On Friday, October 17, CARPC and the Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) co-hosted the first-ever Fall Forum—an in-person learning and networking event for municipal staff and elected officials from across the region.
More than 50 local leaders throughout Dane County joined for a day of discussion focused on cross-jurisdictional transportation and infrastructure issues, exploring how communities can work together across boundaries to plan and invest more effectively.
Our Sessions
We hosted six 45-minute sessions throughout the day, with additional networking opportunities between sessions.
MPO Regional Plan & Funding Programs
Led by MPO Director and Transportation Manager Alex Andros, this session highlighted MPO-administered funding opportunities and key planning initiatives, including the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan and the upcoming Active Transportation Plan for Dane County.
Regional Transit Planning Efforts
Moderated by MPO Transportation Planner Ben Lyman, this panel brought together David Salmon (City of Sun Prairie), Neil Stechschulte (City of Monona), Amanda Peterson (Village of Oregon), Jamie Acton and Mick Rusch (Metro Transit), and Katie Patterson (WisDOT) to discuss regional transit planning efforts.
The conversation highlighted community experiences with planning and expanding transit service—and, in Oregon’s case, exploring grants and funding opportunities to study and plan for potential new service.
Road-Stream Crossings at Jurisdictional Boundaries
Moderated by Melissa Michaud and Prachi Mehendale (CARPC), this panel featured Scott Allen (Trout Unlimited) and Bobbi Jo Fischer (Wisconsin DNR). The discussion centered on CARPC’s ongoing project to collect data that helps local townships prioritize bridge and culvert improvements—supporting efforts to strengthen the region’s flood resilience.
Panelists also discussed ways neighboring communities can collaborate when infrastructure crosses municipal boundaries.
Regional EV Planning and Charge Up Dane County
MPO Transportation Planner Bill Holloway and Kathy Kuntz from the Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change led a session on expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the region. They shared highlights from the MPO’s Dane County Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Plan and discussed Charge Up Dane County — a $13 million grant helping to grow local charging options, particularly in rural areas and multifamily neighborhoods.
The discussion also covered project progress and how potential charging sites are identified and prioritized throughout the county.
Coordinating Winter Pavement Management at Jurisdictional Boundaries
Led by Allison Madison (WI Salt Wise) and Charlie Romines (City of Madison), this session focused on smart salting practices and their impact on our local waterways. Since all deicing salt applied after winter storms eventually ends up in our lakes, streams, and drinking water, the discussion emphasized strategies to reduce salt use while maintaining safety.
Presenters also provided an inside look at winter maintenance equipment and led a conversation on how neighboring communities can collaborate to align salting practices across municipal boundaries.
Highway to Help: Crowd-Sourced Solutions to Your Transportation Problems
Throughout the day, participants were invited to share their ideas, questions, and insights in our “Highway to Help” box. For the final session, CARPC’s Jason Valerius and MPO’s Alex Andros selected a few submissions to spark an open discussion about what good (and bad!) planning can look like.
All submissions were later reviewed by CARPC and the MPO, and responses were compiled into a follow-up Q & A.
