{"id":15471,"date":"2023-03-09T18:13:46","date_gmt":"2023-03-09T18:13:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.michamber.com\/?post_type=news&#038;p=15471"},"modified":"2023-03-09T19:53:24","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T19:53:24","slug":"report-underscores-why-time-is-now-to-find-funding-solutions-that-fix-michigans-roads-and-bridges","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.michamber.com\/news\/report-underscores-why-time-is-now-to-find-funding-solutions-that-fix-michigans-roads-and-bridges\/","title":{"rendered":"Report underscores why time is now to find funding solutions that fix Michigan\u2019s roads and bridges"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Advocacy News &#8211; March 9, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Addressing Michigan\u2019s outdated and crumbling infrastructure has been a long-time priority for the Michigan Chamber and member businesses of every size and industry across the Great Lakes State. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A new report \u2013<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/3kZekfI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Michigan Transportation Infrastructure Needs and Funding Solutions<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> \u2013 <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">from the nonpartisan public policy firm Public Sector Consultants (PSC) took an updated deep dive into the scope of the problem and review potential solutions to fill the long-term funding gap. The report\u2019s sobering findings helped underscore why action is needed now. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">That\u2019s why the MI Chamber joined other business and community leaders, including the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association, the County Road Association of Michigan, the Michigan Municipal League, and the Detroit Regional Chamber, in a news conference earlier this week as the report was released. The group urged the state\u2019s elected leaders to come together to make pragmatic, economically sound investments in our roads and bridges.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As President and\u00a0CEO Jim Holcomb noted: \u201cMichigan\u2019s prosperity, competitiveness and quality of life depend on modern, reliable infrastructure. This infrastructure is what connects us, allows our businesses and our economy to grow and thrive, and creates countless opportunities for our communities and families. The time is now for a bipartisan, long-term strategy with solutions and investments that improve our roads and bridges. We can\u2019t afford to wait.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The PSC report found that:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Michigan\u2019s transportation system needs are higher than previous estimates \u2013 now $3.9B annually \u2013 and will continue to grow without needed action. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Investment in recommended maintenance can save significant money.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Spending to maintain and rehabilitate roads (called the \u201cright fix at the right time\u201d) is far more cost effective than waiting until a lane mile has reached the end of its design life, when reconstruction becomes the only option (and is 5-8 times more expansive per lane mile). Proper maintenance is estimated to save between $3B and $7.6B per year. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Michigan has set a standard of maintaining roads at a 90% good and fair condition level, which has not been accomplished on a sustainable level because of a lack of funding, and it will cost more to bring the system up to standard. MDOT assessments of Michigan road conditions show that 33 percent of all federal-aid roads and 45 percent of non-federal-aid roads are in poor condition and should be reconstructed in the next two years.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">For more information, read the full report <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/3kZekfI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">here<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> or the news release with\u00a0Jim\u2019s full remarks <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.michamber.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/News-Release-PSC-Report-March-7-2023.pdf\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">here<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">. Additionally, watch <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FixMIState\/videos\/153604540557641\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">a recording<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> of the news conference. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Here are some brief higlights of the news coverage to date:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Detroit News: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/story\/news\/local\/michigan\/2023\/03\/07\/report-michigan-roads-face-funding-deficit-without-higher-taxes-public-sector-consultants\/69976681007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Report estimates up to $3.9B funding gap for Michigan roads, floats tax increase<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Michigan Radio: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.michiganradio.org\/transportation-infrastructure\/2023-03-07\/report-michigans-road-and-bridge-funding-gap-is-growing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Report: Michigan&#8217;s road and bridge funding gap is growing<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"6\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">WXYZ Detroit: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wxyz.com\/getting-around-metro-detroit\/new-report-suggests-michigan-needs-3-9-billion-a-year-to-fix-the-roads\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">New report suggests Michigan needs $3.9 billion a year to fix the roads<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"7\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">MLive: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlive.com\/politics\/2023\/03\/michigan-facing-39b-deficit-in-road-funding-new-report-finds.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Michigan facing $3.9B deficit in road funding, new report finds<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"8\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">WWMT Kalamazoo: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/wwmt.com\/news\/state\/michigan-underfunding-roads-by-39b-per-year-new-report-finds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Michigan underfunding roads by $3.9B per year, new report finds<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Advocacy News &#8211; March 9, 2023 Addressing Michigan\u2019s outdated and crumbling infrastructure has been a long-time priority for the Michigan Chamber and member businesses of every size and industry across the Great Lakes State. \u00a0 A new report \u2013\u00a0Michigan Transportation Infrastructure Needs and Funding Solutions \u2013 from the nonpartisan public policy firm Public Sector Consultants [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.michamber.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/15471"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.michamber.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.michamber.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.michamber.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/15471\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15496,"href":"https:\/\/www.michamber.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/15471\/revisions\/15496"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.michamber.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}