Roads and bridges: Who pays for them and how?

September 27, 2011 -- Everyone talks about it, but not everyone knows exactly where it comes from: funding for roads and bridges in Michigan. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has put together this video to explain the main sources of funding for roads and bridges, how funding doesn't go as far as it used to, and ways MDOT is doing more with less.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• roads
• bridges
• mdot
• transportation funding
• transportation dollars
• revenue
• transportation
• michigan
• highways
• freeways
• potholes

[knubob]

What are the main reasons roads deteriorate? Could salt and weight limits have anything to do with it?

[MichiganDOT]

@knubob The biggest factor is just the wear and tear from freeze/thaw cycles. As you probably know, Michigan has pretty extreme weather which is one of the main culprits of potholes (check out our Reporting Potholes video - it explains how those are formed.)

[fishtoes2000]

THIS MDOT VIDEO IS INCORRECT - One major source of federal road funding is the general fund, which can be attributed to income tax, corporate taxes, and other sources. ARRA funding and gaps in the Highway Trust Fund did not come from any of the funding sources mentioned in this video.

A recent nationwide study found that only 51% of all road funding is covered by fuel taxes and driving fees.

Michigan residents need accurate information to make informed decisions.

[MichiganDOT]

@fishtoes2000

Transportation funding sources can be confusing - that's why we made this video! :) Our video is dealing strictly with Michigan's state transportation funding, NOT federal funding or what exactly goes into the Highway Trust Fund.

Thanks for the comment, and thank you for watching!

[diedydo]

There is nothing incorrect in this video, fishtoes. In fact, federal gas tax money is regularly siphoned AWAY from the Highway Trust Fund, not the other way around. ARRA was a special case that funded a lot of things, not just roads and bridges.

I would like to see this "study" you mention about the 51%, because the only funding for roads that is not from a user fee (ie gas tax) would be a LOCAL millage for LOCAL roads. This has nothing to do with state highways...