LANSING, Mich. – Thousands of highway construction workers will be out of work next year, thanks to slow-moving legislators. Despite nearly 18 months of being warned that the state is on course to lose $475 million in federal matching funds for roads, lawmakers have failed to resolve the $84 million transportation budget shortfall for FY 2011 that likely will delay more than 90 miles of road rehabilitation and 40 bridge repair projects, risking more than 6,000 jobs.
“This is just one more example where procrastination doesn’t pay,” said Mike Nystrom, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA). “We are likely to have thousands of highway construction workers unemployed next year because policymakers haven’t done their jobs.”
Lawmakers are waiting until the last moment of the deadline to find the $84 million necessary next year to receive the state’s full federal reimbursement. The Michigan Department of Transportation must submit a list of approved projects to the Metropolitan Planning Organizations no later than July 31, to move forward with a federally approved program by Oct. 1. Unfortunately, if legislators don’t come up with the funds by the end of the month, dozens of 2011 construction projects will be delayed until 2012 because there’s not enough time to insert new projects into the regional transportation plans and complete the necessary permits. Projects requiring long lead time for material delivery--such as bridge steel beams--will likely be delayed until the following year.
“If legislators don’t come up with state matching funds, the state would cut road and bridge preservation funding more than 60 percent,” Nystrom said. “Highway construction workers can’t wait a year to put bread on the table.”
Michigan residents can learn more by visiting: www.drivemi.org or citizens 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.
The Michigan Transportation Team (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. Please visit www.drivemi.org for more information on transportation funding or follow them on twitter @drivemi or YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/FixMIRoads.