Traffic Safety Commission: Fatalities Down, HSIP Grants

Wisconsin Traffic Fatalities Down 30 So Far in 2026

The Price County Traffic Safety Commission met on June 4, 2026, and the news from the Wisconsin DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Safety was encouraging: statewide traffic fatalities are down roughly 30 compared to this time last year. As of June 2, Wisconsin had recorded 155 fatal crashes with 163 lives lost, compared to 181 crashes and 195 fatalities at the same point in 2025.

Todd from the Bureau of Transportation Safety presented the numbers, cautioning that summer is typically when the numbers climb. He also broke down Price County’s crash data for January through April 2026, noting that In general crashes, non-injury crashes, and injury crashes all fell within the three-year average. Teen driver crashes showed a slight drop, speed-related crashes were down a couple, and commercial motor vehicle crashes held steady. Winter road crashes ticked up slightly — not surprising given the heavier snow and ice season.

Since the commission’s March meeting, Price County saw 33 reported crashes with zero fatalities and seven injuries.

WISTAR: Mapping Enforcement Against Crash Hotspots

A significant portion of the meeting focused on WISTAR, the Wisconsin traffic safety data system that overlays law enforcement activity on crash maps. Todd demonstrated how the system lets agencies see whether traffic stops, citations, and warnings are happening in the same areas where crashes occur.

“The question is, are we deploying our people in the right places?” Todd said, showing heat maps of Price County Sheriff’s Office and Park Falls Police Department enforcement actions alongside crash locations.

The system has spot maps showing individual traffic stops with details like date, time, location, statute numbers, and citation categories — but no violator personal information. Cluster maps help visualize concentration areas without manually counting dots. Todd also noted the system is useful for administering WISE grants by quickly tallying enforcement activity.

Park Falls Police Chief Neville confirmed his department writes warnings through the TraCS system, though the dashboard wasn’t pulling them correctly. Phillips has opted out of WISTAR participation.

State Trooper Rotation in Price County

Sergeant Timothy Westall of the Wisconsin State Patrol reported a personnel change: Trooper Janowski, who has served Price County for several years, is transferring to a different position effective June 13. Trooper Amos Balsus will transfer into Price County starting August 9, leaving a gap of about two months with one fewer trooper in the area.

HSIP Grants: 90% Federal Funding for Road Safety Projects

The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) was featured as the meeting’s engineering topic. The program provides 90% federal reimbursement for projects that reduce crash frequency and severity, available not just for state highways but county roads, village streets, and township roads.

Eligible projects include intersection improvements (roundabouts, traffic signals, turn lanes), signage and visibility upgrades (reflective backplates, flashing yellow arrows), and lane departure countermeasures (shoulder paving, rumble strips). The next application deadline is August 15, 2026.

Applications must include crash history over five years, photos, and itemized cost estimates. Todd emphasized the state evaluates projects based on documented need, not just desire: “It’s not just a want.”

Price County Construction Projects for 2026

Randy from the DOT ran through three active or upcoming construction projects in Price County:

County D Safety Improvement . A 10.3-mile corridor in Phillips undergoing horizontal and vertical curve reconstruction plus guardrail installation, running from April 27 to June 29. The road remains open with single-lane closures and flagging.
Hills Road Bridge Replacement . Construction expected in June, with Squawk Creek Road closed during work and alternative routes available.
Larkin Road Bridge Replacement . Anticipated May through November 2026, with road closure and signed detours.

The intersection improvements at Highway 13 and Highway 111, featuring flashing beacons, double stop signs, and red reflective strips, have been completed.

New Tools: Alcohol Licenses, ATV Crashes, and Wrong-Way Drivers

Todd also highlighted several new Community Maps has. The Department of Revenue alcohol license layer now shows every licensed establishment in Price County on an interactive map. The Place of Last Drink pilot program, designed to track over-serving patterns by linking DUI arrests to the establishments where offenders were last served, remains in early development.

DNR ATV/UTV crash data is now being integrated into Community Maps alongside standard roadway crash reports, with complete reports expected within about a month. New crash filter flags have also been added for horse-drawn vehicles (relevant in Amish areas), vulnerable road users (pedestrians and bicyclists), and wrong-way drivers, a growing concern on Wisconsin’s divided highways.

Governor’s Conference on Highway Safety

The annual Governor’s Conference on Highway Safety will be held August 24–25 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells (Lake Delton), with a business day on August 26. Topics this year include e-bikes, vulnerable road users, ATVs, the new roadside oral fluid law, and teen driver safety. The conference is also accepting nominations for MADD Hero Awards recognizing exceptional work combating drunk driving.

A free TSC coordinators’ meeting and dinner will be held Tuesday evening, August 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM.

Next Meeting

The Traffic Safety Commission meets quarterly. The next meeting date was not set during this session, but agendas are posted on the Price County website. All commission meetings are open to the public.