Senate Bill 461 proposes significant changes to the alternative delivery methods for highway projects contracted by the Department of Transportation (DOT) in Wisconsin. The bill repeals the existing pilot program that allowed DOT to award a limited number of design-build contracts and eliminates the requirement for maintaining an inventory of suitable projects. Instead, it allows DOT to encumber up to $300 million in each fiscal biennium for state trunk highway improvement projects using alternative project delivery methods, which are defined as any construction project delivery method eligible for federal funding, excluding the traditional design-bid-build approach. The bill also modifies the process for evaluating and selecting contracts, requiring a technical review committee to assess qualifications and proposals, and it establishes new definitions and terms related to project delivery methods.

Additionally, the bill amends various sections of the statutes to reflect these changes, including the adjustment of amounts based on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Construction Cost Index. It introduces new terms such as "construction manager-general contractor delivery" and "progressive design-build method," while repealing several existing definitions and requirements. Notably, the bill does not include provisions for judicial review of DOT decisions related to alternative project delivery, which were present in the previous pilot program. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the contracting process for highway projects and expand the use of alternative delivery methods.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 84.01(33)(bm), 84.01, 84.013(2m), 84.013, 84.0145(4), 84.0145, 84.062(1)(b), 84.062, 84.062(1)(c), 84.062(1)(d), 84.062(1)(dm), 84.062(1)(m), 84.062(2)(title), 84.062(2)(a), 84.062(2)(b)