The House Transportation Committee stopped at Washtenaw Community College on Friday for the third leg of its statewide tour highlighting the severe budget concerns that Michigan's transportation network faces. The hearing featured a full agenda of testimony from a number of state and local officials, centered around an impassioned plea from a group of municipal officials. Dan Gilmartin, League Executive Director and CEO was joined by Board President and Huntington Woods Mayor Pro-Tem, Jeff Jenks, City of Saline Mayor Gretchen Driskell, and Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber, as the group testified about the importance of increasing funding for roads and transit. Each one testified to the importance of transportation beyond asphalt and concrete...about how a complete and reliable transportation network makes communities attractive to employers and to residents. Good roads and reliable transit options offer economic development and quality of life benefits that are critical to turning around Michigan's economy. Following the testimony by the mayors, Lansing Public Services Director Chad Gamble echoed previous sentiments about the true costs of not acting to maintain and improve the infrastructure that we have. He explained that waiting is not an option for many communities and the increases being requested are not out of line with gas price fluctuations that drivers are already experiencing at the pump.
The messages that were delivered by each of the witnesses was met with generally supportive responses from the six legislators who attended the hearing. No one appears eager to lose the $500 million in federal gas tax revenue that Michigan faces losing next year, but only a couple of the legislators indicated a willingness to vote on the proposed gas and vehicle registration increases prior to the November elections. These increases will be needed to ensure that Michigan has enough matching money available to bring home our full share of the federal revenue available. Continued pressure will be needed to persuade the Legislature to take action in support of these new transportation revenues. Please continue to support the League's efforts to raise the profile of this important issue. Nothing makes it harder to work with a legislator than if they can claim that no one from their district has ever contacted them on an issue. There are many ways that you can help our efforts; give your Senator or State Representative a call or send them an email, sign on to the online petition supporting road funding that the League is helping to promote at www.DriveMI.org, or attend the upcoming Transportation Funding Rally at the Capital on on Tuesday, May 4th. The more that legislators hear from you, the more important they will realize this issue is to their districts and the communities that they represent. Thank you all for your help!
Photo above: Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber addresses the House Transportation Committee during a hearing on transportation funding Friday, April 23, 2010, as Michigan Municipal League CEO Dan Gilmartin (left) looks on. View more photos from this event here. View information and photos from testimony that League members gave on revenue sharing.
Chris Hackbarth is the transportation policy advisor for the Michigan Municipal League. Chris can be reached at 517-908-0303, or by email at chackbarth@mml.org.
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