Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) - FAQs

Yes. If a project meets the eligibility requirements for both ARIP and another program, you may apply to both. However, you can only accept funding from one program. If awarded under both, WisDOT will allow you to choose which to accept.​

Yes. Communities that received ARIP funding in a previous program cycle are absolutely eligible to apply again in a new program cycle. Each new cycle is considered an independent opportunity for funding. Additionally, if there are multiple project solicitations within a single program cycle, all municipalities and counties are welcome to submit up to two applications per solicitation as the primary sponsor.​

Road projects to improve gravel roads by adding more gravel to the roadway are not considered eligible for ARIP. Per Wis. Stat. 86.31 (3o) (b), after completion of the project, the highway will not be designated as a class "B" highway under s. 349.15 and will not be subject to a posted weight limitation other than under extraordinary or emergency circumstances. It is unlikely that improving an existing gravel road with the addition of more gravel has the structural capacity to remove these weight restrictions and provide the project area with the required 10-year lifespan. 

If the ARIP project is intended to upgrade a gravel road to pavement, this may be eligible. This project must meet all the ARIP eligibility criteria, including removing the load posting and/or Class B designation after the project’s completion. 

No. ARIP is for improving existing weight-restricted or Class B roadways, bridges, or culverts. New construction is not eligible.

Please note that while eligible bridge projects may apply, ARIP is not intended to fund standalone bridge improvements as those structures have their own dedicated funding stream through the Local Bridge Improvement Assistance Program. We encourage municipalities interested in reconstructing and repairing bridges in their jurisdiction to consider applying for the Local Bridge Improvement Assistance Program or other related programs. More information about the Local Bridge Improvement Assistance Program can be found here.

Structures that are greater than 20 ft in length are eligible (i.e. bridges), however, all such ARIP projects that involve a bridge must include associated pavement work in order to be eligible. This associated pavement work can include approach work, meaning the bridge project component does not necessarily need to be part of a larger roadway improvement project. 

ARIP applicants can elect to work with an engineering firm in order to obtain a cost estimate for their ARIP application. As any costs incurred prior to the distribution of the State Municipal Agreement (SMA) are non-reimbursable, the cost to work with a firm to obtain a project cost estimate for an ARIP application is not able to be reimbursed. 

Should the applicant be awarded ARIP funding, they must still participate in the competitive bidding process to select a contractor for construction of the project. The same engineering firm that aided with the project estimate can submit a project bid for consideration. More information about the bidding process can be found in the program guidelines.

Towns, cities or villages may not use their own work force or equipment on ARIP projects pursuant to s.86.31(2)(b), Wis. Stats. 

Towns, cities, or villages may undertake and complete their own project design but are not required to submit the final engineering plans to WisDOT. However, please note an engineer’s attestation, certification, and compliance with specific bidding steps are required. Local sponsors must be fully aware of the requirements necessary for reimbursement. The engineer’s attestation must affirm that all work detailed in the reimbursement request was executed in accordance with the approved project scope, all applicable provisions of the Wisconsin Administrative Code (Trans Code) and statutory requirements, as well as acceptable industry standards.

A Cost Effectiveness Finding (CEF) is required for county ARIP projects when the county will be completing a portion of the work with their own forces. If the county chooses to use their forces and equipment on the project and completes a CEF, the county must receive approval from the County Highway Improvement District Committee (CHIDC) prior to bidding. The county should provide documentation to CHIDC that confirms the work will be cost effective. The county must receive approval from the committee on the project prior to work being performed.

A town, city or village that does not receive a responsible bid for an ARIP improvement may, under limited circumstances, contract with their county for the improvement. In order for the county to do the work, all bids must have been rejected and considered not “responsible” or not “responsive,” pursuant to s. 86.31(2)(b), Wis. Stats.

ARIP contracts shall be awarded on the basis of competitive bids and shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. A town may award a contract to the county using the 10% rule (see below) pursuant to s. 86.31(6)(h) Wis. Stats. Criteria and procedures for contracting with a county for a town road ARIP improvement must include all of the following:

Subject to s. 59.52(30)​, a county may not perform work in another county unless one of the following applies:

• ​​A part of the project location is in the county doing the work and no part of the project goes beyond the adjacent county.
• The project location is, wholly or in part, in a municipality that lies partially within the county doing the work.​

The requirements laid out in Wis. Stat. 86.31 (3o)(b)​ state that, upon completion of an ARIP project, the road must not be subject to a posted weight limitation unless under emergency or extraordinary circumstances. It is unlikely that a project solely involving the purchase of hot mix asphalt will result in the removal of weight restrictions. Consequently, ARIP project applications that have the purchase of hot mix asphalt listed as the primary construction activity are not eligible.

ARIP eligibility is laid out within Wis.Stat. 86.31 (3o)(b). A project must meet all of these eligibility requirements in order to be eligible to receive ARIP funding. One of these requirements states that upon project completion, the project area will not be designated as a class "B" highway under s. 349.15​ and will not be subject to a posted weight limitation other than under extraordinary or emergency circumstances. So long as weight restrictions are removed on the project area itself after project completion, this section of the eligibility criteria is fulfilled. Roadways outside of the project area are not considered when evaluating a project reimbursement request for ARIP eligibility. We encourage potential sponsors to work with neighboring municipalities to remove posted weight restrictions for entire routes, if possible.

The application process will look different going forward. Local sponsors must now apply through ARIPWeb instead of the previous AccessGov format. However, the questions and required information remain the same. Eligibility requirements are also unchanged at this time.

Each primary sponsor may submit up to two (2) applications per solicitation, including rollover applications from prior rounds in the current program cycle.

Each ARIP program cycle is evaluated independently, and all project applications are reviewed and ranked on their own individual merit by the ARIP Discretionary Selection Committee.

However, the committee also adopts guidance and award recommendations for each program cycle. In the previous biennium, for example, the committee’s guidelines stated that no individual primary project sponsor (town, city/village, or county) would be awarded more than one ARIP project total during that biennium. For the current program cycle, the committee will establish new selection guidelines, and it has not yet been determined whether that “one award per biennium” guideline will continue.

While previous awards may be one factor the committee considers—particularly since achieving broad statewide distribution is a priority—there is no statutory limitation preventing a community from receiving more than one award in a biennium. The committee reviews many factors, including overall statewide needs, project needs, and demonstrated benefit. Therefore, while a prior award could potentially be considered in the broader context of funding distribution, it does not automatically place an applicant at a disadvantage. Communities are encouraged to continue applying, especially if they have ongoing or significant infrastructure needs that align with ARIP goals.​

Yes, but any pre-award costs are not reimbursable. If awarded, the same firm may bid on the project through the competitive process.

Acceptable documentation includes:

• Dated photos of posted signs
• Documentation from obtaining a Class B designation
• Dated public announcements of seasonal/special restrictions
• A signed attestation by local officials
  

Note: the roadway must have been weight restricted for at least one month in the past year prior to submission of an ARIP application.

Applicants report the sum total of producer sales over five years, so no individual is singled out. Producers may be omitted if unwilling. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau or industry groups can provide guidance. If there are additional producers that you feel utilize this roadway and from whom you were unable to collect economic data to support this application, please highlight that information in the narrative section of your application.

Provide as much producer data as possible. Only one producer is required for eligibility, but the application allows for up to five specific producers and more data strengthens the application. If your project route includes more than five producers, additional information regarding the cost reductions can be provided in the project narratives.

WisDOT has partnered with a number of industry organizations in order to support ARIP applicants gather information to create a strong application. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, The Wisconsin Cheesemakers Association, The Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, and the Wisconsin Local Technical Assistance Program (WI LTAP) can offer support to producers looking to provide information to their local government officials to support the ARIP application. 

Provided that the length of roadway within the project area meets all of the ARIP eligibility requirements as laid out within Wis. Stat. 86.31 (3o)(b), the county can either sponsor the full length of road that spans the two municipalities, or the two municipalities can submit separate but linked applications. Please note, if the second option is chosen it is possible (but unlikely) that one project would be selected for award by the ARIP Discretionary Selection Committee while the other project was not. 

There are three options to consider:

1.  Each municipality can submit separate applications for their portion of the roadway and include verbiage indicating this is a joint application linked with another application from a different municipality – this would allow each municipality to be the primary sponsor for their portion of the project.

• Connectivity or association to other project applications should be noted within the project description for the purposes of project review, evaluation, and selection consideration
• May ultimately result in two or more separate but associated ARIP project awards.
• Each municipality would be responsible for tracking expenses relevant to their section of the roadway(s) and submitting reimbursement requests.

2.  All municipalities can submit one application with one primary sponsor who will serve as the designated contact for the project, and multiple secondary sponsors.

• If a project is the result of an agreement among more than one applicant, the project award/agreement shall identify one political subdivision as the primary sponsor for the project.
• Primary sponsor is responsible for project advertisement of construction activities for the entire project route and submitting reimbursements.
• If awarded, municipalities will define their respective responsibilities in a separate agreement that will include, but not be limited to, the amount funded by each Municipality for the Project, the anticipated Project cost per Municipality, etc. 

3.  The county can submit one application on their behalf indicating all the participating municipalities within the county – this would mean the county would be the primary sponsor for the project and have the same responsibilities as noted above in #2.

• Municipalities must be located within the same county in order to utilize this option. 

Note: The cost distribution will be dependent upon how the project is administered. WisDOT will not separate out costs and would only be reimbursing the primary designated sponsor of the project. After reimbursement, it is up to the primary sponsor to administer funds amongst participating municipalities and contracted firms. One lump sum project cost should be included in the application. 

Joint applications are evaluated by the ARIP Discretionary Selection Committee (see below) based on the application’s merit.

If you have an eligible project area that meets all of the requirements as laid out in Wis. Stat. 86.31 (3o) (b), but would like to omit the bridge within the project area, in your  ARIPWeb project location section of the application, first enter in the first section of the road before the bridge (including on/at/toward information) and then click the Save and Add Another Route button to add a new location to represent the second portion of the roadway after the bridge with it’s respective on/at/toward information. Then, when indicating if the project area includes a bridge or culvert, select “No” for both.

A structure that meets the definition of bridge per the Federal Highway Administration must have an associated ID. It may be that the structure in question may be considered a culvert by definition and thus may not have an associated structure ID. Contact David Bohnsack, (608-785-9781), in the Bureau of Structures for guidance.

Yes. You may resubmit the same project in Round 2, provided you do not exceed the two-application limit (including rollover applications).

In ARIPWeb, you can duplicate your previous application if it was not awarded and update it before submitting. Applicants are strongly encouraged to revise or expand their applications with additional details (e.g., road condition, producer info, photos, PASER rating). Regardless of this duplication/copy feature, you will need to fully review and may need to add information as some information may not transfer from the prior solicitation. If you would like a PDF copy of the previously submitted application reach out to Program Manager, Hillary Pelton.

It is important to understand that not all potential sponsors applying for funding through WisDOT grant programs are selected the first time, and these are often very competitive programs. Consider the following:

• Ensure all sections and required documents are complete (maps, cost breakdowns, photos, proof of restrictions).
• Include clear, well-labeled photos to tell your project’s story. Photos are critical as they help illustrate for the selection committee the current conditions, safety or access challenges, posted weight limits, and show the surrounding area such as nearby producers, businesses, or facilities that rely on the route—making the need for improvements clear.
  
• Highlight benefits clearly (number of producers, economic impact, access routes, reduced mileage/trips).
• Write to the evaluation criteria and tell a compelling story.
• Validate numbers for producers/employees.
• Consider including a PASER rating or specifying whether weight-restricted trips are daily or annual.

SMAs are emailed to award recipients within approximately 30 days of award notification.

It is important that you not incur any project costs until receipt of your signed State Municipal Project Agreement (SMA) from WisDOT.

Once a project is selected, the award recipient may continue working with their current engineering firm (if applicable) on the design of the project. If the award recipient does not already have an engineer assisting with the design, the award recipient may select any engineer of their choice. However, construction of the project must be awarded to a contractor through a competitive bidding process.

More information about this process can be found in the ARIP Guidelines document.

Yes. ARIPWeb allows authorized users to submit applications, reimbursement requests, and view project data. All new users must complete a one-time registration to enable ARIPWeb access. Refer to the registration and login steps shown in the ARIPWeb User Guide and contact ARIPWebSystem@dot.wi.gov with questions.

The following are requirements that sponsors must meet when advertising their ARIP projects for bidding:

• The sponsor has received a signed SMA from WisDOT
• The advertised project is built to appropriate standards
• Many municipality types (including towns) are required to advertise construction projects in a newspaper as a Class 2 notice.
• Pursuant to s.985.07(2), Wis. Stats. “all notices designated as class 2 notices require 2 insertions.”
• Pursuant to s. 985.01(1m), Wis. Stats. “’Insertion’ when used to indicate the publication of a legal notice more than one time, means once each week for consecutive weeks, the last of which shall be at least one week before the act or event, unless otherwise specified by law.”
• Pursuant to s. 990.01(46), Wis. Stats. “a ‘week’ is defined as seven consecutive days.”
• The advertisement states that it is an ARIP project.
  
• The advertisement should identify the location(s) of the project.
  
• The advertisement states the date and time in which bids will no longer be accepted.
  

Local sponsors do not need to advertise for preliminary engineering and may select any engineering firm of their choice. Only the construction phase(s) must go through the competitive bidding process. Information on local let advertising must be provided to the department seven (7) days prior to the first date of advertisement. This is done by entering let advertising information into the ARIPWeb platform at the same time this advertisement is sent to the newspaper, or by the Friday prior to the first week of the advertisement posting.

On a weekly basis, ARIP project advertising information will be extracted from ARIPWeb and be made publicly available on the WisDOT Locally Let Bids for Local Programs webpage.

A sponsor may choose to advertise their ARIP project in its entirety, or separated out into phases or specific improvement including, but not limited to, a feasibility study, design engineering, grading, base, paving, and road finish materials.

Note that once an advertisement has been published for either a complete improvement project or a project broken out into phases, the sponsor cannot further break up the phases of work due to a violation of the ARIP competitive bid requirement pursuant to s. 86.31(2)(b). ARIP projects are awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, as aligned with the advertised phase(s).

More information about the advertisement and award process can be found in the ARIP Guidelines.

Locally let bid documents and reports are available on WisDOT’s website.

For help developing bid packages, specifications, or advertisements, contact either the CHC, an engineering consultant, or the Wisconsin Local Technical Assistance Program (WI LTAP). LTAP has sample bid documents that can be adapted for individual use. For more information about LTAP and the resources available, visit the LTAP website.

ARIP is a reimbursement program. Municipalities/counties incur costs first, then submit for reimbursement through ARIPWeb.

ARIP allows for quarterly reimbursements. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. 86.31(3o)(g), local sponsors are permitted to submit one reimbursement request per quarter for engineering and/or construction expenses. Each request, however, may include multiple invoices. A project reimbursement of eligible expenses is assigned to a given quarter based on the date the request is submitted in ARIPWeb. This means that the sponsor in question can incur costs and be reimbursed multiple times throughout the course of the project’s life cycle. Local sponsors may either pay invoices in advance or, if timing permits, defer payment until after receiving reimbursement funds.

ARIP projects will be reimbursed at 100% of incurred costs up to the initial project award amount total or 90% of the final project costs, whichever is less. Local sponsors are responsible for all costs beyond the maximum ARIP award amount. If final project costs end up higher than the original project award amount, the municipality is responsibility for any remaining costs. Reimbursement payments are sent via ACH (direct deposit) directly to the municipality following the review and approval of the reimbursement request in ARIPWeb. WisDOT will reimburse funds within 30 days, provided the processing is not delayed due to follow ups to clarify information or retrieve missing documents.

We understand project costs can fluctuate. Reimbursements are capped at project award amount or up to 90% of final project costs, whichever is less. If final project costs end up higher than the original project award amount, the municipality is responsibility for any remaining costs. For a helpful visual, please reference the funding scenario illustration in the program guidelines.