LANSING – Voters throughout Michigan generously and overwhelmingly approved measures to pay for road improvements and public transportation in the Aug. 3 Primary. Voters gave a thumbs up to an astonishing 85 percent of the 136 road repair millage requests from local governments. In Metro Detroit, voters approved a property tax renewal for regional bus service by a lopsided margin.
These primary election results are even more impressive given the backdrop of Michigan’s high unemployment, plummeting personal income and property values, and the perception that voters are in an anti-tax mood.
“Michigan voters are willing to step up and financially support the state’s increasingly neglected transportation network – they understand that these road projects not only benefit commuters, but also serve as important economic development tools in a state going through tough times,” said Mike Nystrom, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association. “Lawmakers who continue to ignore a growing chorus of pleas to identify a sustainable revenue stream to fix our crumbling roads and bridges would be wise to follow the good judgment displayed by voters.”
Voters approved 60 percent of the 48 local ballot measures asking for a tax increase to maintain and improve local roadways. According to a post-election analysis by the Center for Michigan, voter support for road projects was only exceeded by their support for fire services.
Pressure is growing for the Legislature to deal with road funding in the lame-duck session following the Nov. 2 election. The Comprehensive Transportation Fund, which pays for road and bridge work, is down by $100 million from a decade ago.
The state’s gasoline tax has not been increased since 1997, while the cost of road repair and construction has steadily shot upward. Revenue from the gasoline tax has been reduced because many motorists are driving fewer miles or switching to more fuel-efficient vehicles. In addition, there are fewer new vehicles being purchased in today’s troubled economy, meaning less money in registration fees. To make matters worse, lawmakers – for the first time ever – are leaving $475 million on the table in Washington because they can’t come up with the $84 million matching funds to qualify for the transportation federal aid.
On the public transit front, the support for SMART bus service across Metro Detroit reached new highs – with 78 percent of Oakland County voters approving a property tax renewal to keep the buses operating, 74 percent approving in Wayne County and 72 percent supporting a renewal in Macomb County.
Public transit systems in Michigan employ about 9,200 people and pump $1 billion into the state’s economy. Public transit usage has grown by 22 percent in the last six years as people discover the financial, environmental and other associated benefits.
“There’s no question public transportation reduces traffic congestion and improves the quality of the air we breathe,” said Clark Harder, executive director of the Michigan Public Transit Association. “But lawmakers also must remember that for every 10 jobs created in the public transit sector, another six spin-off jobs are created in the rest of the economy.”
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 or www.facebook.com/fixmichiganroads for more information on transportation funding. Citizens can also follow MTT on twitter @drivemi or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/FixMIRoads .
Contact: Mike Nystrom, Executive Vice President, MITA, Office: (517) 347-8336, Cell: (517) 896-1493