For immediate release May 18, 2007

Contact: Sue Stetler 313-961-4266

National Transportation Week is May 13-19;
Southeast Michigan needs more money to adequately fund region's transportation system

From today through 2030, Southeast Michigan will need nearly $70 billion to adequately maintain and improve the region's transportation system. At this time, federal, state, and local governments calculate about $40 billion in available revenue, leaving a $30 billion shortfall. During National Transportation Week, May 13-19, 2007, SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, notes that the consequences of not closing this gap will affect every motorist and transit rider in Southeast Michigan.

Here's what we can afford to improve — Because we do not have the necessary resources to make all the improvements needed from now until 2030, we can only afford to make the following improvements:

• repave or reconstruct 6,200 miles of road,
• repair or replace 1,100 bridges,
• operate 2,000 miles of existing transit routes and various paratransit services,
• construct 45 miles of turn lanes,
• widen 290 miles of existing road,
• retime 6,500 traffic signals,
• improve 1,800 intersections, and
• construct 100 miles of nonmotorized paths.

The main source of local funding for road and transit improvements is the gas tax. What factors currently impact the gas tax? Improving fuel efficiency, alternative fuels, hybrid vehicles, and recent federal legislation that mandates an increase in fuel economy standards for SUVs all point to great progress for our environment, quality of life, and reducing dependence on oil. But, success in these areas means less gas-tax revenue. While these factors have a positive impact on our future, they also need to be a wake-up call for all of us now. We have to become less reliant on gas taxes to fix our roads.

How should we fund road and transit improvements in the future? In the short term, we must increase the gas tax, look for new revenues through state-enabled local taxes and fees, and explore partnerships with the private sector. In the long term, we'll need to explore other sources of revenue that can efficiently raise enough dollars to address our many urgent transportation needs. These could include user fees that assess a charge on the use of the roadway system based on mileage and time of day so that motorists more directly pay the true cost of using the roadway system. Other options must also be considered.

What will happen if there isn't enough funding to maintain Southeast Michigan's transportation system? We will see deteriorating road and bridge conditions, increases in congestion, limited transportation choices, and stymied economic development. Everyone's quality of life will be impacted. Our region will fall farther behind the rest of the country. Our goal to be a world-class region will be in jeopardy.

Additional information on all of SEMCOG's National Transportation Week news releases is available in SEMscope, SEMCOG's quarterly magazine; the Winter 2007 issue is devoted to "A citizens' guide to transportation funding" and is available online at www.semcog.org or by calling SEMCOG Information Services at 313-961-4266.

This news release is the last in a five-part series released this week addressing the importance of our transportation system and the steps needed to overcome current and future challenges.

National Transportation Week (NTW), May 13-19, 2007, provides an opportunity for the transportation community to join together on a national level to demonstrate the importance of transportation to our economy and society as a whole. The Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau is proud to host NTW 2007 in Detroit. Established in 1962 by President Kennedy, NTW celebrates the historical significance of transportation in the United States and focuses on its future impact in our country. For more information, please visit www.ntweek.org.

SEMCOG is a regional planning partnership of governmental units serving the seven-county region of Southeast Michigan, striving to enhance the region's quality of life.

Local Governments Advancing Southeast Michigan

Read recent SEMCOG news releases

 

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