On Monday, November 10, the Michigan Transportation Funding Task Force released their report recommending a major investment in our state’s transportation network.
A few quotes:
“Transit investment in Michigan is half to one-tenth the investment made by other populated, economically diverse states like New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Illinois, Massachusetts, California, even Minnesota and Delaware.”
“The Task Force learned that transportation agencies have been relentlessly vigilant in stretching shrinking revenue.”
“The one choice we cannot afford is to do nothing. Michigan stands to lose up to $1 billion in federal funds each year. . . . Existing local transit services and intercity passenger rail services will be reduced, and intercity bus service to rural areas will likely be eliminated.”
“In Michigan, we need to at least double our current investment in transportation.”
“For passenger transportation, a “good” investment level will allow transit agencies to begin replacing aging buses with greener, more fuel-efficient vehicles. It will enhance convenience and choice in passenger transportation and allow implementation of long-overdue travel alternatives, such as commuter rail and light rail in Southeast Michigan and bus rapid transit in Grand Rapids. It will provide urban travel options that make Michigan cities more attractive to business and residents. . . . The “better” investment level would accomplish even more.”
Here is a summary of the investment scenarios for intermodal passenger transportation (including transit):
- If we “do nothing”:
- the state will provide just $241 million a year,
- losing $112 million in potential federal funding and
- losing 3,516 jobs.
- A “good” investment would:
- provide $773 million a year
- including $256 million in federal funds leveraged and
- create 35,100 jobs and
- leverage $4.3 billion in other benefits.
- A “better” investment would:
- provide $1.3 billion a year
- including $557 million in federal funds and
- create 59,000 jobs and
- leverage $7.5 billion in other benefits.
The report provides a broad list of possible ways to raise the necessary funding, include these options:
- Adjust motor fuel taxes by either increasing the tax or converting it from cents per gallon to percent of sales price
- Equalize diesel and propane tax rates with gasoline (instead of 4-cents less)
- Increase the state sales tax by one percent and dedicate the additional revenue to transportation (constitutional amendment required)
- Direct the sales tax on fuel to transportation
- Enable a broad spectrum of local revenue options to local / county agencies
- Enable Public-Private Partnerships for toll-financed reconstruction or expansion of freeways or other transportation systems
Several of these were also recommended in the Michigan Transit Vision that TRU and other groups developed and are promoting. A variety of these measures should be used to provide sufficient funding for transit and other transportation.
You can download the executive summary, the funding alternatives, or the full report from www.Michigan.gov/TF2.
Tell your legislators not to end the year without investing in transit
Once you’ve read the report, we need to make sure the legislators read it and act on it!! These are just recommendations, until the legislature acts. The legislature is back in session for a few weeks in “lame duck” session. Tell your legislator not to end the year without funding transit!
The Michigan Municipal League and Progress Michigan have both set up great tools for either calling or emailing your legislators. While talking points are provided, you should share your own thoughts about why it is so important to invest in transit. Urge your legislators to act now, before the end of the year!