LANSING, Mich. – Memorial Day tourists in Michigan will face crowded, deteriorating roads in many parts of the state, a situation that could severely hinder Michigan’s $18 billion tourism industry, a new study says.
Delays due to accidents from poor road conditions and traffic bottlenecks due to capacity constraints hurt Michigan’s efforts to grow or even maintain its tourism industry, according to the study released Wednesday by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and the Anderson Economic Group. Manufacturing, agriculture and tourism are considered Michigan top three industries.
More than 1.1 million motorists are expected to hit Michigan roads this weekend, many of them traveling up north to destinations such as Traverse City, Frankenmuth and Petoskey. Michigan has 18,411 miles on the federal aid system in poor condition.
“Michigan’s economy benefits when Michigan residents spend their leisure time within the state rather than going elsewhere – in-state tourists are a boon to Michigan’s economy,” said Patrick Anderson, principal and CEO of the Lansing-based Anderson Economic Group.
The findings come in the wake of the Republican-led Senate’s approval of a transportation bill that slashes $48 million from maintenance, such as highway mowing and snowplowing, to leverage $475 million in federal matching funds.
“The Legislature is willing to spend millions on Pure Michigan ads to attract tourists, but not on the roads that bring those tourists here,” said Mike Nystrom, executive vice president for the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA). “It simply doesn’t make sense to cut from road maintenance to leverage more federal money for roads.”
Thirty-eight counties in Michigan were forced to pulverize roads in 2009 because they didn’t have money to maintain them, turning more than 100 miles of paved roads into gravel, according to the County Road Association of Michigan. More than half of Michigan’s county road agencies may be faced with that decision this year, according to the association.
The transportation bill also includes cutting the state’s Welcome Center funding in half.
“Michigan has beautiful natural resources that attract visitors from around the country,” added Nystrom. “It’s hardly a warm welcome if tourists are greeted with 6-feet-high grass, potholes and closed signs on half of Michigan’s Welcome Centers.”
The study also found that the cost of increasing the state’s investment in infrastructure would outweigh any minimal cost increases to consumers through higher fuel levies, registration fees or other revenue sources.
“Now is the time to invest in our roads – the problem won’t just go away on its own,” Nystrom said. “Lawmakers need to come together and offer a real solution to fixing our transportation crisis.”
Michigan residents can 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.
The Michigan Transportation Team (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 or on Facebook.
Contact: Mike Nystrom, Executive Vice President, MITA (517) 347-8336 – office (517) 896-1493 – cell