May 7, 2003
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm traveled to Washington, D. C. today where she testified before Congress in support of additional federal transportation dollars for Michigan to benefit the state's highway and transit programs, as well as foster economic growth in the state.
"Whether we are talking about mass transit or highway funding, Michigan continues to be a donor state receiving far less than it contributes to the Highway Trust Fund and that is unacceptable," Granholm said today. "Michigan and many others states have large, unmet transit needs in both rural and urban areas that will take a combination of federal, state, and local funds to meet."
Granholm emphasized that transportation is a vital economic component not just for Michigan's economy, which is the world-wide center of automotive manufacturing, but for other states as well.
"Our transportation corridors function as a primary artery for the movement of international goods," Granholm said. "Michigan's quietly running economic engine powers a good part of the rest of the nation as well. The dollar value of Michigan's trade with Canada alone is greater than the value of all U.S. trade with the European Union, so investing in transportation infrastructure and services to support the economy is not something we can afford to ignore."
Among Granholm's recommendations for reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) are the following:
- Funding Equity: Michigan strongly supports the proposal developed by the State Highway Alliance for Real Equity (SHARE) to guarantee all states a minimum 95 percent rate of return.
- A Sustainable Program: It is important to states that Congress enact a six-year authorization bill that is sustainable and predictable.
- Equity for transit: New funding is needed for a transit needs program that can help states like Michigan which use bus systems, rather than rail, to meet urban, rural, elderly, and handicap transportation needs.
- Funding guarantees and firewalls: The Federal Highway Trust Fund balances should be spent down as far as possible to meet current pressing highway needs.
- More federal transportation funding: Michigan strongly supports the bipartisan call of this Committee's leadership for a $50 billion federal transportation program for fiscal year 2004.
- Flexibility: To leverage our limited dollars more effectively, state and local transportation agencies need more flexibility to use federal funds for projects identified during their planning and public involvement processes.
- Preservation of our transportation systems: Michigan was a pioneer in freeway construction in the 1940s and 1950s; some of our major freeways pre-date the Eisenhower Interstate System. While we have made some progress, billions of dollars will be needed to complete the process.
- More secure borders: The borders program begun under TEA-21 should be expanded and separated from the corridors program.
- Focus on safety and security: The reauthorization bill should continue the safety-conscious planning process begun under TEA-21 and other activities that will improve transportation safety.
- Environmental stewardship: Michigan supports national efforts to improve the environmental review process for transportation projects and to imbue the ethic of stewardship for the environment into transportation planning.
Granholm spoke before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, marking the first time she has appeared before members of Congress as Governor of Michigan.
