Road Kill News: Vol. I, Issue IV

Well, I think I am getting the Volume and Issue thing straight. Maybe...

Here is the Road Kill News(c) for another week. Stuff that has something to do with the shape of roads in Michigan - or not. You decide. Just click on the headlines to read.

Why do truck weigh stations seem like they're always closed?

From Michigan Public Radio. How can a weigh station enforce fines on overweight trucks, which some think are destroying our roads, if they always seem to be closed?

AAA says more than a million Michiganders rushing to catch last of the summer sun

Seems like more people are driving this Labor Day, partly because gas is cheaper. Would you be willing to pay a bit extra at the pump to get better roads. Our ignorant  clueless nice lawmakers in Lansing don't think so.

State says lease payments to end soon on idle rail cars 

State pays $3,000-a-day lease payments on idle train cars - $10 million since 2010 - before finally figuring it's not a good idea. No wonder there is so little money for roads. WTF!

Investigation finds Courser-Gamrat "committed misconduct" and are "not credible witnesses" 

Those of us not living under a rock the past few weeks know about this. But the photos of them in this Michigan Radio article are creepy: Their staring right at you! Now some think this is going to keep the hired help in Lansing too busy to come up with a Compromise Road Funding Bill in September. Thanks to two Tea Party lawmakers acting like hormone engorged unchaperoned teenagers under the high school bleachers. How's that working out for ya kids?

Michigan’s Local Leaders Turn Against Zombie Republican Lawmakers

From the Democracy Tree website. The opening paragraph says it all about 'Zombie Lawmakers' -

"The Courser-Gamrat affair, while tawdry in its details, remains the act of two nutty freshmen lawmakers, and simply does not rise to the ethically criminal category found in the dereliction of duty of Republican leadership in Lansing."

Zombie Lawmakers simply don't get things done in Lansing. Why? 

Contact me on this site and if you get it right, I'll send you a FREE BUMPER STICKER!!

 Hint: What zombie nourishment is missing in the Lansing capitol?


Drive Careful,
Will

I Hope The Highway Trust Fund Bill in Washington Fails

Did you know that the Highway Trust Fund runs out of money on July 31st ? This will cause construction on transportation projects across the country to grind to a halt.

The Highway Trust Fund is a transportation fund in the United States which receives money from a federal fuel tax of 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel fuel and related excise taxes. In part the Fund provides money to states which funds road construction and repair. It was established in 1956 to finance the United States Interstate Highway System and certain other roads.

Well I think I hope it does run out. That they do NOT pass it. But let me explain...

WASHINGTON -- The Senate inched forward Friday on a $45 billion, three-year bill to fund the nation's highways, bridges and roads -- one week before all funding runs out. Senators voted 51-26 on a procedural motion that puts the bill one step closer to final passage. - Jennifer Bendery White House and congressional reporter, The Huffington Post, 07/24/2015

Now what would Lansing lawmakers say if the Highway Bill failed in Washington D.C. and the funds it provides to Michigan stopped flowing to our road projects? Would they complain that the Reps in D.C. are 'not doing their job' by failing to get Michigan their share of federal money for roads ? Would they cry and complain like babies?

Well probably yes. At first. But then I think this might happen.

Our hired help in Lansing might stop to remind themselves that their job is, in part, to fulfill the requirements of the Michigan State Constitution. That hallowed document in part states that it is their sworn duty to 'keep Michigan roads in reasonable repair'. Then they might take note of a recent study that shows more than half of Detroit, Flint and Grand Rapids' roads are in poor condition, even dangerous. This study was put together by the transportation research group TRIP. That makes Michigan roads, the roads they are responsible for, some of the worst in the nation!

And to move things along in Washington, they may draft a letter to Congress urging them to act appropriately and approve funding of the Highway Bill for future years, so Michigan can keep it's roads in safe and 'reasonable repair'. Just like the Michigan constitution requires.

They may come to understand and empathize with the struggle Michigan drivers have dealing with the repair costs associated with Michigan's crumbling roads. These costs affect motorists in Detroit, Flint and Grand Rapids who pay over $800 in additional annual upkeep because of poor road conditions. Lansing drivers paying an extra $733 annual extra vehicle operating cost and Ann Arbor drivers forking out up to $571 in annual repair bills.

And at last our noble Michigan legislators might come to realize the hypocrisy of their own actions over the last several years, specifically their inaction to fund our own road repairs, and make the lofty decision to come together in a show of bi-partisanship and compromise and finally levy the needed taxes, make the budget changes and do whatever is necessary to finally make Michigan roads not the Worst In The Nation, but the most envied in the nation. An admirable goal for the state which is the cradle of the worlds greatest automobile industry.

Naaaww - Who am I kidding! I hope the Highway Trust Fund extension bill passes in congress and we get our needed federal road money. Because nothing will change in Lansing. Our Michigan lawmakers are useless and they have proved it. Under their leadership, or lack thereof, Michigan ranks second to last in state per-capita spending on roads and will continue in that ranking because Michigan legislators that are as lousy at their job as our roads.

And that's why I hope the Highway Trust Find bill passes.

Drive Careful,
Will

Don't forget to get your "Fix Our Roads" bumper sticker!

If you already have one then get another.Some of our state representatives are slow readers.

All We Are Saying Is Give Mayors A Chance

"As state leaders drive around Plan B for how to fix Michigan roads, they need to bring to the table those people residents trust most and are looking to for solutions: mayors." - The Detroit News, May 20,2015

So how about it? Do you trust the mayor of your city? Can mayors come up with solutions to fix our lousy Michigan roads? Do you even know who the mayor of your city is?

Well I just read an article in the Detroit News by William Wild, the mayor of Westland, Michigan. He makes the point that while he and other city mayors supported Proposal 1, with money earmarked specifically for local communities, one reason it failed was because Michigan mayors were not really involved. He stated that Proposal 1 "did not have local leaders helping to craft the proposal or engaging them before rolling out the plan."

While he is right about the fact that mayors were generally not involved in crafting Prop. 1, I live in a township. I am not sure it would have made any difference if my township supervisor or clerk would have asked me to vote for Prop. 1 or had told me that he/she wrote some of it. I still did not like it and I made that decision all by myself. Good for me.

In fact, according to my township web site, the township "does not maintain any roads in the Township. Issues regarding chloride, paving and snowplowing should be directed to the Road Commission of Oakland County". So much for anyone in my city/township government having much pull when it comes to fixing roads.

A U.S. Conference of Mayors/Zogby poll explains that while American trust in elected leaders has declined, mayors rank higher among the public than the president, their governor, Congress and their state legislature.

As to whether state mayors should now be a part of the elusive Plan B, well so far not even the governor or the state legislature seems to be a part of it. Or what they are coming up with so far amounts to pipe dreams; a Republican state lawmaker plan to use projected growth in the state budget to fix Michigan’s roads is downright laughable.

"...the legislature is saying 'our economy is doing great, and it will fix the roads all by itself. Just you watch'. Makes me think an alternate reality exists in Lansing where economist and lawmakers (one Kevin Cotter in particular) float high above the States crappy infrastructure and voters expect nothing more than the pleasantness of fantasy induced smoke being blown up their ... - Will Branning commenting on Michigan Radio article.

In the end, if you and I want better roads in our great state of Michigan, no matter what your reason, then you and I are the only ones who will make that happen. Contact the Governor. Contact your state Representative. Contact the news outlets. Tell them what you want. Better Michigan roads! It's their job. It's in the Michigan constitution. It's the right thing to do. Amen.

Oh, and to really make things happen, why not order your "Fix Our Roads" bumper sticker today? Place one on the ass end of your vehicle and show it to all the people who can make a difference with our roads. Proceeds may or may not be used in the campaign to make a difference. Anyway, they are cheap but of quality materials and cute to boot.

Get Your Bumper Sticker Today !

Just click the photo, or go to the tab at the top of the page. Thanks a Lot!


Detroit News article: 
Mayors should be part of Plan B conversation


Drive Careful,
Will