LANSING, Mich. – Michigan drivers have the chance to win $370 in cash during the Michigan Transportation Team’s (MTT) fourth annual pothole contest. The MTT will be giving away cash to drivers who submit pictures or videos of the worst teeth-rattling potholes in the state.
One or more regional winners will be selected from across the state and will each receive a $370 prize which reflects the added costs the average Michigan driver pays in vehicle repairs and time lost in congestion due to the state’s poor roads.
For the first time, MTT will be accepting videos as part of the contest. MTT is encouraging drivers to let their creativity flow and create a short video highlighting Michigan’s pothole-riddled roadways. To view past DriveMI videos, check out their YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/user/FixMIRoads.
“We are in for an extraordinarily bad pothole season,” said Keith Ledbetter, Director of Legislative Affairs of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA). “It has become far too common for Michigan drivers to just grin-and-bear it as they hit pothole after pothole. We are trying to draw attention to these craters and let Michigan residents know they can do something about it!”
The contest is part of an ongoing effort to educate policymakers that the dire condition of Michigan’s roads is a serious threat to public safety and a roadblock to business development in the state. MTT is pushing to end legislative inaction and asking legislators to address the lack of transportation funding that puts Michigan drivers at risk.
To enter the photo portion of the contest, residents must take a picture of the worst pothole-riddled road they can find and upload it to www.DriveMI.org. The general public can vote on their favorite choices and pothole contest winners will be decided on April 12.
To enter the video portion of the contest, residents must upload their videos to YouTube and then send the link of their video to VideoContest@drivemi.org. Full contest details can be found on www.DriveMI.org.
“The contest is just one more way to highlight the serious neglect of Michigan’s roadways by legislators,” said Ledbetter. “There is nothing fun or safe about motorists dodging enormous potholes and driving on dangerous roads.”
Gov. Granholm’s 2011 transportation budget cuts Michigan’s road and bridge program by 62 percent because of declining gas tax revenues and the state’s inability to match federal dollars. Michigan faces a $2.4 billion reduction in state and federal funding for projects between 2011 and 2014.
“Michigan’s transportation funding crisis has left cash-strapped road agencies with little funding to keep Michigan’s roadways pothole free,” Ledbetter said. “This is just another way to demonstrate to lawmakers we must invest in our transportation system. No excuses – Fix Michigan’s roads Now!”
Michigan residents can also voice their concerns about road funding by calling a toll-free number – 888-719-3087 – set up by MTT. Callers simply enter their five-digit ZIP code to be connected with their legislative offices.
MTT is a broad-based, bipartisan partnership of business, labor, local government, associations and citizens with the common goal of improving Michigan’s transportation infrastructure. The DriveMI campaign is committed to promoting the development and maintenance of a safe, convenient and efficient transportation network that serves the public, private and economic development needs of Michigan. Please visit www.drivemi.org for more information on transportation funding or follow them on Twitter @drivemi or YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/FixMIRoads.
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Contact: Keith Ledbetter, Director of Legislative Affairs, Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA) Office: (517) 347-8336 Cell: (517) 214-0386