TRIP releases “Keeping Michigan Mobile” Report and MITA District Maps for Member Use

Last week The Road Information Program (TRIP) released its’ “Keeping Michigan Mobile” 2024 road conditions report for the State of Michigan. MITA and the County Road Association participated in a press conference to roll out the report on Tuesday, Jul 23, 2024. Links to the report and subsequent media coverage can be found below.

The TRIP organization is a private, non-profit organization that researches, evaluates, and distributes economic and technical data on surface transportation issues that lawmakers and governmental entities rely on for information regarding the condition of our transportation network. MITA believes that this particular report demonstrates the impact that our current decaying system has on individuals and the communities they live in by breaking down the cost of delays, unnecessary maintenance, and potential loss of life due to a lack of available safety features that could be deployed by humanizing the impact that poor road conditions can have on the public, which MITA has vowed to protect in our Mission Statement.

In simple terms, the TRIP Report outlines a 17B loss to motorists on an annual basis in unnecessary vehicle repairs, spent fuel during delays, accident damages and loss of production. The math is easy: 17B minus 4B (what a Public Sector Consultants Report says is needed in additional revenue to repair our aging system) leaves a savings of 13B. MITA believes that most would gladly spend 4B to save 13B. You can use this information to educate your employees, their families, and your state representatives. In addition, a link to find your lawmaker is below. We also have provided district maps that show the condition of the roads in their district with current investment levels, and what extra funding their counties they represent would receive if 3.9 billion dollars were added to the current formula. MITA encourages all members to be active in advocating for more funding because in the end, we all deserve a better Michigan.

Media Coverage:

Report: Michigan Drivers Lose Up to $3,000 Annually Due to Aging Roads (WHMI 93.5, 7/25/24)
MITA Mention: “At the end of the day, this is a quality-of-life issue ” do we want a Michigan that has unsafe, crumbling infrastructure, or do we want a safe, reliable infrastructure network that will carry us forward for generations to come,” said Rob Coppersmith, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association. “Michigan’s leaders must enact a long-term, equitable, and sustainable infrastructure investment plan that ensures we have a safe, reliable transportation network that will save Michigan drivers billions of dollars annually.”

Report: Bad roads costing Michigan drivers billions each year (WSJM, 7/25/24) 

Report: Michigan $3.9 billion in the hole annually for road work funding (WKZO, 7/24/24) 

Report: Michigan roads need $3.9B in funding (WZZM13, 7/24/24) 

Report Says Michigan $3.9 Billion Behind On Road Funding (WGHN, 7/24/24)

Michigan road conditions cost drivers thousands of dollars a year, study finds (Fox 2 Detroit, 7/24/24) 

New Report Shows How Much Money Grand Rapids Roads Cost Drivers (WGRD, 7/24/24) 

New report: Michigan needs around $4 billion a year to maintain roads and bridges (WCMU, 7/24/24)
MITA Mention: Ultimately, advocates at the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association say that increased funding for infrastructure projects will lead to safer roads, increasing the overall quality of life for Michiganders.

Lansing drivers lose $1,861 annually on deficient roads (Fox 47 News, 7/24/24)

Average driver in Flint loses $2000+/year driving on Michigan roads, says new report (Mid-Michigan NOW, 7/23/24)

Traverse City drivers lose nearly $1.8K annually due to road conditions, report says (UpNorthLive, 7/23/24) 

Poor roads cost Kalamazoo, Battle Creek drivers $1,872 annually, study finds (WWMT, 7/23/24) 

Michigan roads to blame for growing car repair bills (WILX, 7/23/24)
MITA Mention: “Our Governor is doing a great job with bonding programs and federal dollars, but those dry up shortly,” said Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association Executive Vice President Rob Coppersmith. “Then we’ll be on a slippery slope back to where we started.”

Rough roads cost Michiganders thousands annually (WNEM, 7/23/24)

New study says Grand Rapids drivers are losing $2,297 driving on area roads (Fox 17, 7/23/24)
MITA Mention: Rob Coppersmith from Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association says, “Governor has been doing a great job with their bonding program and the federal dollars that we’ve been getting, but those dry up shortly. And then we’ll be on a slippery slope back to the path that we started on. And so, it’s critical that we do find these long-term funding solutions to keep us going forward.”

Report shows Michigan lacks $3.9B in transportation funding (WOODtv, 7/23/24)
MITA Mention: “MITA is excited to see this information. We hope that it motivates people within the legislature to recognize this shortfall that’s coming and we want to maintain the great momentum we’ve had over the last several years that is moving us forward but again, we can slide back quickly if we don’t do something to address this gap,” Coppersmith said.

Report: Michigan needs to spend additional $4 billion annually on roads and bridges (Michigan Public, 7/23/24)
MITA Mention: Rob Coppersmith is the executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association. He says the report highlights a growing problem. “I hope that this turns a lightbulb on for people that understand Michigan has a funding problem,” said Coppersmith.

New report reveals Michigan has an infrastructure funding gap (ABC12, 7/23/24) 
MITA Mention: Clips from Rob TRIP Press Conference.