LANSING – Speaker Pro Tempore Pam Byrnes (D-Lyndon Township) applauded the signing of a bill on Tuesday that authorizes Michigan to spend $873 million of federal recovery money. These dollars will fund hundreds of road and transit projects that will create approximately 25,000 jobs.
"This law allows the state to repair and restore our crumbling transportation infrastructure," Byrnes said. "It's no secret that both our economy and roads need improvement. This is an economic issue that transcends partisan politics. In order to attract businesses to Michigan, we have to make improvements to our infrastructure."
These federal funds come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for shovel-ready projects such as road resurfacing, rehabilitation and bridge repair. This includes $24.4 million for repairs and resurfacing of I-94 in Washtenaw County.
Other local projects which are in line for enhancement funds include:
- $2.5 million to purchase four buses for the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority.
- $500,000 to restore the historic Ypsilanti Freighthouse.
- $100,000 to resurface roads in Dexter.
"It is encouraging that this legislation was able to move expeditiously and with bipartisan support," Byrnes said. "Maintaining our transportation infrastructure is not a Democratic or Republican issue. Our ability to attract and retain business and talent is directly related to our ability to safely and effectively move people and goods."