WisDOT MAPSS - Accountability - Surplus Property Management - The continuous effort to use public dollars in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
Surplus Property Management - The continuous effort to use public dollars in the most efficient and cost-effective way.The department purchases property for transportation improvement projects. Upon project completion, land that is no longer needed is sold to local communities and private developers. Our goal is to generate $2.75 million in revenue from surplus land sales toward the Transportation Fund.
Surplus lands sales are important because they return unused property to the tax rolls. The department purchases property for transportation improvement projects. Once the project design and construction is complete, land that is no longer needed can be made available for private development. The revenue generated by surplus land sales is deposited into the Transportation Fund to be available for other transportation improvements. Surplus land that is sold spurs local economic development since the parcels often have good roadway access and visibility. When land is returned to the tax rolls, local governments benefit because they can generate new property tax revenue from the property.
Availability of surplus lands and interest from potential buyers are the most significant factors. Over the previous 14 fiscal years (2011– 2024) the department sold 1,318 parcels, returning the parcels back to the local tax rolls. The sales have generated more than $47 million in parcel sales. In the past 14 years, WisDOT also generated $12 million in lease income from WisDOT-owned property and parcels held for future transportation projects.
The current surplus land inventory is 963 parcels. 88 parcels (9.1%) are available land with independent access from the roadways and are considered general marketable properties for the public. The department classifies 614 parcels (63.8%) as having limited marketability, as they lack access and can only be sold to one of the abutting property owners. Also, 261 parcels (27.1%) of the overall inventory are considered non-marketable with no access and can only be sold to the single abutting property owner.
WisDOT is actively enhancing the management of surplus lands records to improve efficiency and data accuracy. By integrating a Geographic Information System (GIS) layer within our system, we are ensuring accurate tracking and utilization of these properties. This process involves cleaning up the inventory data reliability. These efforts aim to optimize the management of surplus lands, streamline operations, and ensure the effective repurposing of these properties.