Dearborn, MI - Today, Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) met with several of the 15th Congressional District’s Mayors and Township Supervisors to discuss the process of the surface transportation reauthorization program and the high-priority projects submitted by local communities. Following the meeting, the Congressman made these remarks:

“Michigan has some of the worst roads in the country.  In fact, according to the Highway Report Card published by Better Roads Magazine, Michigan was rated third overall in terms of worst roads.  I am hopeful that the investment from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the upcoming reauthorization of the surface transportation program will serve as a down payment towards improving Michigan’s potholes once and for all.  The High Priority Projects program is a critical to funding worthy state and local projects across the country.  Quite often this program funds projects that would not receive federal funding otherwise. 

“Our state continues to suffer from the highest unemployment rate in the nation – nearly 13 percent.  Here in Michigan, and other states that have been hard hit by the downturn in the economy, a good robust transportation bill would help our state begin to recover.  For every $1 billion invested in highway and transit funding, 35,000 direct jobs are created and more than $2 billion in economic activity is generated.  These are good paying jobs that are desperately needed in the 15th District of Michigan and across the state -- jobs that provide money to families to put food on the table and pay the electricity and water bills.  It is my hope that funding from the surface transportation reauthorization will go to projects that can begin construction immediately so that we can create jobs immediately.

“Those jobs will also increase revenues for the State.  Right now, we have little resources for much-needed infrastructure improvements. 

“Also, I intend to convey to my colleagues my strong desire to increase the percentage of funding Michigan receives from the Highway Trust Fund.  It is estimated that for every percentage increase, Michigan will see an additional $108 million in funding.  While our delegation has worked hard to increase the percent Michigan receives to the current 92.1, given our economic situation, Michigan can no longer afford to be a ‘donor’ state.”