"Our transportation infrastructure is vital to the growth of both our state and national economy," Byrnes said. "Our infrastructure is literally crumbling around us. We need to find a stable funding source that will facilitate the mobility of people and goods throughout our state, as well as securing our ports of entry."
The task force was created by law to examine the current state of transportation funding and make recommendations for potential sources of transportation funding to replace or supplement the current 19-cent gas tax and the 15-cent state diesel tax. Speaker of the House Andy Dillon (D-Redford) said he appointed Byrnes to the nine-member task force because of her proven excellence dealing with transportation issues as both a former County Road Commissioner and as a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation.