Road Commission to consider revised 2012 local road program contract at Tuesday's meeting
The Washtenaw County Road Commission will begin 2012 by considering the approval of a contract, which will be offered to all 20 townships, outlining the local road match program and the funding available for road and drainage projects.
Elected officials may see some changes in the contract that includes a total of $500,000 available funding, which will be divided into county-wide and urban distribution. In addition, there will be $200,000 for a drainage matching projects that can be used on local uncurbed, non-subdivision roads.
How much each township will receive depends on the centerline miles and population, and with the new census figures, many townships will receive more funding than in previous years. And townships with urban local roads, including Ann Arbor, Dexter, Lima, Lodi, Northfield, Pittsfield, Saline, Saline, Scio, Superior, Webster, York and Ypsilanti townships, will be eligible for additional money because urban roads receive a higher allocation of Michigan Transportation funds.
If the contract is approved by the Road Commission, it’s expected that any unused funds not already earmarked, will not longer be carried over to the next year unless a specific project is designated by the township in writing.
In addition, townships will be required to finalize the year’s plans by May 25 and if the draft contract is approved, unused funds, which have in the past been as much as $80,000, may be reallocated to the primary road maintenance projects.
Unlike in past years, if a township decides to use funds for primary roads instead of local roads, the Road Commission will no longer offer $2 dollars for every dollar of township matching money.
The Road Commission estimated $16.25 million in Michigan Transportation Fund revenues in 2011, but the final figures show a slight increase. Total revenues were actually $16,378,510.
Once approved, the Road Commission will begin meeting with township representatives to finalize which road projects will be completed in 2012. If residents have specific projects they'd like to see considered, contact your township supervisor with your suggestions.
The Road Commission meets the first and third Tuesday of every month at 1 p.m. at the Road Commission board room, 555 N. Zeeb Road in Scio Township.
Lisa Allmendinger is a regional reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at lisaallmendinger@annarbor.com.
Comments
free
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 : 3:21 p.m.
In order to fix ALL the roads in the county you're talking billions, not millions.
Diane
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 : 2:21 p.m.
Dell Rd. REALLY needs help. We get all of the cut thru traffic that doesn't want to go thru Saline. HELP
Neighbor
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 : 7:48 a.m.
Geddes Avenue is a main thoroughfare for all employees to the University Hospital and the University in general. To avoid some of the potholes one is forced to the other side of the road - a head-on collision is inevitable if these don't get fixed soon!
Epengar
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 : 9:04 p.m.
If the holes are inside Ann Arbor, there's a hotline you can call to report their location to the city's Street Maintenance department: Potholes Hotline: 734.794.6368 or submit them online: <a href="http://www.a2gov.org/government/publicservices/customerservice/Pages/OnlineCustomerServiceRequest.aspx" rel='nofollow'>http://www.a2gov.org/government/publicservices/customerservice/Pages/OnlineCustomerServiceRequest.aspx</a> they've responded pretty quickly to the ones I've told them about.
justcurious
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 : 3:05 a.m.
Last night the police were calling dispatchers to ask for the Road Commission to start salting roads all over Washtenaw County due to numerous accidents - M-14, I-94, M-52, US 23. They kept calling for hours. Wouldn't you think that the Road Commission would have been either monitoring the scanners and/or sending their supervisors out to check the conditions of the roads themselves without waiting for the cops to call after all of the accidents? I would. What is their policy?
justcurious
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 12:17 a.m.
jcj, if they had been monitoring, they would have been salting. I forgot to mention the other accidents on Michigan Ave., Pleasant Lake Rd., etc.
jcj
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 : 11:40 p.m.
Goober You had no problem insulting the road commission. You left yourself open.
Goober
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 : 10:05 p.m.
Yes, I do not have a clue jcj. Thanks for the insult.
jcj
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 : 1:19 p.m.
Two more that don't have a clue! They do have people out monitoring the roads all night! They might not always make the right call. But do you want your taxes increased to pay for more manpower? I thought not!
Goober
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 : 11:19 a.m.
Their policy is the same as it has always been. Ignore the issue until problems occur.
DonBee
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 : 2:17 a.m.
All of the roads in the state are in bad shape. Time to add $0.20 a gallon to the gas tax for road repairs. Also time to look at the axle limits for heavy trucks - since Michigan does much less in the way of heavy manufacturing.
DonBee
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 : 11:38 p.m.
A decade ago, my car took 20 gallons to go 300 miles, today it takes 9. I drive about the same amount and put the same wear on the road, but use 1/2 the gasoline. To me (and I hate tax increases) this is not a tax increase, but returning it to where it was 10 years ago.
Diane
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 : 2:23 p.m.
We don't need any more taxes. Drive into Ohio. They have wonderful roads & side roads too. Many our guys need to go there for lessons.
WalkingJoe
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 : 1:15 p.m.
$0.20 more for a gallon of gas when gas prices are approaching $4.00 a gallon? How about just making sure the money collected now is being used properly. If I thought the people we have in changed would actually spend the money on roads I might go for this but they prove day in and day out that they don't have a clue.
Goober
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 : 11:18 a.m.
More taxes? How about reducing costs in other areas to make the money available to fix the roads? Time to reduce, not increase taxes.
Captain Splat
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 : 5:20 a.m.
Couldn't agree more DonBee. Gas tax hasn't even kept up with inflation while cost of road repair has kept going up up up
justcurious
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 : 3:07 a.m.
No new taxes needed. More fiscal responsibility with the money is needed.
Roadman
Mon, Jan 2, 2012 : 11:51 p.m.
Pittsfield Township roads are in dire need of attention. I hope local officials will be successful in getting funding to repair these eyesores.
Goober
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 : 11:17 a.m.
Most roads in this area are very bad. Our government officials have other priorities in mind - like life-long, high pensions, art, parking garages, buses, more buses and maybe a train system.
justcurious
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 : 3:07 a.m.
No more taxes or fees. More responsible spending is needed.