Agricultural Roads Improvement Program

The Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) is a state-administered grant program established by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to support local governments in improving rural transportation infrastructure critical to agricultural and forestry operations. Created under state statute and funded through segregated state revenue, the program was introduced to address deteriorating local roads and structures that limit the efficient movement of agricultural goods. ARIP operates within the broader framework of the Local Roads Improvement Program but maintains its own eligibility requirements, application procedures, and evaluation criteria tailored specifically to agricultural access and economic impact. The primary objective of ARIP is to provide financial assistance to counties, towns, cities, and villages to repair and upgrade roads, bridges, and culverts that are currently subject to weight restrictions or classified as structurally deficient. These limitations often prevent agricultural producers from transporting full loads, increasing operational costs and inefficiencies. The program reimburses up to 90 percent of eligible project costs, with funding intended to remove weight restrictions and restore reliable access to agricultural lands and facilities. For the 2026–2027 biennium, approximately 120 million dollars has been allocated to support eligible projects statewide. Eligible uses of funding include a wide range of construction-related activities such as pavement replacement, resurfacing, reconstruction, and structure rehabilitation or replacement. Associated costs like engineering design, material procurement, traffic control, and right-of-way acquisition may also be covered if they are integral to the project. However, the program imposes strict limitations: projects cannot be funded concurrently with other state or federal aid for the same eligible costs, and improvements must meet minimum design standards or receive formal approval for exceptions. Additionally, projects must achieve a minimum ten-year useful life and result in the removal of existing load restrictions except in emergency situations. Eligibility is limited to political subdivisions, including counties and municipalities, that maintain the roadway or structure. Projects must involve roads classified as local roads or minor collectors and must serve at least one agricultural producer. Furthermore, the infrastructure must have been subject to weight limitations for at least one month in the previous year. Bridge and culvert projects are eligible only under specific conditions, such as size limitations and the inclusion of associated roadway work. The program explicitly excludes maintenance activities and improvements that do not resolve structural deficiencies. Applications are submitted through the ARIPWeb online portal, which serves as the central platform for application submission, project management, and reimbursement requests. Applicants must provide detailed information including project location, justification, economic impact, scope of work, cost estimates, and supporting documentation such as maps and photographs. The submission process requires careful documentation of how the project supports agricultural productivity and addresses transportation barriers. Applications are reviewed first for completeness and eligibility by program staff, then evaluated by a discretionary selection committee composed of industry and municipal representatives. Projects are scored based on statutory criteria such as access improvement, economic impact, cost effectiveness, and geographic distribution. Additional considerations include the number of agricultural producers served, reductions in transportation costs, and the fiscal capacity of the applying municipality. Awards are announced following committee review, and successful applicants must enter into a State Municipal Agreement before beginning reimbursable work. The program also requires competitive bidding for construction contracts and adherence to strict documentation and reporting requirements throughout the project lifecycle. The ARIP program operates on a recurring cycle with multiple solicitation rounds. For the 2026–2027 cycle, Round 1 opened in October 2025 with applications due in December 2025, while Round 2 opens in April 2026 with a June 2026 deadline. Award announcements are expected several months after submission deadlines. Projects must be completed within the program’s defined timeline, with final reimbursement deadlines extending several years beyond award. Program contacts include designated staff within the Wisconsin Department of Transportation who assist with application guidance, contract management, and reimbursement processing.

Emphasize agricultural impact and economic benefits; provide strong documentation of weight restrictions; include clear photos and producer data to strengthen scoring