Nov. 22, 2005

Mackinac Island, Mich. – The 2006 federal transportation appropriations bill provides $225,000 to the Mackinac Island State Park Commission for the purchase of two new snowplow trucks for use on Mackinac Island. The U. S. Senate and House of Representatives passed the bill on Friday, Nov. 18.

The Mackinac Parks Commission plows the Mackinac Island airport and all public roads on the island. The airport, which operates year round, is a critical health and transportation link to the mainland in the winter when ferry service to the island is suspended. Clear roads are essential for the operation of emergency service vehicles like fire trucks and ambulances, two of the few vehicles that operate on the otherwise car-free island.

U.S. Reps. Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) and Joe Knollenberg (R-Bloomfield Township), who chairs the House Transportation Appropriations Sub-Committee, worked on the bill.

"Funding to purchase these two snow plow trucks could not come at a better time," commented Mackinac State Historic Parks director Phil Porter.  "Our current vehicles are 14 and 18 years old and badly in need of replacement.  We greatly appreciate this appropriation and the support of Representatives Stupak and Knollenberg."

The Mackinac Island State Park Commission, an agency within the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries, operates a family of living history museums and parks in northern Michigan's Straits of Mackinac region. Sites include Fort Mackinac, Historic Downtown and Mackinac Island State Park on Mackinac Island, and Colonial Michilimackinac, Historic Mill Creek, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and Michilimackinac State Park in Mackinaw City. The sites are accredited by the American Association of Museums. Visitor information is available on the Web at www.MackinacParks.com and by phone at (231) 436-4100.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.