Leaders from the three largest sectors of Michigan’s economy – agriculture, manufacturing and tourism – gathered yesterday to urge legislators to act now to increase investment in Michigan’s crumbling transportation system.

The discussion focused on how a crumbling infrastructure impacts Michigan’s key industries and why the Legislature must act now to fix Michigan’s transportation network:

• Michigan’s roads are deteriorating at a rate of $3 million a day, or more than $1 billion annually, according to a recent report released by the County Road Association of Michigan.
• Manufacturers and growers depend on a quality transportation system to get their products to market, and one-third of Michigan’s roads are already crumbling in poor condition.
• Tourists need to be able to access all of Michigan’s great destinations, and that requires a quality transportation system.
• If legislative action is not taken now, 65 percent of Michigan’s roads will be in poor condition by 2018.
• Poor roads cost six times more to fix than roads in fair condition.
• Poor roads take a heavy toll on vehicles and make it more difficult and costly for Michigan’s farmers to transport crops from their fields.
• If we allow Michigan’s roads to continue to crumble, they will become more hazardous for Michigan residents and visitors – and more expensive to fix.
• Fixing the roads will boost Michigan’s economy, according to an Anderson Economic Group report, which notes that increasing investment in Michigan’s roads and bridges will result in a net increase of 11,000 jobs in the state.

Michigan Transportation Team members calling for increased transportation funding yesterday included:

• Michigan Manufacturers Association;
• Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association;
• Michigan Farm Bureau;
• Michigan Chamber of Commerce;
• Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce;
• Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce;
• Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce;
• West Michigan Policy Forum; and
• Michigan Manufactured Housing, RV and Campgrounds Association.

All groups emphasized that Michigan’s transportation network is at its breaking point, and action must be taken now to fix the roads.

For more information on yesterday’s event, click here.

agriculture business economy farmers Legislature manufacturing Michigan roads road funding tourism transportation