Congressman Jim Oberstar talked about the future of transportation on PBS August 28, 2009.  The content of the program is still very relevant today. 

LANSING, Mich. - Michigan lawmakers  recently received a special delivery from the Pothole Hell Devils: Personal copies of the “Roads to Pure Michigan are Pure Hell” video that has caught fire on YouTube, Facebook, and with audiences across the state – and, the deliveries were caught on video.

While the Michigan Transportation Team’s new viral video campaign has a humorous edge, Michigan roads are no laughing matter. The Michigan Department of Transportation faces a Saturday deadline to submit a complete list of approved projects to the Metropolitan Planning Organizations. To have any of the projects win federal approval by Oct. 1, legislators must find the $84 million to ensure Michigan receives its full federal reimbursement.

LANSING, Mich. - Michigan lawmakers today received a special delivery from the Pothole Hell Devils: Personal copies of the “Roads to Pure Michigan are Pure Hell” video that has caught fire on YouTube, Facebook, and with audiences across the state.

While the Michigan Transportation Team’s new viral video campaign has a humorous edge, Michigan roads are no laughing matter. The Michigan Department of Transportation faces a Saturday deadline to submit a complete list of approved projects to the Metropolitan Planning Organizations. To have any of the projects win federal approval by Oct. 1, legislators must find the $84 million to ensure Michigan receives its full federal reimbursement.

“As Michigan’s economic backbone tourism, manufacturing and agriculture industries are in the midst of their peak season, residents and visitors are finding that the roads to Pure Michigan are pure hell,” said Mike Nystrom, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure Transportation Association.

“While the Pure Pothole Hell campaign is lighthearted, Michigan’s crumbling roads are a very serious and growing problem for the state – ask anyone who drives them – they are pure hell.”

For nearly 18 months, lawmakers have turned a deaf ear to warnings that their inaction on developing transportation funding is about to cost Michigan $475 million in federal matching funds for roads. Unless lawmakers take quick action, the $84 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1 will effectively shelve road rehabilitation and bridge repair projects, which could generate thousands of jobs in a state hungry for them. Without that money, there won’t be enough time to add new projects into the regional transportation plans and complete the necessary permits--especially for projects requiring advance notice for material delivery.

“According to an Anderson Economic Group study released in May, doubling the state’s investment in roads and bridges could generate more than 15,000 good-paying jobs and pave the way for an economic turnaround in Michigan,” said Nystrom. “As state legislators continue to look for solutions to turn Michigan’s economy around, investing in our state’s crumbling infrastructure should be a no-brainer.”

To view the Pure Michigan, Pure Pothole Hell video, go to www.drivemi.org.  In addition, 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 connect with their legislator’s office.

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 .

 

http://www.wwmt.com/articles/going-1379257-gravel-michigan.html

Watch this YouTube which highlights the road experience of those who travel into Michigan.  View other videos by clicking here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3Wp1ciOtBA

 Watch edited segments of the MTT Press Conference, which was held at the state capitol May 4.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSUq83iORFg

If the people of Michigan – and, frankly, a good number of the editorial boards across the state – had their way, Michigan drivers would no longer be subjected to the bone-jarring condition of the state’s roads and bridges.

Supporters of increased investment in Michigan’s transportation infrastructure this week presented solid evidence of the public will to fix the state’s decrepit roads and bridges. More than 5,000 petition signatures were delivered to the Capitol during a Michigan Transportation Team (MTT) rally.
 
The message to Michigan legislators was clear: A growing majority of frustrated Michigan voters wants Lansing to finally do something about the state’s crumbling roads and bridges.
 
The hope is that this irrefutable evidence of broad support for investment in Michigan’s transportation infrastructure will finally push Michigan legislators to act. For months, they have refused to develop revenue sources to maintain Michigan roads and bridges.
That failure to act hurts economic development efforts and has turned Michigan’s roadways into a national joke.
 
Of course, the situation is anything but funny to the millions of citizens and businesses that depend on Michigan’s transportation infrastructure.
 
The current Michigan Department of Transportation budget cuts Michigan’s road and bridge program by 62 percent due to declining gas tax revenues and the state’s inability to match federal dollars. MDOT was forced to cancel 257 road and bridge projects, which could have created 5,000 to 7,000 much-needed jobs.
 
At this point, it’s hard to know what will finally get lawmakers’ attention. However, it seems the people of Michigan may finally have had enough. Fix Michigan Roads Now!

The Michigan Transportation Team (MTT) was honored today with two prestigious public relations awards by the Public Relations Society of America at a ceremony in Lansing.  The awards were  given for the "Message in a Bottle" project.
 
The project, which was done in conjunction with the County Road Association of Michigan, not only won the top "Pinnacle Award" for the best PR campaign tactic, but also won the coveted "People's Choice Award" -- recognized as the best PR effort of all the award winners in each category.

The "Message in a Bottle" project delivered samples of a pulverized Montcalm County road to legislators to call attention to Michigan's transportation funding crisis.  To view a video of Michigan roads being turned to gravel, see below.

 Students from Freeland High School won this year's DriveMI video award, and ABC News did a story about it.

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http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=7396670