LANSING, Mich. — Last week, Sen. Roger Victory introduced legislation to help fix local roads by partnering with local communities and creating the Road Investment Incentive Program.
“There has been lots of talk about fixing our roads over the last decade, and Lansing has continued to fail to get it done,” said Victory, R-Hudsonville. “It’s time for us to get serious about investing in our local roads, which impact everyday Michiganders.”
Senate Bill 448 would invest nearly $500 million in state funding to match what local road agencies have invested in their local roads. This legislation would allow communities to double the impact of those local funds with a dollar-for-dollar match from the state. It would also improve the quality of local roads without raising state taxes.
If fully utilized, the program would invest as much as $10 billion over the next decade into local roads, which are consistently rated as the lowest quality in Michigan.
“Many communities in West Michigan have already been investing in their local roads,” Victory said. “I hope this bill will encourage that good behavior while also inviting more communities to step up and participate in improving Michigan’s local roads.”
SB 448 has been referred to the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
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