Title
Resolution to Encourage Responsible Spending of Transportation Funds in Southeast Michigan
Memorandum
The proposed plan has many good elements, including support for non-motorized transportation, public transit, pavement maintenance and repair, and sustainability enhancements.
However, the plan also calls for dedicating a significant portion of transportation funding to expansion of I-94 and I-75. The expansion and reconstruction costs for these two projects total $5.8 billion. Together they account for 16% of the entire regional transportation spending for the next 25 years.
The 2040 Plan notes that "the vast majority of residents feel that the region's infrastructure condition is deteriorating," and "forecasted growth in regional travel is modest." The plan's forecasts do not anticipate the region returning to 2003 levels of employment or population during the planning period.
Given the low need for road expansion and the high need for critical maintenance to the regions existing roads and bridges, the allocation of such a large portion of the plans resources into highway expansion reflects misplaced priorities.
The attached resolution would add Ann Arbor's voice to those of other jurisdictions in the SEMCOG region to call for a reallocation of funds in the 2040 Long Range Plan to address the more pressing need to fund preventive maintenance and rehabilitation of existing roads and bridges. Other municipalities in the SEMCOG region have passed similar resolutions, including the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners.
Staff
Sponsored by: Councilmembers Warpehoski, Briere, Teall and Mayor Hieftje
Body
Whereas, Communities across Southeast Michigan face an acute shortage of transportation funds to maintain and repair existing roads, streets, bridges and other transportation infrastructure, address safety needs, and provide the quality of life that attracts and retains residents and employers;
Whereas, Within Washtenaw County these transportation needs include more than $82 million of unfunded high priority reconstruction, resurfacing, repair, and construction projects in every municipality;
Whereas, The Draft 2040 Regional Transportation Plan prepared by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) includes major highway reconstruction and capacity expansion projects on I-75 in Oakland County and I-94 in Detroit, with projected costs exceeding $4 billion; and
Whereas, The Long-Range Plan states that traffic congestion in Southeast Michigan is "limited," that the region will not regain its 2000 population within the next 25 years, and that any increase in traffic levels will be modest.
RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor City Council opposes the inclusion of these highway capacity expansion projects in the 2040 Long-Range Plan;
RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor City Council requests that funding currently programmed for these capacity projects be redirected to preventive maintenance and rehabilitation of existing roads and bridges, addressing critical safety needs, and enhancing quality of life; and
RESOLVED, That this resolution be transmitted to SEMCOG, the Michigan Department of Transportation, State Senator Rebekah Warren, and State Representatives Jeff Irwin and Adam Zemke in advance of SEMCOG's June 20, 2013, General Assembly meeting.
Sponsored by: Councilmembers Warpehoski, Briere, Teall and Mayor Hieftje