Gogebic commissioners urged to support more road funding

BESSEMER — The Gogebic County Board couldn’t decide whether to support House or Senate transportation legislation on Wednesday, but commissioners agreed there somehow should be an increase in funding for roads.

Gogebic County Road Commission Engineer-Director Darren Pionk told the board the effort to change transportation funding, including the way gas tax money is distributed, is in the “11th hour” because this is the last week state legislators will convene.

There’s legislation in both the House and Senate pertaining to transportation, and commissioners said they didn’t want to support any measure that would decrease aid to local school districts.

Pionk said counties and cities stand to benefit from the legislation that’s being considered, but he wasn’t sure by how much.

He suggested commissioners call their legislators and merely tell them more transportation funding is needed, regardless of how the bills work out.

A letter the board received Wednesday is typical of taxpayers’ concerns regarding road conditions in the county.

In the letter, Samantha Robl, of Bessemer, said she’s concerned about the lack of maintenance on the road systems throughout the county.

“Why do the roads become so rough and filed with potholes so quickly?” she asked, pointing out the added costs to drivers in the from of flat tires and other repairs.

“Is the budget for the county limiting the amount (of work) done on the highways?” she asked.

The problem is spread across the state.

A national transportation research organization last week released a report stating 38 percent of Michigan’s locally and state maintained urban roads are in poor condition, 30 percent are in mediocre or fair condition, and the remaining 32 percent are in good condition.

The study claims Michigan motorists lose $3.8 billion annually in the form of extra vehicle operating costs as a result of driving on deteriorated roadways, or an average of $539 per driver.

“Unless the state and local governments can increase the level of investment in Michigan’s transportation system, the costs to drivers will continue to rise as the condition of the state’s roadways and highways deteriorates further,” said Will Wilkins, executive director of TRIP, the research group.