Policy Research Program

The WisDOT Policy Research Program promotes and funds research that addresses planning, operations, safety, finance, economic impacts, environmental issues, emerging technology and other policy aspects of all transportation modes and all agency operations, which include the Division of Motor Vehicles and the Division of State Patrol. WisDOT's Policy Research Program is currently partnering with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Institute for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation (IPIT)​ on several research projects. 


For information on submitting a proposal for a Policy Research Program project, visit the For Researchers​ page. 

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Research in progress

​Project ID
​Project information​
​Expected completion date
​0092-21-62
Workforce Development Initiative
​​​The outcome of this study will be a high-level, general description of current workforce planning and management efforts, and will present options for strategic realignment of roles for meeting projected future business priorities for the Division of ​Transportation System Development. 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Romila Singh
01/2022
​0092-21-63
​​Evaluation of the Local Bridge Improvement Assistance Program
In 2019, WisDOT initiated a pilot program to streamline the delivery and oversight of low-risk local bridge projects. This project will assess that pilot program for its effectiveness before it is implemented on a larger scale. 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Habib Tabatabai
0​7/2022
​0092-21-65
​Data Inventory/Catalog
This project will provide an implementation-ready WisDOT Data Inventory that documents the structure, quality, definitions and usage of WisDOT data, with the broader goal of providing a single source for current metadata, reducing data silos, and improving analytics and discovery.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Andrew Graettinger​
0​3/2022
​0092-22-67
​Maximization of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Participation
This study will lead to the development of recommendations to maximize DBE participation and success rate, and set directions for developing and implementing a unique and robust DBE pilot training program to address and remove barriers that DBEs in Wisconsin face. 

Principal investigator: Dr. Al Ghorbanpoor
​​06/2023
​0092-22-68
​Design-Build Pilot Program Evaluation
This project's objective is to conduct a third-party evaluation of WisDOT's design build pilot program, and will do this through reviewing peer state programs, national best practices, the department's project selection and proposal evaluation processes, providing a full report with recommendations for process improvement. The external evaluation will establish criteria for WisDOT to use for ongoing evaluation of its alternative project delivery pilot program. 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Xiao Qin
​11/2022

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Completed research

​Project ID

​Project information

​Completion date

​0092-20-53
​Evaluation of Winter Maintenance with Salt Brine Applications in Wisconsin

Final Report​
​12/2021
​0092-16-11

​Identifying Highly Correlated Variables Relating to the Potential Causes of Reportable Wisconsin Traffic Crashes

Final reportResearch brief

​07/2019
​0092-15-11

​Motorcycle Licensing and Safety

Final report​

​12/2018​

 

​Please visit the Wisconsin Digital Archives​ or contact staff at research@dot.wi.gov for research published before FFY 2014.


Policy research program ​contact
Diane Gurtner (608) 267-1842
diane.gurtner@dot.wi.gov