Hundreds say now is time to invest in Michigan roads

Hundreds of skilled trades workers, road industry groups and local government officials gathered at the Capitol this morning to rally the Legislature to overhaul transportation funding in Michigan as the state faces a huge drop in funding starting in 2011.

[IMAGE '383' /]The groups, which presented 5,000 signatures to state House Speaker Pam Byrnes, D-Lyndon Township, are advocating for major reform of Michigan’s road funding system. It would include raising fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees as well as looking at tolling and government partnerships with the private sector.

They contend the state’s roads and transit systems are woefully underfunded, endangering infrastructure and jobs. Revenues from gas taxes and vehicle registration fees have fallen steadily in recent years, and the Michigan Department of Transportation is warning of an $84-million shortfall in money the state needs as a required match for about $500 million in federal funding in 2011 alone.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, said lawmakers are instead focusing on finding savings in the state’s transportation system and applying that money to the shortfall in matching funds.

“We could talk about a tax increase forever,” Bishop said. “There are not sufficient votes in this Legislature for that now.”

Read the Full Article

See photos of the rally