5/21/13 - A motion urging Governor Snyder and state lawmakers to take action to repair Michiganâs deteriorating roads and bridges was approved by the Livingston County Board of Commissioners last night. The board has received briefings on the topic from several sources, including Road Commission Managing Director Mike Craine, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, and the Michigan Association of Counties. The resolution states that 32% of the stateâs roads are currently in poor condition and that number will jump to 65% by 2018 if action is not taken. It also says one third of all fatal and serious traffic accidents in Michigan are linked in part to the poor condition of the roadway. The commission says improving the roads will improve the economy and save the lives of Michigan drivers. Commissioner Steve Williams tells WHMI that the county spends all of its road money as efficiently as possible, and it is up to the state government to make a bigger effort to maintain our roads and bridges. He says the board does not mean to tell the state government how to do its job, nor to encourage tax increases. However, the resolution points out that the 6% sales tax goes to the state governmentâs general fund rather than road repair projects, and suggests that a $10 billion investment over ten years could prevent 100 traffic-related deaths and create 12,000 local jobs. (TD)
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