Maybe it’s understandable that Michigan lawmakers wrapped up their 2010 session Friday morning without addressing the state’s broken system for funding transportation.

After all, state lawmakers who quit early for the year on Dec. 3, and spent fewer than 100 days in session, can’t be expected to do too much.

However state roads and bridges are in peril. The big threat isn’t beavers gnawing trees near bridges, such as the bridge on Medina Road near Hughes Highway. The biggest threat is state road funding expected to fall from $1.4 billion this year to less than half that — $626 million — in 2012.

That will hurt Lenawee County, which is falling behind on repairs. Small bridges on Beecher Road near Clayton and on Wellsville Highway north of Deerfield Road were closed in October, a paved section of Plank Road was returned to gravel, and the county’s primary road heavy maintenance budget has shrunk to only $1.1 million a year.

True, the county road commission unexpectedly received more state road revenue than anticipated the last two months. It’s also puzzling why Michigan still is a “donor state” for federal transportation funds, or why billions are proposed for high-speed rail projects that would benefit relatively few.

Michigan has not raised its gasoline tax since 1997. Not only has inflation slashed the purchasing power of those funds, but state drivers are buying less fuel than they did 15 years ago. Only by taking out a $40 million loan did the state qualify for nearly $500 million in matching federal funds this year, and the gap is expected to be worse next year.

Nobody relishes the thought of higher gasoline taxes. It would have been easier if lawmakers had acted when gasoline sold for $2.60 per gallon. Now, at $3, motorists may feel sideswiped. But to stall on any type of fix while infrastructure crumbles worse and worse will only create a road to ruin.

http://www.lenconnect.com/opinions/editorials/x1996686739/Our-View-Government-stalls-on-road-bridge-fix