DOWN THE ROAD
Grand Rapids Press
02-25-07
Editorial: Transportation funding isn't the first pothole in Michigan's bumpy fiscal path this year. Settling on a replacement business tax must be resolved first. But fixing the road situation shouldn't be far down the pike. If revenue doesn't increase, then spending and overall road adequacy are going to begin a long downhill skid. West Michigan would lose heavily in that scenario. This region sorely needs expansion of its freeway system and not just the maintenance the entire state requires.
http://www.mlive.com/columns/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1172389279134420.xml&coll=6PUBLIC TRANSIT AIDED
Saginaw News
Sylvestor Payne
03-07-07
Letter to the editor: Sylvestor Payne, general manager, Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services, writes: On behalf of STARS passengers who made approximately 900,000 passenger trips last year, I want to thank The News for seriously considering the need for a gasoline tax increase. ("Gas tax talk speeds up," March 1.) Many residents do not realize that a portion of that tax also funds public transportation across this state.
http://www.mlive.com/columns/sanews/index.ssf?/base/news-1/117327903550150.xml&coll=9&thispage=2GAS TAX TALK SPEEDS UP
Saginaw News
03-01-07
Editorial: With gasoline prices climbing again and Lansing's attention on the governor's "Two penny plan" to tax about 140 services, it's an inopportune time to push for an increase in Michigan's gasoline tax. Still, Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm's proposed 2 percent excise tax doesn't seem to have gained any traction. And state and local transportation officials meanwhile are pushing for a 9 cent increase over three years on the state's fuel tax. They're also floating the notion of a gradual boost to the diesel tax, now 15 cents per gallon, to bring it into line with the gasoline tax. Both of those fuel tax increases have merit and would provide millions more for local road projects.
http://www.mlive.com/columns/sanews/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1172760641168500.xml&coll=9PIVOTAL FORK IN ROAD FOR STATE'S HIGHWAYS
Grand Rapids Press
John C. Taylor
02-26-07
Commentary. John C. Taylor writes: In 2004, Michigan state and local governments spent about $3.4 billion on road construction and repair. However, money available for new construction and maintenance is decreasing at the very time the need for investment is increasing. Michigan's transportation funding shortfall is hundreds of millions of dollars per year for state, county and city roads.
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-0/117230190680550.xml&coll=6WHERE ARE THE POTHOLES?
Detroit Free Press
Matt Helms
03-02-07
Columnist Matt Helms writes: That soaking wet freeze-thaw cycle is the perfect recipe for pavement damage. Where are you seeing chuckholes? I drove over crumbling pavement and developing potholes on a number of local and major roads Thursday in Macomb County, but particularly on eastbound I-696 approaching I-94 in Roseville. This morning, there were reports of tire-busters on I-75 in the Ambassador Bridge area, but Michigan State Police say they are not isolated to that part of town.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070302/BLOG13/70302018/1003/NEWS