Legislative Priorities-Transportation

Issue: Modernize Michigan’s Transportation System to Strengthen Michigan’s Economy

CHAMBER MEMBERS ADVOCATE:

Supporting a multi-modal and intermodal transportation system to enhance connectivity, increase productivity, and mitigate congestion.
Identifying transportation assets in the state and national interests and ensuring that they are modernized and kept in good condition to provide adequate capacity.
Encouraging research, development, and the application of new technologies to foster better project design, construction, maintenance, financing and operations.
Ensuring that all state and federal funding is spent efficiently and effectively and is commensurate with state and national needs.
Considering all funding and financing options and ensuring that the costs are borne primarily by users of the system.
Reinvesting transportation taxes, revenues, and other user fees into the system and its services.
Encouraging project financing and delivery approaches that attract private investment.
Improving and making consistent the governmental project review and approval process for all transportation investments to ensure timely completion in an environmentally sound manner.
Ensuring a comprehensive, results-oriented approach to safety by developing state and national goals, performance metrics, complementary plans and incentives for applying best practices.

WHY?

In 2008, the balance in the Federal Highway Trust Fund dropped to zero and Congress took steps to temporarily restore funding for this critical program. In 2009, Congress will start work on reauthorizing the federal law that distributes highway funds to the states. Michigan has historically been a “donor state,” which means that for every dollar of transportation taxes we send to Washington, D.C., we get back less than 90 cents. This unfair treatment of our state must stop. In November 2008, a non-partisan State Transportation Funding Task Force, appointed by the Governor under Public Act 221 of 2007, submitted its report to the Legislature and administration on Michigan’s transportation needs and alternative strategies to replace or supplement transportation related taxes and fees. In addition to identifying numerous efficiencies and reforms to stretch current funding farther, the key findings of the Task Force were: Michigan must at least double current investment in transportation; despite the magnitude of the funding gap, it can be closed; the federal government is not likely to come to Michigan’s rescue; the choice we cannot afford is to do nothing; and good transportation will return benefits directly to households and businesses.