Click on the link above to view a list of the projects that were eliminated.
The Michigan State Transportation Commission today approved the Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Final 2010-2014 Five Year Program, which includes the elimination of 243 road and bridge projects statewide.
The commission was forced to cut the projects due to continued declines in state gas tax revenues and the state’s inability to match federal dollars beginning in 2011.
“We must invest in transportation to jumpstart Michigan's economic recovery,” said Rep. Pam Byrnes, D-Chelsea, chair of the House Transportation Committee. “These cut projects represent critical improvements that impact every community in Michigan. We must take action now to ensure a stable source of revenue to invest in modernizing Michigan’s transportation system.”
The 243 canceled projects include 128 bridge replacements and rehabilitations, 105 road rehabilitations and reconstructions, eight new roads and two capacity improvements. Without the ability to match federal aid, Michigan’s return on the federal gas tax will drop from a 92 percent return to just 50 percent in 2011.
“Michigan’s dire funding situation has left MDOT with no other choice than to make drastic cuts and provide only the basic level of services to our residents,” said Mike Nystrom, vice president of government and public relations for the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA), and co-chair of the Michigan Transportation Team (MTT). “The persistent under-funding of Michigan’s transportation system jeopardizes economic growth and limits job creation in sectors such as agriculture, tourism and manufacturing, which are heavily reliant on quality roads, bridges and transportation infrastructure.”
The commission’s approval of the five-year plan comes just two days after Byrnes and Rep. Richard Ball, R-Laingsburg, introduced revenue bills to help resolve Michigan’s transportation funding crisis. The bipartisan package of bills, HB 5768-70, is aimed at restructuring Michigan’s motor fuel taxes and follows the recommendations of the Transportation Funding Task Force (TF2) to address Michigan’s critical funding needs.
Between 2011-2014, the package of bills would increase transportation revenues by $1.4 billion and also allow the state to capture more than $2.46 billion in matching federal aid.
“Rep. Byrnes and I are committed to working together with our fellow elected officials to make fixing Michigan’s crumbling infrastructure a top legislative priority,” Ball said. “Providing safe roads and bridges, and a reliable and efficient public transit system is not a political issue or a partisan issue, it is an issue of providing fundamental services to Michigan taxpayers and ensuring transportation safety.”
“The time is now to fix our transportation system,” Nystrom said. “We cannot wait any longer and allow our roads and bridges to fall further into decay. No more excuses. Fix Michigan’s roads now!”
Michigan residents can voice their concerns about road funding by calling a toll-free number, 888-719-3087, set up by MTT. Callers simply enter their five-digit ZIP code to be connected with their legislative offices.
MTT is a broad-based, bipartisan partnership of business, labor, local government, associations and citizens with the common goal of improving Michigan’s transportation infrastructure. The DriveMI campaign is committed to promoting the development and maintenance of a safe, convenient and efficient transportation network that serves the public, private and economic development needs of Michigan.