102nd Legislature, Week 40: Road Funding, The Gordie Howe Bridge
Road Funding
On Tuesday, February 6th at 10:30am, the House Committee on Transportation, Mobility, and Infrastructure held its first meeting of 2024. Of note: Following Rep. Coleman’s successful bid for Mayor of Westland, Rep. Edwards (D-Eastpointe) was appointed to the serve on the committee.
In attendance was Lance Binoniemi, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA). Binoniemi gave a presentation on the critical state of Michigan’s roads and bridges, highlighting an infrastructure funding deficit that has persisted throughout the past two decades and will worsen if action is not taken.
The full committee recording is available on House TV .
Binoniemi: “We have a serious road funding cliff upon us.”
He further highlighted that Michigan is one of only five states which collects sales tax from gasoline purchases. This sales tax – not to be confused with the state motor fuel tax, which is considered a user fee and contributes to the MTF – does not go towards transportation spending. Current key funding sources, such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Governor Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program, will not be available after 2026.
The Growing Michigan Together Council identified a $3.9B annual funding gap in Michigan’s transportation budget , recommending that the state moves away from a gas tax funded system and instead examines “alternative dedicated funding sources to maintain Michigan’s road infrastructure,” including Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) fees and tolling . At the time of writing, MDOT is conducting a survey related to a “Road Use Charge” based on VMT. Following the presentation, committee members debated the best approach to addressing this significant funding shortfall.
“People want the roads fixed, right? But they don’t want to pay for it. And that’s a problem. That’s a huge problem. It’s a problem for us sitting up at this table, it’s a problem for us over in the House. We all understand that nobody wants to pay for the roads. And if I came out and said, ‘This is what I would like to do: Increase your gas tax, do a Vehicle Miles Traveled [charge],’ it can be used against me very easily, and that’s what makes this so difficult. And this is why we need to have this conversation, to be able to come together and figure out something. [Holding up copy of presentation] There are solutions in here, guys. But we have to be brave enough to take them up.” — Rep. Shannon, Committee Chair
As always, there’s a secret solution nobody wants to talk about: Stop Building New Roads. Our road repair and expressway maintenance costs are running away because the infrastructure we’ve built is inherently unsustainable.
MDOT must be reigned in. It’s the only answer if, as a state, we are truly serious about investing in sustainable transportation and climate preparedness. This slide deck from fellow advocate Adam Goodman spells it out perfectly: “Why Can’t Michigan Fix The [Damn] Roads?”
The Gordie Howe Bridge
At 3:00pm, the Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held its own first meeting of 2024. Of note: During Senate session on January 18th, a number of committee positions were reassigned. Senator Camilleri no longer serves on this committee, bringing the total member count to ten.
In attendance from the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) were Heather Grondin, Chief Relations Officer and Stephanie Campeau, Senior Director of Stakeholder and Community Relations, along with representatives from MDOT . The team reported that both the Canadian and U.S. towers of the bridge have reached their full height of 122 feet. The two ends of the road deck are expected to meet this summer.
Of greatest interest to those of you reading this: Plans are underway to connect the bridge to existing multi-use pathways, including the Joe Louis Greenway.
The full committee recording is available on Senate TV .
This presentation was similar to one shown at a public meeting in December . The bridge authority is running a survey regarding the multi-use path that will accommodate pedestrian and cyclist traffic on the bridge itself. The survey closes in April and ties into another public meeting scheduled for March 19th at the WDBA office in Southwest Detroit.