Local Roads Matter Coalition Issues Call to Action: Now is the Time to Fix Our Roads
The Local Roads Matter Coalition issued a call to action today for Michigan legislators: Now is the time to fix our roads.
“Michigan residents voted for a man with a plan on roads and now it’s time to execute that plan,” said Denise Donohue, director of the County Road Association of Michigan. ”Lame duck action on road funding could allow significant repairs to roads and bridges as early as next construction season. While it’s too late to do anything to prevent next year’s spring break up, acting now will allow road agencies to start making improvements as soon as the frost is out of the ground next spring.”
Gov. Rick Snyder has advocated for legislative action on road funding since the fall of 2011. Now, three years later, the House and Senate have the option to finish their stalled transportation package and embrace the Governor’s investment strategy: Pay now or pay a lot more later.
According to the Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council, every day the dollar amount needed to bring Michigan roads back to good condition increases by nearly $3 million. Continued deterioration of state and local roads increases the cost to fix Michigan roads by $1 billion annually. While the initial proposal Gov. Snyder offered in 2011 was for $1.2 billion in new revenue annually, experts agree this figure is already $2.1-$2.5 billion and growing daily.
“You get what you pay for,” said Andrew Vermeesch, associate legislative council for the Michigan Farm Bureau. “Without investing, we’ll continue to see our roads and bridges deteriorate. We’ll see increasing repair bills. We’ll see delays on roads that can lead to lost business for our on-time delivery system. We’ll then see less trade and a lot more economic problems.”
“The voters have spoken and now is the time for the Legislature to pass a comprehensive road funding solution,” Donohue said. ”Every dollar invested to maintain roads now will save $6-$14 later as road conditions continue to deteriorate. We cannot afford to wait to adequately fund state and local roads.
“Local roads are crucial to emergency response times, to getting children safely to and from school, to ensuring our goods reach market in good condition and to helping families travel safely through the state, and those local roads are at risk.”
Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association Executive Vice President Mike Nystrom echoed these thoughts.
“The time for delaying action is over,” Nystrom said. ”Failure to address the problem today will only increase the cost of repairing the roads tomorrow. Winter and another spring pothole season are just around the corner.”
The Local Roads Matter Coalition is a diverse coalition of individuals and organizations from across Michigan joined in recognition that our local roads and bridges impact every aspect of our lives and that now is the time to adequately fund state and local roads. Coalition members include: Agricultural Leaders of Michigan, American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan, Asphalt Pavement Association of Michigan, Associated General Contractors of Michigan, County Road Association of Michigan, Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, Grand Rapid Area Chamber of Commerce, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Apple Committee, Michigan Association of Counties, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Concrete Association, Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association, Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association, Michigan Milk Producers Association, Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Time Alliance - Tourism Improving Michigan’s Economy.
