LANSING — The Talking Michigan Transportation Podcast this week featured a recap of a September 4th panel in Lansing on Michigan’s road funding problems.
Moderator John Peracchio, an advisor with the state’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, said Michigan roads, bridges, and transit face major decline without new investment.
Detroit News politics editor Chad Livengood noted that many subdivisions are built with no plan to maintain their roads. Lance Binoniemi from the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association warned that job losses are likely if road and bridge funding does not increase.
Baruch Feigenbaum of the Reason Foundation explained the benefits of a road user charge, where drivers pay by the mile. Jane McCurry of Clean Fuels Michigan highlighted how fees on electric and alternative-fuel vehicles already contribute to road funding.
The experts agreed that poor roads cost drivers in repairs and discourage businesses from locating in Michigan.