Whitmer creates new state office to direct spending from federal infrastructure law - MLive.com
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer established a new state office to help direct federal funds coming to Michigan for roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects.
President Joe Biden signed the $1 trillion bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law last November, setting up states to receive billions of dollars to rebuild roads and bridges, replace lead water service pipes, expand high-speed internet and expand electric vehicle charging stations. The Michigan Infrastructure Office will work with the Legislature and other state departments to strategically coordinate resources.
Whitmer made “fixing the damn roads” a top campaign promise, but she’s been unable to negotiate a spending plan for local projects with the GOP-led Legislature. The governor’s $3.5 billion Rebuilding Michigan program is using municipal bonds to fix state roads, and Whitmer said it’s repaired 13,198 lane miles of road and 903 bridges in the last three years.
The 2022 state budget increased Michigan’s transportation budget by $129 million, including more money for bridges and state and local roads. The budget includes $196 million for repairing or replacing nearly 100 bridges in serious and critical condition, and another $19 million for dam repairs.
The federal infrastructure law will pour more funds into the state for new projects. Whitmer signed an executive order last November requiring state departments and agencies to coordinate with the Legislature on infrastructure investment.
“I am proud to establish the Michigan Infrastructure Office to effectively invest these incoming resources in communities across every region of our state,” Whitmer said in a statement. “By establishing this office, we can move full steam ahead toward continuing to improve commutes, keep families safe on the road, and create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs.”
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source: https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2022/01/whitmer-creates-new-state-office-to-direct-spending-from-federal-infrastructure-law.html
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