It's long overdue for the state Legislature to address our horribly deteriorating roads and bridges.

Yes, lawmakers have myriad other problems, such as balancing an out-of-control budget and eliminating the state's structural budget deficit.

But roads, more specifically the potholed, barely patched and frequently dangerous roads and bridges, need attention now.

Anyone who has lived in Michigan for more than a few days and has traveled anywhere knows that the state's road system is a mess.

But if you want some facts to back up this statement, don't look any further than your fellow drivers. The Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association reports that shaken drivers from across the state recently identified more than 650 potholes in just a two-week period. We have an online location to report crumbling roads and potholes. Go to our website and click on "See, Click, Fix."

The bottom line is that the transportation infrastructure is hurting Michigan's efforts to attract businesses and create jobs. Without good roads and safe bridges, this state is literally going nowhere. And state and local drivers will only be headed to repair shops to fix the damage done to their vehicles by the deteriorating highway system.

As our leaders struggle with the political ramifications of the governor's proposed budget, they might as well consider some type of a tax for road and bridge repair. And we're not talking about increasing the gasoline tax. That is not a good source of road revenue anymore. People are driving less and so there's less money being raised.

For truly "shared sacrifice," as Gov. Rick Snyder is calling for, everyone should pay a little something because we all benefit from a good infrastructure. We all get food from the supermarket that gets its supplies through trucking. Also, anyone who goes anywhere outside their home must go in some vehicle that utilizes our roads.

Generally, we've opposed tax increases because all they would have done is supported a failed operating system. But we need a small percentage tax — maybe a 0.5 percent sales tax or 0.25 percent on income — to fix our highways. The money needs to be placed in a road and bridge repair fund. It can't be placed in the general fund to be siphoned off for some other allegedly worthy cause. And if there's not enough money for construction of new roads, then at least fix the existing ones.

Also, if communities and counties can find some transportation dollars, they may want to help out.

Whether it's a small tax increase, garnering more federal grants or restructuring the state's current operating budget, Michigan needs to do something it hasn't done very well over the past decade: Focus on our roads and find some funding solutions.

http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2011/03/25/opinion/srv0000011236728.txt?viewmode=fullstory