The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments is the latest agency to point to the need for more spending for Michigan's roads. The agency says the region will need to spend about $68 billion over the next two dozen years to maintain and improve roads, but can expect to receive only half that amount based on its revenue projections.

SEMCOG joins a state task force appointed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm last year in noting a gap between road needs and road revenues. The state task force said state transportation funds are in "crisis." Gasoline taxes have steadily declined during the past decade for a total reduction of more than $100 million, or, 11 percent, from the 2001 total of $939.7 million.

It is clear that Michigan will need to raise transportation taxes to deal with its infrastructure problems. While stimulus funds from the federal government have been a help in handling this state's immediate road improvement and repair needs, the long-term outlook for sustaining the road grid without additional state funds is poor.