Local projects eliminated from Department of Transportation’s five-year program

GENESEE COUNTY — The state’s Transportation Commission approved cutting 243 road and bridge projects from its long-term plan, including projects in Genesee and Lapeer counties.

Commission members approved the move in the 2010- 2014 five-year program on Jan. 28 due to declines in state gas tax revenues and inability to match federal dollars beginning in 2011. Without the ability to match federal aid, Michigan’s return on the federal gas tax will drop from a 92 percent return to just 50 percent in 2011.

The projects cut include 128 bridge replacement and rehabilitations, 105 road rehabilitations and reconstruction, eight new roads and two capacity improvements. Local projects in Genesee County slashed include bridge replacement at M-21 (Corunna Road) over Mistequay Creek, scheduled for 2010, and substructure repair in 2013 for Interstate 69 over M-54 (Dort Highway).

Three projects in Lapeer County slated for 2011 were also cut, including two bridge replacements on M-24 (South Lapeer Road) over CR Railroad and Plum Creek and one culvert replacement on M-24 over Farmer’s Creek.

Wayne County was the hardest hit by the cuts in the state, with 36 total overall projects cut.

“We must invest in transportation to jump-start Michigan's economic recovery,” said Rep. Pam Byrnes, DChelsea, chair of the House Transportation Committee. “These cut projects represent critical improvements that impact every community in Michigan. We must take action now to ensure a stable source of revenue to invest in modernizing Michigan’s transportation system.”

The commission’s move came after Byrnes and Rep. Richard Ball, R-Laingsburg, introduced revenue bills to help resolve the funding issue on Jan. 26. The bill asks for a four cent increase in the per-gallon gas tax from 19 to 23 cents on March 1, 2010, with another four-cent jump to 27 cents on Jan. 1, 2013. An increase would also take place on the diesel fuel tax on the same dates, raising from 15 to 21 cents in 2010, then lifting to 27 cents in 2013.

The bill, which includes a hike on the motor fuel carrier tax on commercial vehicles of 12 cents by 2013, could raise revenues by $1.4 billion and allow for the state to capture more than $2.46 billion in matching federal aid.

“Rep. Byrnes and I are committed to working together with our fellow elected officials to make fixing Michigan’s crumbling infrastructure a top legislative priority,” Ball said. “Providing safe roads and bridges, and a reliable and efficient public transit system is not a political issue or a partisan issue, it is an issue of providing fundamental services to Michigan taxpayers and ensuring transportation safety.”

Mike Nystrom, vice president of government and public relations for the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association, said something must happen immediately to rectify the situation.

“Michigan’s dire funding situation has left MDOT with no other choice than to make drastic cuts and provide only the basic level of services to our residents,” said Nystrom, who also serves as the co-chairman of the Michigan Transportation Team. “The persistent underfunding of Michigan’s transportation system jeopardizes economic growth and limits job creation in sectors such as agriculture, tourism and manufacturing, which are heavily reliant on quality roads, bridges and transportation infrastructure.” — R.A.