March 28, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

EFCA Empowers Employees

               There seems to be a lot of incorrect information being disseminated about the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) currently making its way through Congress. The text of the legislation states that it will “amend the National Labor Relatio...Read More

February 24, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, Michigan will receive approximately $847 million in highway and bridge funding, according to the Associated General Contractors (AGC). The state will also receive approximately $168 million for wastewater projects. This is welcome news for our industry and Michigan citizens who depend on the state’s infrastructure.

Another breakdown by urban areas in the state shows how much highway funding urbanized areas with over 200,000 population will receive. Detroit will receive approximately $100 million in funding under the legislation; Grand Rapids will receive approximately $14 million; Flint will receive approximately $9 million; Lansing will receive approximately $8 million and Ann Arbor will receive approximately $7 million.

For all infrastructure investment in the legislation, the goal is for 50...Read More

February 2, 2009 | Link This | Email this | Comments (1)

America’s infrastructure is crumbling. The "2009 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure" produced by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave roads a D- and bridges a C. The report rated one-third of the nation’s major roads in poor or mediocre condition and said that 36 percent of major urban highways are congested. It concluded that "the current spending level of $70.3 billion per year for highway capital improvements is well below the estimated $186 billion needed annually to substantially improve the nation’s highways."

The report card also concluded that over 26 percent of the nation’s bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. The report said that "a $17 billion annual investment is needed to substantially improve current bridge conditions. Currently, only $10.5 billion is spent a...Read More

December 27, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

State Fails To Act

               Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and the Michigan legislature failed to act on increasing transportation investment in Michigan’s deterio...Read More

May 1, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (4)

The Perfect Storm

By the County Road Association of Michigan

     The winter of 2008 developed into the “perfect storm” for Michigan’s county road commissions. After experiencing years of flat or decreasing revenues and sky rocketing costs, a winter with higher than average snowfalls has hit local road agencies especially hard.

     Before winter arrived, reductions in staffing were already impacting the snow removal season. M...Read More