Like the Free Press in its Aug. 31 editorial about Michigan legislators putting wolf-hunting ahead of fixing our road-funding problem, we at the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments and the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition — leaders in government, business, labor and education — are frustrated with the inaction on a significant state transportation funding package. Despite legislative recognition of the problem of crumbling roads and bridges, there seems to be little sense of urgency.

The inability to perform required maintenance because of inadequate road funding adds billions of dollars in future costs for our citizens. Even worse, every day that we can’t repair our roads because of a lack of funding accelerates their deterioration. The longer we wait, the more it will cost.

We urge legislative action, and we urge it now.

Kathleen Lomako

Executive director, SEMCOG

President, MAC

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