×

Panel OKs $3.5B in borrowing to rebuild state roads

LANSING (AP) — A state panel on Thursday authorized borrowing $3.5 billion to roughly double spending on Michigan road and bridge construction over five years, a step Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said is crucial to start quickly addressing crumbling infrastructure but not a long-term fix.

The State Transportation Commission, which is split evenly among Democrats, Republicans and independents, unanimously endorsed the Democratic governor’s plan a day after she unveiled it in her State of the State speech. The bonds will boost spending on state roads — I-, U.S.- and M-numbered routes — to $7.3 billion between now and September 2024, from more than $3.8 billion.

“Over the long haul we believe we will actually be saving money as a result of this. It’s an important component of any strategy to fix a crisis as big as the one that we’re confronting,” Whitmer said.

She stressed that the additional spending can only go toward the worst state roads and bridges, not ones overseen by local agencies.

“I’m hopeful that the Legislature will get serious about moving forward. I am eager and happy to engage in those talks whenever they are,” Whitmer said.

She does not intend to unveil a new permanent road-funding proposal nearly a year after the Republican-controlled Legislature blocked her proposed 45-cents-a-gallon fuel tax increase. GOP legislative leaders worried that she left the public with the impression that bonding is the solution, even though she clearly said it is not long-term funding.

“I’m concerned that we’ve now got people convinced that she’s magically found money that can take care of roads, and that’s not the case at all,” said Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, of Clarklake.

Whitmer said the Rebuilding Michigan bond proceeds will add or expand 122 major projects, fix high-traffic highways and other roads with the greatest economic impact, save money by avoiding higher construction costs and rebuild rather than patch pavement. Seventy-three future projects will start and end sooner under the revised five-year plan; 49 others will involve rebuilding roads rather than resurfacing them, so that they last longer.

It was unclear if or when Whitmer and Republicans may resume road-funding talks that broke down in September and led to a months-long budget impasse.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today