Support Transit Investment in the MI Road Ahead Plan

After decades of disinvestment, public transit and rail in Michigan have the potential for a much-needed funding boost: 

Governor Whitmer’s proposed MI Road Ahead plan proposes $250 million in new annual funding for transit and rail! 

That would resolve at least half of Michigan’s transit funding shortfall, restoring critical funding for local bus services, rides for seniors, cross-state transportation, and more. 

The Mi Road Ahead plan is an exciting transportation funding proposal that would:

• Invest $3 billion a year in Michigan transportation infrastructure each year
  • Includes $1 billion for local roads 
  • And $250 million for transit and rail
• Ensure all taxes paid at the gas pump are invested in Michigan infrastructure
• Protect schools and cities from funding cuts
• Raise revenue from a range of reasonable funding sources
  • Minimizes costs to working families
  • Focuses most costs on corporations, such as heavy trucks, sports betting, the marijuana industry, delivery services, and digital advertising

House Speaker Matt Hall has an alternative proposal and a great deal of negotiating is expected. While there are many ways to effectively address Michigan’s transportation funding shortfall,

Any transportation funding proposal must:

1. Invest in the full transportation system, including transit and rail;
2. Not harm other important priorities like schools and cities;
3. Focus on fixing roads, not widening them; and
4. Not penalize more efficient vehicles with onerous charges.

Check out our recent op-ed about the importance of fixing the whole transportation system and the joint letter from dozens of partners advancing these priorities.

Please encourage Michigan legislators to support the MI Road Ahead plan and thank Governor Whitmer for a funding plan that invests in transportation for all Michiganders:

Governor Whitmer noted in her State of the State address on February 26:

“There are a couple different plans out there, including mine, and I know none of them are perfect. But what’s not okay… is no plan. Michiganders won’t accept inaction. To get it right, we’ll all have to recognize some hard truths.

To my friends in the GOP… a long-term fix means new, fair sources of revenue. We can’t cut our way to better roads by slashing public safety, health, or schools.
To my fellow Democrats… cuts will need to be a part of the solution.
To the business community… we can’t put this on the backs of the middle class.

For all of us to be part of the solution we must all compromise… and that’s the way it ought to be.”