Wis. gov wants to add 180 new DOT workers

Wisconsin governor's budget calls for 180 new transportation workers

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker wants to create nearly 200 new transportation engineering positions.

The budget Walker released Wednesday calls for adding 180 engineering and engineering support positions within the state Department of Transportation. The governor says the move would reduce costs for outside consultants by $5.6 million annually.

Walker's total transportation budget would be $6.4 billion, a $500 million increase over the last state budget.

The spending plan calls for using a mixture of gas taxes, vehicle registration fees, the state's general fund, the petroleum inspection fund and bonding toward rebuilding Milwaukee's Zoo Interchange and Hoan Bridge, improving harbors, preserving railroad tracks and training new State Patrol recruits.