Michigan Gov. Snyder Praises Measure Raising Billions More for Transportation

AASHTO Journal, 6 November 2015

Gov. Rick Snyder praised the Michigan House and Senate for passing a major increase in future funding to improve the state’s road, bridge and public transportation infrastructure. It would phase in during coming years and by fiscal 2021 would inject an extra $1.2 billion into infrastructure upgrades.

Snyder said the legislature’s Nov. 3 transportation plan passage “provides a long-term solution with new revenue that also provides long-term tax relief. This is the largest investment in Michigan roads and bridges in more than half a century, making them safer for Michiganders long into the future.”

Midot-inside.jpgThe plan involved seven separate bills and will raise $600 million a year through a combination of a 20 percent increase in various registration fees and increased per-gallon motor fuel taxes, both effective Jan. 1, 2017. It would gradually shift rising levels of general fund revenues each year to transportation, to cap out at $600 million effective in 2020.

Snyder and Kirk Steudle, director of the state Department of Transportation, had advocated for months for increased funding to shore up its deteriorating road network. The final package would split the additional funding among the MDOT-maintained trunk highway network, county or local roads and public transit.

Critics in the legislature and among business groups had objected to shifting so much money from general funds within the overall state budget.

Snyder in commending the legislature’s action said: “These are difficult decisions. If left unaddressed, our infrastructure problems would have grown more expensive to fix, there would have been greater damage to our vehicles and, more importantly, more drivers left to face unsafe conditions.”

But the plan that passed, he said, “includes new revenue generated by people and businesses using the roads — including non-residents. It helps with public transportation that is vital for many to get to work and school. And it’s good for our economy, strengthening the network of local, state and federal roads that is vital for all of our job creators.”

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