A group of business and transportation leaders representing eight of Michigan’s largest counties last week endorsed the Michigan Transportation Team and its Drive MI Campaign to increase road funding in the state.

The group, known as the Businesses for Better Roads (BBR) Regional Steering Committee, includes representatives of business leaders and county road agencies in Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, Kent, Monroe, St. Clair, Livingston and Washtenaw counties. The representatives voted March 20 to endorse the Drive MI campaign.

The Michigan Transportation Team (MTT) is a partnership of businesses, associations and citizens linked with the common goal of improving Michigan's transportation infrastructure. The group is seeking to increase transportation funding in Michigan by $1 billion per year primarily through gas tax, diesel tax and vehicle registration fee increases.

“Many of us in the business community recognize that in order for Michigan’s economy to thrive, we must have a transportation system that is both efficient and in good condition,” explained Alan Kiriluk, chairman of the BBR Regional Steering Committee and chairman of Troy-based Kirco development company.

“Michigan’s road system suffers from decades of inadequate funding, and that’s taking a toll on our economy,” Kiriluk said. “Our transportation infrastructure is one of Michigan’s most critical assets, and one of the factors businesses compare when deciding whether or not to invest in our state. Right now, we are at a serious disadvantage to our neighboring states in this area. We need to correct this if we want to return to a healthy economy in Michigan.”

BBR began in Oakland County as a spin-off of County Executive L. Brooks Patterson’s Oakland County Business Roundtable, which is a group of business and community leaders that advises the executive on a number of issues.

“Drive MI is good for Oakland County,” stated Brent Bair, Managing Director of the Road Commission for Oakland County and a member of the BBR Regional Steering Committee. “Without the revenues that the Drive MI effort will generate, we risk seeing Oakland County’s roads crumble, and that would be devastating for our county’s economy.”