Traffic is slowed on I-43 southbound just north of Brown Deer Rd due to a crash May 7. Credit: Mike De Sisti

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Madison — A $751 million boost in taxes and fees isn't the only way Gov. Scott Walker's transportation chief wants to keep major road projects on schedule.

Over two years, Transportation Secretary Mark Gottlieb also wants to borrow more than $805 million, study the feasibility of tolling and use $574 million in funds that typically go toward schools and health care.

Under another part of Gottlieb's plan, the state Department of Transportation would gather odometer readings when drivers register their vehicles each year — a move that would help it review whether the state should create a new fee based on how many miles people drive.

Gottlieb's proposal is in its infancy. On Tuesday, Walker told The Associated Press he would make significant changes to it before submitting a transportation plan to the Legislature as part of the overall state budget early next year.

He declined to rule out raising the gas tax, saying he was "not making absolutes on anything right now."

Once Walker gives his plan to lawmakers, they will spend months modifying it before returning it to Walker for his final approval. The Legislature is controlled by Walker's fellow Republicans.

Legislators from both parties have been muted in their responses to Gottlieb's plan. They have said they see a need for more money, but also have expressed reservations about increasing taxes and fees or relying too much on borrowing.

Bonding more than $800 million for road projects is "not sustainable," said Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), co-chairwoman of the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee.

She said she would listen to her constituents on what to do when it comes to funding transportation.

"I'm all ears," she said. "I honestly hear about two different pictures of Wisconsin. Some people say we have enough roads already. Others point to what bad shape the Zoo Interchange is in.

"We have a problem. People agree we have a problem, but when you say, 'How about these solutions,' they say, 'None of the above.'"

Brett Healy, president of the conservative MacIver Institute, said Gottlieb would have a tough time persuading people to sign onto his plan.

"Everywhere drivers look, all they see is road construction and orange cones but now the department says they need more transportation funding," he said by email. "Adequate transportation funding is critical to economic growth but there must be taxpayer balance.

"Higher transportation taxes and fees in this economy and this political environment will be difficult to justify."

The revenue increases are necessary to keep major and routine projects on schedule, according to Gottlieb. The department is continuing work on the Zoo Interchange, Hoan Bridge and north-south section of I-94 in southeastern Wisconsin. It's also in the early stages of expanding I-90 from the state line to Madison.

In addition, Gottlieb has proposed approving two more massive reconstruction projects in Milwaukee County — the east-west portion of I-94 and the I-894 bypass. That would give the department the ability to begin preliminary work on the yearslong projects.

Those two pieces of roadwork will be costly. The east-west leg of I-94 is expected to cost $825 million to $1.15 billion, according to a recent DOT study.

Gottlieb's plans have garnered headlines for the new fees and taxes he is proposing. Gottlieb and others have been looking for new ways to fund transportation because gas tax collections have been stagnant in recent years as vehicles have become more fuel efficient.

But Todd Berry, president of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, said what struck him about Gottlieb's request is how similar it is to current budget practices.

"They really should be looking for long-term solutions," he said. "Some of the ideas are justifiable, but to some degrees these are still Band-Aids."

Here's a look at some specifics:

Gas tax. Gottlieb wants to raise the 32.9-cent-per-gallon gas tax by 5 cents, to 37.9 cents in September 2015. The gas tax would be linked in part to the wholesale price of gasoline, which would allow the tax to rise and fall in future years with the price of gas, though it could not fall below 37.9 cents per gallon.

A similar change would be made for diesel fuel, raising it by 10 cents a gallon. That is aimed at getting more money from semitrailer trucks, which do the most damage to roads.

Those who drive diesel-powered cars and light trucks could claim a $25 credit on their annual registration fee to help cover the higher diesel tax they would pay.

The higher gas taxes would raise an additional $358 million through June 2017.

Fee on new vehicles. Starting in October 2015, Gottlieb wants to charge people who buy new vehicles a fee of 2.5% of the manufacturer's suggested retail price. That would come to $500 on a $20,000 vehicle.

The fee would be charged on new vehicles, but not used ones, and raise $379 million through June 2017. People who bought vehicles in other states would have to pay the fee when they registered them in Wisconsin.

Chris Snyder, the executive vice president and general counsel for the Wisconsin Automobile & Truck Dealers Association, said such a fee could have a chilling effect on the sale of new vehicles.

"From the initial blush, it looks to be a little onerous on people who want to buy a new car," he said.

Borrowing. Gottlieb wants to borrow $805 million over two years to pay for transportation projects. That's $186 million less than the $991 million in bonding lawmakers approved last year.

When legislators approved that borrowing, they signaled they wanted to see the department rely less on bonding. Officials will now have to determine whether they consider the proposed reduction big enough.

Transfers. In all, Gottlieb is seeking $574 million in funding over two years from the state's general fund. Much of that amount — $276 million — would be to pay for mass transit programs.

Transit advocates in the past have opposed moving their funding from the transportation fund to the general fund because they fear they would be at greater risk to future cuts. But Gottlieb's latest plan includes a $61 million increase for transit over two years, an appropriation that might entice some to back the idea.

Tolling. Gottlieb is asking for more than $1 million to hire a consultant to study for 18 months the feasibility of tolling Wisconsin's highways and bridges.

Congress would have to change a federal law to allow widespread tolling in Wisconsin and many other states, but backers say state officials need to explore the issue. The study would look at where tolls could be established, gauge public opinion on the issue and recommend how to oversee a tolling system.

"This data will help us understand where tolling might make sense as well as give us a better understanding of what it would take to implement here in (Wisconsin)," DOT spokeswoman Peg Schmitt said by email. "There has been significant legislative interest in tolling as a future option, and we need good data upon which to provide information on how that might work."

Odometer readings. A state task force in 2013 proposed charging drivers a new fee based on how much people drive.

Gottlieb is not recommending doing that at this time, but he is seeking a change in state law that would allow the Department of Transportation to require people to report their odometer readings when they register their vehicles each year.

That would give the agency more data to better study how much money it could raise from such a fee.

Lawmakers quiet for now

Lawmakers from both parties have mostly been silent about how to fund transportation.

A spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said Vos is pleased the department is seeking new ways to fund roads. He is not commenting further on the matter until he consults with other lawmakers, Vos spokeswoman Kit Beyer said.

Democratic legislators have said they see a need to look closely at the issue.

"Maintaining our transportation infrastructure, reducing congestion and improving safety are all important issues and we need to keep an open mind on all proposals as we work to find a solution," said a written statement this week from Sen. Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse), who will serve as the Senate minority leader in the upcoming legislative session.

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) stressed the importance of funding infrastructure, but did not weigh in on the merits of Gottlieb's ideas.

Jason Stein of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.