This is a report of research and technology transfer activities carried out by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation through the Part II research portion of the State Planning and Research Program of the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. The report describes activities during Federal Fiscal Year 2010, covering October 1, 2009, through September 30, 2010.

In 2007 we focused heavily on our customers promoting awareness of our program, listening to their concerns and recommendations, and expanding our services to meet the needs of professionals across the department. Our new Policy Research Program got off the ground in 2007, with funding for six projects across four different divisions or offices. These projects will help DOT managers in making and reviewing policy decisions related to topic areas beyond highway materials and construction issues. We met with staff at WisDOT regional offices, raising awareness of the products and services that Research offers and identifying opportunities for improved communication about research results and guidance on putting those results into practice. We provided a range of services to all divisions, from short-term library and information services to full research projects. We responded to 47 requests for Transportation Synthesis Reports from 12 different WisDOT offices (three times as many as in 2006). In addition, 49 Wisconsin studies and 42 pooled fund research projects are addressing identified problem areas or procedures in need of updating across the whole gamut of department responsibilities.

This is the 2009 Annual Report on the research activities of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. This report focuses on the programs and activities managed by the Research and Library Unit while also describing partnership efforts across the department, state and nation. In many ways, 2009 will be remembered as a year of change. An economic recession produced changing stock markets and major financial fluctuations. A historic national election led to change at the highest levels of public office. The transportation sector was also subject to many changes. Fuel prices raced to record highs and then dropped to five-year lows, all in the space of a few months. Transit and passenger rail ridership surged, while highway use dropped slightly. In Wisconsin, record snowfalls in winter followed by catastrophic flooding in spring and summer led to long-term closures even on the busiest highways.