5/17/2016, WKBT-TV La Crosse (video) – Local business leaders are teaming up with elected officials to talk about our area roads.

They met as part of a transportation roundtable set up by the Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin.

It’s just one of several meetings being held across the state to talk about the effect roads have on local economies.

Officials say their ultimate goal is to show lawmakers in Madison there’s a link between the quality of roads and a healthy economy.

“Many states, most of our neighbors, many states around this country have come up with sustainable ways to fund their transportation system and when they do, there’s a tremendous return on their investment. Wisconsin, we haven’t gotten there yet, and we need to reach that consensus,” says the Executive Director of the Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin Craig Thompson.

Today’s roundtable was the first of six discussions with business leaders and local officials across the state.