This opinion piece was written by Rob Coppersmith, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association. To read the full article in Crain’s Detroit Business, click here.
As Gov. Gretchen Whitmer begins her second term and new legislative majorities start their work at the Capitol, Michigan’s leaders should finally tackle the big issue facing our entire state: fixing Michigan’s roads by developing an equitable, long-term, sustainable funding plan.
The solution to our road funding problem is a long-term investment plan that would dedicate the necessary resources to fixing Michigan’s roads and keep them in good working condition while acknowledging the modern technology drivers use. Without a plan that provides stable funding for Michigan’s crumbling infrastructure, we continue kicking the can down the road while conditions only worsen.
Michigan has more than 120,000 miles of paved roadway and the cost to keep roads in good condition is significant. As of 2022, more than 42 percent of Michigan’s lane miles are rated in poor condition. If we stay on the path we’re on, we’ll see that number rise to nearly 50 percent by 2031.
This is unacceptable.