Gov. Snyder wraps up statewide infrastructure coordination pilot program, outlines next steps

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the results of a regional infrastructure pilot program – a roadmap for implementing a comprehensive, statewide asset management system to better manage the state’s roads, bridges, water, sewer and waste disposal pipelines, and electric, internet and telecom services.

Members who worked on the pilot project presented their findings and recommendations as to how more than 3,500 organizations that govern infrastructure statewide can better work together on modernization and improvements of our aging infrastructure – both above ground and beneath.

Asset management involves continually inventorying and assessing infrastructure conditions so that planned maintenance can be done to the service life of an asset before it has to be replaced. This process makes it more economical to maintain performance and appropriate levels of service. The result is cost savings for local communities and users, satisfaction for customers, and improved security, safety, and public health for our communities.

Michigan has over 3,350 infrastructure asset owners that operate and maintain hundreds of thousands of miles of roads, water pipes, gas lines and electric cables, all primarily on an individual basis. In addition, planning and funding cycles for different types of infrastructure are often not coordinated, and public and private infrastructure owners may not be aware of each other’s planning and decision-making processes.

Coordinating the way we plan for and manage infrastructure across and among levels of government and private utilities will reduce interruptions of infrastructure use by the public and save taxpayer money.

“Infrastructure is critical because it touches every aspect of our every day lives,” Gov. Snyder said. “From how we move to home and work, to how we process and deliver food on our tables and agricultural exports, to how manufacturers connect to the grid in order to produce everything from software to furniture to airplane engines, it’s imperative that we streamline management of our entire infrastructure system to make it more efficient and affordable for all.”

The governor was joined at Founder’s Brewing Company for the event by John Weiss of the Grand Valley Metro Council, Carmine Palombo of SEMCOG, and Erin Kuhn of the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission to discuss the details of the pilot project. Founder’s was chosen due to its location in downtown Grand Rapids, and recent expansions that rapidly increased both input and output of water usage and agricultural waste from the brewing process. Instead of trucking waste offsite to dispose of, they worked with the City of Grand Rapids - which already uses coordinated asset management – to purchase a bio-digester for waste. Forecasting done using coordinated asset management showed that the purchase of a bio-digester would pay for itself over the course of several years, all while adding sustainable power to the local electric grid. Employers are some of the largest users of water, waste, electrical and transportation services, and rely on solid infrastructure in order to increase productivity. A statewide asset management database would allow other communities to utilize similar technology and best practice research that Grand Rapids used to come up with the exciting and innovative idea of a bio-digester. Not only will this help communities to manage their day-to-day operations, but will additionally open up new opportunities for business attraction and development.

The pilot was tasked with creating recommendations on how the state can establish a statewide integrated asset management system that will safeguard Michigan residents and reduce costs for communities and users. It comes after the Governor in his January 2016 State of the State address announced convening a 21^st Century Infrastructure Commission. This pilot project was one of the commission’s recommendations.

Key recommendations include:

• A roadmap to implementing asset management in a standardized and systematic way across infrastructure types and jurisdictions creating better coordination and planning for the state’s road, water, sewer, stormwater, electric, gas, and broadband infrastructure systems.
• Ensuring all participants in the statewide asset management database at the local, regional, and state level receive a benefit for participating, make it a ‘win-win’.
• Establish a permanent Michigan Infrastructure Council to oversee planning and mapping of statewide coordinated asset management.

The joint regional pilot covered 55 percent of Michigan’s urban, suburban and rural population.  Over 200 communities, regional entities, and private utilities participated in at least one area of the pilot process.

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