LRB-1852/1
EVM&ZDW:amn&jld
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
March 2, 2017 - Introduced by
Joint Legislative Audit Committee. Referred to
Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs.
SB85,1,7
1An Act to renumber 84.06 (1) (a);
to amend 13.489 (3), 84.01 (13), 84.06 (2) (a),
2779.14 (1) (b), 779.14 (2) (a) 3., 895.56 (2) (a) and 895.56 (2) (c); and
to create
313.489 (3) (b) 2., 13.489 (5) (a) 3., 13.489 (5) (am), 84.013 (1m), 84.06 (1) (ag),
484.06 (1) (aj) and 84.06 (2m) of the statutes;
relating to: use of the construction
5manager-general contractor process for highway project contracting, major
6highway project reports, and cost-benefit analyses of certain services related
7to transportation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill implements the legislative changes recommended by the Legislative
Audit Bureau in LAB's January 2017 report regarding the state highway program.
Under current law, DOT administers a major highway projects program. With
limited exceptions, a major highway project is either 1) a project having a total cost
of more than $30,000,000 and involving a) construction of a new highway 2.5 miles
or more in length; b) reconstruction or reconditioning of an existing highway that
relocates at least 2.5 miles of the highway or adds one or more lanes five miles or more
in length to the highway; or c) improvement of an existing multilane, divided
highway to freeway standards or 2) a project having a total cost of at least
$75,000,000. For both categories of major highway projects, DOT annually adjusts
the total cost threshold based on an inflation index.
For major highway projects of the first type, the project must generally receive
the approval of the Transportation Projects Commission and the legislature
(generally referred to as “enumeration") before the project may be constructed. For
major highway projects of the second type, DOT must submit a report to TPC and
request TPC approval to proceed with the project under a passive review process.
Once approved by TPC, the project is considered enumerated as a major highway
project under the statutes.
Among the requirements of the program, DOT must provide TPC with any
studies and cost estimates with respect to a proposed project that are requested by
TPC.
This bill specifies that when DOT provides a full project cost estimate under
this requirement, the estimate must include all costs associated with the project,
including all costs before enumeration, design engineering and construction
engineering costs, the costs of environmental studies, and costs of the project that are
paid by another program of the department. A full project cost estimate must also
include the expected date of completion and an estimate of the effects of construction
cost inflation and unexpected costs on the cost of the project.
Also under current law, every six months, DOT must submit a report to the TPC
that summarizes the current status of each major highway project and identifies all
actual and estimated project costs, itemized by major cost categories, as of the date
of preparation of the report. The project information included in these reports must
be reported on both a cumulative basis from the inception of the project and on an
updated basis for the period since the department's last report.
Under this bill, these reports must also include for each project the full project
cost estimate of the project made for the commission as of the date of the commission's
approval of the project. This bill also specifies that the report must treat separately
and as described in the enumerating statute each project.
This bill also requires DOT to annually prepare and submit to certain
legislative committees a report that provides all of the following information for each
major highway project:
1. The full project cost estimate of the project as of the date of enumeration.
2. The year in which the department expects to complete the project as of the
date of enumeration.
3. The costs incurred as of the date of preparation of the report.
4. The full project cost estimate as of the date of preparation of the report.
5. The year in which the department expects to complete the project as of the
date of preparation of the report.
6. An explanation of any difference between the full project cost estimates
under items 1. and 4.
7. The opinion of the department as to whether the project will be completed
as originally scheduled without the allocation of additional funds.
The bill also specifies that this report must treat separately and as described
in the enumerating statute each project.
Under current law, highway improvement projects undertaken by DOT must
be executed by contract based on bids, with limited exceptions. This bill authorizes
DOT, for no more than three highway improvement projects, to enter into contracts
using a construction manager-general contractor process. Under this process, the
department contracts with a provider of construction services to supervise the design
work for the project and, subject to an acceptable proposal, contracts with the
provider of construction services for construction of the project. This bill authorizes
DOT to enter into no more than three design contracts utilizing the construction
manager-general contractor process no later than July 1, 2021.
Under current law, DOT may engage engineering, consulting, surveying, or
other specialized services and this engagement of services is exempt from certain
provisions of law relating to state procurement. For an engagement of services of
more than $300,000, DOT must conduct a uniform cost-benefit analysis before the
engagement and must review periodically, and before any renewal, the continued
appropriateness of the engagement. Under this bill, when DOT conducts a
cost-benefit analysis under this provision, DOT must also consider and document
the results of the analysis before determining whether to undertake the proposed
engagement.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB85,1
1Section
1. 13.489 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB85,3,32
13.489
(3) Assistance to commission. (a) The department of transportation
3shall assist the commission in the performance of its duties.
SB85,3,7
4(b) 1. The department of transportation shall, when requested by the
5commission, make or cause to be made
such any studies and cost estimates with
6respect to any proposed project
as that are necessary to permit the commission to
7consider the project.
SB85,3,9
83. The costs of
such studies
under this paragraph shall be charged to the
9appropriate program appropriation under s. 20.395.
SB85,2
10Section
2. 13.489 (3) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
SB85,4,411
13.489
(3) (b) 2. When the department provides a full project cost estimate
12under this paragraph, the estimate shall include all costs associated with the project,
13including all costs before enumeration, design engineering and construction
1engineering costs, the costs of environmental studies, and costs of the project that are
2paid by another program of the department. A full project cost estimate under this
3paragraph shall include the expected date of completion and an estimate of the
4effects of construction cost inflation and unexpected costs on the cost of the project.
SB85,3
5Section
3. 13.489 (5) (a) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
SB85,4,86
13.489
(5) (a) 3. For each project specified under subd. 1., identifies the full
7project cost estimate of the project made for the commission as of the date of the
8commission's approval of the project.
SB85,4
9Section
4. 13.489 (5) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
SB85,4,1210
13.489
(5) (am) The report under par. (a) shall treat separately and as described
11in the enumerating statute each project enumerated under s. 84.013 (3) or 84.0145
12(3) (b) and shall treat separately each project approved under s. 84.013 (6).
SB85,5
13Section
5. 84.01 (13) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB85,5,214
84.01
(13) Engineering services. The department may engage such
15engineering, consulting, surveying, or other specialized services as it deems
16advisable. Any engagement of services under this subsection is exempt from ss.
1716.70 to 16.75, 16.755 to 16.82, and 16.85 to 16.89, but ss. 16.528, 16.752, 16.753, and
1816.754 apply to such engagement. Any engagement involving an expenditure of
19$3,000 or more shall be by formal contract approved by the governor. The
20department shall conduct a uniform cost-benefit analysis, as defined in s. 16.70 (3g),
21of each proposed engagement under this subsection that involves an estimated
22expenditure of more than $300,000 in accordance with standards prescribed by rule
23of the department
and consider and document the results of the analysis before the
24determination of whether to undertake the proposed engagement. The department
25shall review periodically, and before any renewal, the continued appropriateness of
1contracting pursuant to each engagement under this subsection that involves an
2estimated expenditure of more than $300,000.
SB85,6
3Section
6. 84.013 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB85,5,94
84.013
(1m) (a) Annually no later than February 1, the department shall
5prepare and submit under s. 13.172 (3) to the joint committee on finance, the joint
6legislative audit committee, and the standing committees of the legislature with
7jurisdiction over transportation matters a report that provides all of the following
8information for each project enumerated under s. 84.013 (3) or 84.0145 (3) (b) or
9approved under s. 84.013 (6):
SB85,5,1110
1. The full project cost estimate, as established under s. 13.489 (3) (b) 2., of the
11project as of the date of enumeration.
SB85,5,1312
2. The year in which the department expects to complete the project as of the
13date of enumeration.
SB85,5,1414
3. The costs incurred as of the date of preparation of the report.
SB85,5,1615
4. The full project cost estimate, as established under s. 13.489 (3) (b) 2., of the
16project as of the date of preparation of the report.
SB85,5,1817
5. The year in which the department expects to complete the project as of the
18date of preparation of the report.
SB85,5,2119
6. An explanation of any difference between the full project cost estimates
20under subds. 1. and 4. that has not been addressed in a previous report under this
21paragraph.
SB85,5,2322
7. The opinion of the department as to whether the project will be completed
23as originally scheduled without the allocation of additional funds.
SB85,6,3
1(b) The report under par. (a) shall treat separately and as described in the
2enumerating statute each project enumerated under s. 84.013 (3) or 84.0145 (3) (b)
3and shall treat separately each project approved under s. 84.013 (6).
SB85,7
4Section
7. 84.06 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 84.06 (1) (am).
