WASHINGTON — Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) praised the news that the federal government would prioritize a project to repair and expand Interstate 39 and 90 from Madison south.

The FAST Act, the 2015 highway bill, enacted this past December, created the Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grant program.  The bill established a $4.5 billion discretionary grant program over five years for large multi-modal projects, and made available $800 million for freight projects in 2016.  This week, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will be awarded a $40 million FASTLANE grant, to be used on the I-39/90 expansion project between Madison and the Illinois state line.  

Sen. Johnson said this:

“I was proud to support the passage of a long-term highway bill earlier this Congress, as I feel strongly that our investment in transportation infrastructure should be a federal priority. This week's announcement that the state DOT was awarded a large federal grant to supplement its Interstate 39/90 repair work is welcome news. It’s critical for Wisconsin’s economic growth that this stretch of interstate be improved to handle freight and passenger traffic without the current levels of congestion.  The bipartisan FAST Act is evidence that America’s transportation infrastructure is an area of agreement for Congress.”