GOVERNOR SNYDER’S SPECIAL MESSAGE ON INFRASTRUCTURE
Governor Snyder is expected to deliver his infrastructure message next Wednesday, October 26. The message is expected to put Michigan’s Legislature and the public on notice of Michigan’s failing roads and bridges, and encourage the state to make much needed investments into the future of our infrastructure.
MITA is excited to have a Governor committed to finding long term solutions to our already suffering roads and bridges as well as improving Michigan’s water and sewer systems. It will take our members and other affiliates to support Governor Snyder by contacting their state lawmakers and echoing the Governor’s message that they need to act now.
In addition, MITA has put together a paycheck stuffer, click here to download, for your employees to contact their Legislators to also encourage them to take action on a plan to fix our roads and bridges. We urge you to speak to your employees about the importance of reaching out as the more emails, phone calls and letters we generate to decision makers the better our chances of success.
Click here for the PDF version of the paycheck stuffer.
LOWBOY LEGISLATION SB 582
MITA staff has heard a series of complaints this year from members about a crackdown on lowboys. According to current over-length permitting rules, once equipment has been unloaded from a lowboy trailer, the permit becomes invalid and the trailer becomes illegal.
MITA staff has worked with Senator Tom Casperson this year to introduce Senate Bill 582. If enacted, this legislation would extend permitted lowboy lengths by 4 feet and no longer require MDOT over-length permits for these trailers. This change would make it easier for equipment drop offs and return trips and would allow nighttime transport of lowboys.
MITA staff testified before the Senate Transportation Committee on this legislation recently and the bill was reported from committee this week. MITA staff is looking forward to timely Senate action on this Bill.
NITC LEGISLATION FAILS IN THE SENATE
Legislation creating the New International Trade Crossing Act (NITC) failed to receive enough votes for passage out of the Senate Economic Development Committee this week. The intent of the legislation was to create a new crossing between Michigan and Canada without using taxpayer dollars to fund. Throughout the debate concerns of displaced individuals where the construction was taking place as well as specifically what the state’s financial responsibility really would be were expressed.
After the failure to receive enough support in Committee occurred, both Governor Snyder and Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville recommended a “cooling down period” on the issue. The NITC will certainly continue to be debated by the Administration and Legislative Leaders in the coming months and MITA will continue to update its members on the progress.
