On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Brad Williams, director of government affairs for the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, expands on his legislative testimony in support of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan plan.

https://www.michigan.gov/MDOT5YearPlan

Williams testified before the House Standing Committee on Transportation Tuesday and explained why the $3.5 billion bonding component of the Rebuilding Michigan plan is an important part of the solution now.

View Williams' testimony (9:50-32:35): http://www.house.mi.gov/SharedVideo/PlayVideoArchive.html?video=TRAN-021120.mp4

Also discussed was testimony from Craig Thiel of the Citizens Research Council, who talked about the need for a long-term funding solution and a preference for bonding only against new revenues.

The Council has previously testified on the degradation of Michigan’s transportation infrastructure and need to invest at all levels. A 2019 CRC report explored the benefits of offering local communities more options to raise road revenues.

https://crcmich.org/publications/evaluating-michigans-options-to-increase-road-funding

House bills 4963 and 4964, as analyzed in this Michigan Municipal League blog, would allow local communities to seek fuel taxes and registration fees.

http://blogs.mml.org/wp/inside208/2019/09/13/legislature-proposes-road-reforms-that-include-allowing-local-gas-taxes-and-registration-fees/

Williams also talks about a bill voted out of the Senate that instructs the Michigan Department of Transportation to hire an outside consultant to study the feasibility of tolling some Michigan roads.

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2019-2020/billanalysis/Senate/pdf/2019-SFA-0517-F.pdf

Detroit Chamber discusses Rebuilding Michigan, tolling and other funding options