A bipartisan House workgroup on transportation funding led by state Reps. Rick Olson, R-Saline, and Roy Schmidt, D-Grand Rapids, released a report that confirms findings from the 2008 Transportation Funding Task Force (TF2) that Michigan needs $1.4 billion in additional revenue to maintain its roads and bridges in good or fair condition.

"This is the inconvenient truth of the road funding matter - this is not a dream number, this is a real number," Olson said. "Not only is this an issue of safety for Michigan citizens, but costs will spiral out of control if our roads are not maintained and Michigan cannot afford that."

The goal of the bipartisan workgroup was to recommend funding levels needed to minimize the long-term cost of maintaining Michigan's roads and bridges.  A technical analysis team tackled the question using computerized models made possible by road condition data recently gathered by the Asset Management Council.  The models use an asset management strategy of applying the right fix at the right time, which minimizes the cost with preventative maintenance, rather than allowing the roads to deteriorate to the point of needing a much higher cost fix.

The report divides the state's paved roads into four categories and sets the following quality goals:

• State trunkline freeways: 95 percent good or fair condition according to PASER ratings
• Remainder of the state trunkline highways: 85 percent good or fair
• Remainder of the federal aid roads: 85 percent good or fair
• Non-federal aid roads that are paved: 85 percent good or fair

"We are at the crossroads, where we can't afford not to maintain our road and bridge conditions across the state - this is a safety and an economic issue that cannot be ignored," Schmidt said.

The study found that more than $1.4 billion in additional revenue is needed annually for years 2012-2015, rising to over $2.6 billion per year by 2023 to achieve the goals set.  In 2008, the TF2, an assembly approved by the Legislature and governor, recommended that Michigan at least double its current investment in transportation.  The 2010 asset management data showed that more than one-third or 35 percent of Michigan's roads are in poor condition.

The release of the report comes just a month before Gov. Rick Snyder is set to unveil his transportation infrastructure agenda in October.

"These calculations would not result in a diamond or gold plated road system, this is merely preservation and maintenance cost," Olson added. "We hope our colleagues will see the writing on the wall before it's too late."

The group also warned that if the investment recommendations are not met, the deferred costs of maintaining roads will continue to rise and Michigan leaders will be forced to accept low quality roads.  The new investment recommendations do not reflect any desire to add roads, expand capacity, or provide new money to public transit.

Olson and Schmidt plan to present the report before the full House Transportation Committee in the coming weeks.  The full report is available online at: www.repolson.com.

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