Connect 2050 is a vision plan, setting an overall direction for our transportation system and establishing goals and objectives based on transportation-related issues and trends, and comments from people like you!
The plan will help guide WisDOT as we make decisions about improvements to and investments in all types of transportation in Wisconsin's system – from roads to ports to railroads to sidewalks – from now until 2050.
Long-range. It looks ahead, decades into the future.
Statewide. It has a broad reach; its vision, goals and objectives will guide WisDOT’s decision-making for all of Wisconsin and for all people.
Unlike a transportation project that is happening now or in the near future, Connect 2050 affects decisions about plans and projects that will be completed and funded years from now.
Implement and maintain a safe and efficient statewide multimodal transportation system that provides safe, affordable, accessible, and equitable transportation choices for all people.
Ensure that no person is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, age, religion, income status or limited English proficiency in any programs, activities or services administered by WisDOT.
Embrace a continuing, cooperative, comprehensive planning process.
Connect 2050 creates a direction WisDOT will follow to support development of an integrated, efficient, and safe multimodal transportation system.
The plan is not meant to include specific policies or actions, but its goals and objectives universally affect planning for Wisconsin’s entire transportation system.
Our technical reports and modal, operational and business plans – like WisDOT's Six-Year Highway Improvement Program and Statewide Transportation Improvement Program – will implement Connect 2050's goals and objectives through policies and actions.
So, while Connect 2050 provides a long-term vision, goals and objectives for what we should accomplish, WisDOT’s other plans and technical reports identify how to meet Connect 2050’s goals.
VISION - Vision is a statement that describes WisDOT's desired future for our transportation system as it is developed and maintained over time.
GOALS - Goals are conceptual statements about topics critical to the state's transportation system.
OBJECTIVES - Objectives are more specific than goals and identify the targets at which policies will be aimed.
POLICIES - Policies are more specific than goals and describe how to achieve objectives. WisDOT's mode plans and other strategic plans identify policies.
ACTIONS - Actions explain in detail the steps that WisDOT or other entities will take to implement policies.
Vision is a statement that describes WisDOT's desired future for our transportation system as it is developed and maintained over time.
Goals are conceptual statements about topics critical to the state’s transportation system.
Objectives are more specific than goals and identify the targets at which policies will be aimed.
Policies are more specific than goals and describe how to achieve objectives. WisDOT’s mode plans and other strategic plans identify policies.
Actions explain in detail the steps that WisDOT or other entities will take to implement policies.
Performance-based decision-making combines target-setting and trends analysis with measuring and tracking progress toward meeting those targets.
When WisDOT measures progress, we can identify what we are doing well and what areas need improvement, prioritizing constructive actions.
Federal Transportation Performance Measures
WisDOT also combines performance management with asset management. The Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP) identifies investment strategies to maximize system performance.
Over time, as we monitor and report on our performance, we update the targets and our asset-management-based investment strategies to reflect current system conditions.
This cycle, combined with Connect 2050’s strategic direction and other planning tools, provides a continuous process by which WisDOT monitors conditions, prioritizes investments, and sets policy direction.
Assess state of transportation system and review trends.
Get public input on priorities via survey, website, webinars, social media.
Develop Connect 2050 draft plan.
Conduct internal WisDOT coordination meetings.
Engage MPOs, tribes, advisory committees and advocacy groups.
Release draft Connect 2050 plan for public review.
Revise plan as needed
Adopt and publish final Connect 2050 plan.