosh/Winneconne

• Example 1
• Weekend/Holidays only-Seasonal Employees
• Fri, Sat, Sun Holidays---800 AM 1200 AM
• Season Length---16.5 weeks
• Example 2
• Weekend/Holidays only-Full Time Employees
• Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun Holidays---800 AM 1200
  AM
• Season Length---18.5 weeks

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Lift Bridge Schedule Examples-Oshkosh/Winneconne

• Example 3
• Full Week Service-Seasonal Employees
• Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri---1200 PM 800 PM
• Sat, Sun Holidays---1200 PM 1200 AM
• Season Length---10 weeks
• Example 4
• Full Week Service-Full Time Employees
• Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri---1200 PM 800 PM
• Sat, Sun Holidays---1200 PM 1200 AM
• Season Length---18.5 weeks

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Lift Bridge Schedule Examples-Menasha

• Current Menasha Schedule
• Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs---10 AM 10 PM
• Fri, Sat, Sun---800 AM 1200 AM
• Season Length---21 weeks (May 14 Oct 3)
• Plus first 2 weekends of May from 900 AM 500
  PM

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Lift Bridge Schedule Examples-Menasha

• Example 1
• Thurs---1000 AM 1000 PM
• Fri, Sat, Sun Holidays---800 AM 1200 AM
• Season Length---17 weeks
• Example 2
• Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri---1200 PM 800 PM
• Sat, Sun Holidays---1200 PM 1200 AM
• Season Length---16 weeks

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Lift Bridge Schedule Examples-Menasha

• Example 3
• Wed, Thurs, Fri---1200 PM 800 PM
• Sat, Sun Holidays---1000 AM 1200 AM
• Season Length---21 weeks
• Example 4 (Tayco Street Only)
• Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs---1000 AM 800 PM
• Fri, Sat, Sun Holidays---1000 AM 1200 AM
• Season Length---16.5 weeks

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Potential Options to Increase Service

• Short Term
• Scheduled Openings in lieu of On-demand
• Local Cost Share
• Combined Services
• Privatization-Vendor
• Long Term
• Remote Operations
• Transfer of Ownership (State to Local)
• Combined Services
• User Fees
• Scheduled Openings in lieu of On-demand
• Privatization-Vendor

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Intergovernmental Agreement for Lift Bridges and
Locks????

• Agreement for
• Operations
• Funding
• Schedule
• Coordination of system

• Agreement between
• WisDOT
• Local governments
• County government
• WisDNR
• Railroads
• Fox River Navigational Authority
• Boating groups

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Timeframe
WisDOT will have to have a decision made on
direction for CY 2005 no later than April 1st.
Option .
Option .
Lift Bridges
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Questions Comments

• Fill out question comment card
• Give card to WisDOT representative
• 3 minute maximum per question or comment

FOR MORE INFO...
Brett Wallace, P.E. [phone]