83 COUNTY ROAD AGENCIES

MANY ROLES MICHIGAN COUNTY ROAD AGENCIES: WHAT WE DO...

IMPORTANT ROLES: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EMERGENCY RESPONSE TOURISM PARTNER

CORE VALUES: INNOVATION EFFICIENCY COLLABORATION Michigan’s many community routes are largely maintained by 83 county road agencies.

Michigan’s 83 county road agencies are key contributors to quality of life in the 21st century.

County road agencies are responsible for Across Michigan’s 83 counties, county road 75 percent of Michigan’s road system. They agencies employ thousands of hard-working also maintain highways and roads under men and women to plow, patch, paint, salt, contract for the Michigan Department of brine, clean, mow, map, finance, grade, Transportation in 64 counties. preserve, resurface and reconstruct 90,000 miles of roads and 31 billion square feet of Michigan has the nation’s 4th-largest local public right-of-way. road network, stretching from Luna Pier to the Soo to Ironwood and about 533 other We have large trucks, busy plows, long hours cities and villages. As a “Water Wonderland,” and big hearts for our communities. Michigan also has 5,700 local bridges that Being responsible for most Michigan roads is require constant attention. a big job, and we’ve been performing it on a very modest budget for over 100 years.*

* Legislatively-required PA 51 reports indicate that county road agencies spend approximately 8 percent of annual budgets on administrative overhead.

15 ONE ROAD COMMISSION

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Jim Iwanicki, PE, engineer-manager (left) of the Marquette County Road Commission (MCRC), and Matt Johnson, Eagle Mine external affairs director, inspect a section of M-112, which was built under the direction of MCRC to facilitate a major new mining facility.

COUNTY ROAD AGENCIES ALLOW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Good roads create jobs. Not only road An important factor that can limit business building jobs, but jobs all across Michigan’s recruitment and economic development is an economy. Good jobs link Michigan’s under-resourced local road and bridge system. natural resources, agricultural products and Most county roads aren’t built for today’s factories with value-added opportunities commercial trucks and agricultural equipment, and global markets. which can reduce the state’s economic competitiveness.

Half of Michigan local roads are unpaved, If the apples get bruised while being and most local and county roads are in fair to transported on a bumpy road, the ripple effect poor condition. spreads far beyond West Michigan.*

*Anecdote cited in Governor’s 21st Century Economy Commission, as reported by chairman Sandy Baruah at the Mackinac Policy Conference – Detroit Chamber of Commerce, June 2017.

2 County Road Association of Michigan HERE’S HOW IT’S DONE. Public-private partnership (P3) in Marquette builds 33 miles and three bridges in 2.5 years allowing a nickel and copper mine to create 450 jobs in the UP.

In 2002, mineral prospectors working “An all-season road would allay that In March 2013 the deal was near Big Bay in Marquette County concern for all 365 days a year, struck. discovered rich deposits of nickel and allowing the mine to fully load its Eagle Mine put $44 million for roads copper. Over the years, the Eagle trucks.” on the table, and the MCRC acted as Mine Company probed the resources “We would not have a business if we construction manager to get the job and made a decision to open a new had to abide by road restrictions done. MCRC was able to secure state underground mine– an economic several weeks each spring. In order funding to improve three other boon to the Upper Peninsula. to build and have successful mining bridges on the route. “Sometimes it’s lost on society, that operations, we had to be able to haul Three months later ground was mining is the beginning of everything. full loads year-round seven days a broken–and before It is the very beginning of the wealth week,” Johnson said. snow settled over the area in 2014, generation cycle,” said Matt Johnson, the mine was in operation. Eagle Mine Company’s external affairs To maintain safe driving conditions in manager based in Champion, winter, MCRC and Eagle Mine have a Michigan. 33.5 MILES second ongoing P3 that uses private Unfortunately, the only route to funds so the road commission can begin this particular cycle was a 3 BRIDGES plow, sand and maintain the road winding 66-mile route to the mill that around the clock. was partly a dirt two-track for 11 2.5 YEARS Today, the Eagle Mine has 450 miles and an unimproved paved road well-paid, skilled mining jobs, which for another 22 miles into the City of led to a $400 million renovation and Marquette. 450 JOBS more jobs at a 60-year-old brownfield “One of the challenges we faced site, the Humboldt Mill, a former was how to transport ore to the open pit iron ore mine and processing Humboldt mill,” Johnson said. “Our facility. trucks made 45 round-trips hauling Eagle Mine and Marquette County “Altogether, this project is creating a total of 2,000 tons of ore per day, Road Commission (MCRC) began to $1 billion of economic impact to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” work out a public-private partnership (P3) to upgrade two bridges, build Marquette County over the life of the “One of the concerns of Eagle Mine one new bridge, improve 22 miles of mine. The multiplier effect supports was the effect of seasonal weight paved road and pave 11 miles of dirt 2,000 additional jobs in the restrictions on the local road,” he said. road to a standard that would community,” Johnson said. support the mine’s trucking needs. “Without the road, these 450 jobs would not exist. The Marquette County Road Commission is truly a partner in the success of the Eagle Eagle Mine Mine,” Johnson concluded.

3 ONE ROAD COMMISSION

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

A 1,000-year rainstorm in northwestern Gogebic County in 2016 devastated the road and stranded families as torrential water rushed into Lake Superior. The Gogebic County Road Commission took emergency action to restore road access before winter.

COUNTY ROAD AGENCIES ARE EMERGENCY “PRE-RESPONDERS.”

Society depends on police, EMTs and Or cordoning off flooded roads until a firefighters, but when Mother Nature is raining determination is made whether the road or down fury these traditional first responders bridge is safe for first responders and other sometimes can’t get to the emergency until public travel. county road agency “pre-responders” clear the In July 2016, eight inches of rain fell in Gogebic roads first. County and washed out 30 bridges and That often means county road maintenance culverts, stranding 20 families living along Lake operators are called from snug beds in the wee Superior. The next summer up to seven inches hours of the morning, grabbing chainsaws from of rain closed 724 roads in Central Michigan, the road commission garage and braving a dark some for months. and stormy night to get trees off the road. Working in rain, sleet and snow, the county road Or clearing snow off a residential street for the agency team operates around the clock fulfilling third time in one day, so a very ill person can its legislative charter: To operate a safe and get to dialysis or a hospital. efficient local road system in any circumstance.

4 County Road Association of Michigan HERE’S HOW IT’S DONE.

“We had roads so full of trees you three hours, causing extreme damage couldn’t walk on them,” said Jim to the roads in Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Johnson, PE, engineer for LCRC. “That Isabella and Midland counties. very night we opened up several roads At one point, the Isabella County beginning with M-22, the most-traveled Road Commission (ICRC) had 50 road.” The LCRC focused the vast different roads closed, half to flooding majority of its resources on re-opening and the other half completely washed the local roads in Leelanau County. It out, according to Tony Casali, ICRC took a month, with LCRC assisted by manager. None of them were safe for Michigan State Police (MSP) emergency public travel. Downstream, Midland management personnel and its County Road Commission reported contractors, as well as work crews 105 closed roads and $13 million in from the local prison. Thousands of trees blocked routes out of the infrastructure damage. Leelanau Peninsula after a 2015 wind storm. Because it was summer, many seasonal County road commission crews residents were in town to clear fallen worked around the clock to ensure trees. And most of them stacked wood Straight-line winds knocked the areas were properly signed and by the road and expected the road down thousands of trees, and blockaded, tested for stability and safe commission to take care of it, Johnson closed the Glen Arbor area before being re-opened to the public said. For six months LCRC hauled for three days. –some of whom were stranded in residents’ wood to county property their homes. On a sunny, lazy Sunday afternoon in next to a park, where it was chipped by August 2015, the up-north tranquility a MSP contractor. Weeks later, many roads were still was split by an unexpected straight-line closed as culverts had washed out and Altogether, the road commission wind shear of 80 to 100 miles per hour. entire sections of road buckled, caved hauled a couple thousand semi-loads of It cut a swath across the Leelanau in or shifted on an unstable soil base. wood debris. Peninsula, including Michigan’s iconic The area was declared a disaster zone Sleeping Bear Dunes, with damage seen Surprisingly, the falling trees caused by Michigan’s Lieutenant Governor as far east as Kalkaska. only minor damage to the road system. and damage to the road system Tens of thousands of trees were felled, There was impact to the road reached many millions of dollars. completely closing off all roads to the commission’s fiscal and work plans, Glen Arbor area, including scenic Glen however. Lake and the popular Glen Arbor “We got some federal aid reimburse- Resort, crowded with vacationers. ment, probably 20 percent of our Eight thousand people were without expenses,” said Dan Wagner, PE, LCRC power, and the utility companies managing director. “The cost of this couldn’t get to work until the roads storm was born almost entirely out of were cleared and made safe for travel our regular budget, and we didn’t get by the road commission. to finish our 2015 projects.” The tourism-dependent local economy came to a grinding halt. Mega-rain hits Central Michigan, closing 724 miles Immediately, the Leelanau County of roads Road Commission (LCRC) called in a full crew with chainsaws and heavy Who doesn’t like a little summer Water is the number-one enemy of roads. equipment to get trees off the road, rainstorm? Well on June 22, 2017, A seven-inch rainstorm in Midland County working in step with the local fire such a summer storm poured out caused this catastrophic failure of the road department and power company. three to seven inches of rain over to occur within minutes.

5 ONE ROAD COMMISSION

HEALTHY TOURISM PARTNER

Photo: David Clark

Photo: Mike Calabro

Poor road conditions were threatening the livelihood of hotels and restaurants at the tip of Michigan’s , because of damage to tourists’ vehicles and road safety concerns.

COUNTY ROAD AGENCIES ARE TRAVEL BOOSTERS.

More than 113 million travelers explore 80 percent of the tourism dollars spent in Michigan’s mittens every year, many attracted Michigan, and many of the best destinations are by the state’s $13 million Pure Michigan® found on scenic rural roads maintained by campaign. Among them are RVers, county road agencies. motorcyclists and millions of drivers pursuing Having a relaxing Michigan travel experience Michigan’s top draws: Unique vacation includes having a smooth ride to your experiences, family fun, great sightseeing destination without damage to your car, truck, (including fall colors) and a sense of adventure. cycle or recreational vehicle. About 326,000 Michigan jobs depend on tourism, which is the state’s third-leading economic sector. Overnight trips account for

6 County Road Association of Michigan HERE’S HOW IT’S DONE. Creative road repairs preserve tourism industry around a Lake Superior coastal gem.

Great views, fall colors and adventure However, slammed by >240 inches of We made the road better for tourists come together on Michigan’s famed snow a year and suffering from and local businesses, by stretching out 10-mile Brockway Mountain Drive, inadequate road funding, the potholes our funds with shorter segments of which runs along the northern edge of and rough ride were driving surfacing.” the Keweenaw Peninsula up to 1320 recreational travelers away. With Brockway Mountain Drive has been feet above sea level. Located just west social media quickly relaying the restored to drivable condition – of Copper Harbor (population: 108), Brockway Mountain Drive pavement although the need for more extensive the drive was constructed in 1933 in a conditions, tourists made other plans. repairs remains – and the hotels and Depression-era works program, and is Local businesses began feeling the restaurants like the Mariner North maintained by the Keweenaw County pinch of decline. Resort have remained open. Road Commission. (KCRC) “We were hearing from our hotel and Such stories are repeated across the Breathtaking views of Lake Superior, restaurant operators that the road state: Healthy tourism and 326,000 the Upper Peninsula and , was so bad it was deterring some tourism-related jobs* are supported make Brockway Mountain Drive one of tourists from going up there,” said by visitors having a “good ride” on the Midwest’s true travel gems. It has Gregg Patrick, PE, engineer-manager Michigan’s local roads. been lauded in , of the KCRC. Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, *2014 Economic Impact of Travel in Michigan KCRC came up with a plan. Midwest Living, HOG magazine and by Tourism Economics, an Oxford NBC’s Today Show, and is on the “With our dwindling budget, no way Economics Company. National Register of Historic Places. can we afford to fix the whole nine Bicycling magazine called it “the most miles,” Patrick said. “So in 2015, we beautiful bike ride in the United made two miles of patches with States.” crush-and-shape and double chip seal.

LETTER FROM MARINER Before the [Keweenaw County Road NORTH, LLC Commission] made some surface repairs, the information circulating amongst My wife, Peg, and I have been in business Corvette clubs, antique car clubs and RVs “ here for 40 years so we truly understand was to stay off the Mountain Drive for the value to this community of the fear of vehicle damage or loss of control Brockway Mountain Drive. with bikes. In recent years, Milwaukee celebrated We personally spoke to many individuals the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle 100 over the years who were concerned Year Anniversary. Around that time, about the rumors, and in all honesty M-26 from Copper Harbor to Eagle could not advise them to take their River, MI, was designated a “top 20” vehicles over the Drive. motorcycle ride in the US by HOG We at the Mariner North have always magazine. Consequently, we were visited contended that our product is our by thousands of motorcycles over the terrain and there is no better way to Gregg Patrick, PE, engineer-manager of the following years. experience that than the view from the Keweenaw County Road Commission (left) Those who tried Brockway Mountain top of the Brockway Mountain Drive. with Peggy and Donald Kauppi, outside the Drive immediately used whatever media ” Mariner North Resort in Copper Harbor. to inform other bikers to stay away from Sincerely, [the road] because the current road Donald & Peggy Kauppi conditions were too dangerous. Owners, Mariner North Resort

7 CORE VALUES

Kristin Dronchi, clerk/office manager for the Newaygo County Road Commission (NCRC), shows the automatic vehicle location system that tracks NCRC trucks to improve efficiency of operations and document activities of its fleet.

INNOVATION TECH2 : NEW TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGY INCLUDING AUTONOMOUS TRAVEL

Michigan can’t drive ahead if road innovation Road agencies must accommodate new types is at a standstill! of technology in the public ROW, while ensuring the original ROW purpose: Water drainage and Every road agency in Michigan has a state- a safe zone for vehicles intentionally or licensed professional engineer (PE) on staff or unintentionally leaving the roadway. Michigan on contract, along with many other innovative, county road agencies – like those across the industrious staff. And they’re always reading country – are working for fair, functional about and trying new techniques. In recent solutions to incorporate technology in the years those include: limited real estate of the public ROW.

® • Mortarless and LowSpan bridges County road agencies are highly networked and • Single and double roundabouts connected through professional associations • Automatic vehicle location systems and work groups, district councils, conferences, • Paving fabric and high-friction surfaces online messaging boards and communications from the County Road Association of Michigan. Looking to the future, county road agencies Best practices are frequently shared, innovative must fulfill the mission of a safe and efficient equipment demonstrated, technology reviewed, county transportation system and public and new federal and state guidelines interpreted right-of-way (ROW), which remains the to benefit the county road system. conduit to people’s homes, work and play.

8 County Road Association of Michigan HERE’S HOW IT’S DONE. Road Commission for Oakland County helping prepare local roads for connected, autonomous vehicles.

At the intersection of the Motor City The system is not just providing safer (SPaT) data with vehicles, to help and Michigan’s high-tech corridor, the and more efficient travel, it is also them anticipate when an approaching Road Commission for Oakland one element of “connected-vehicle” traffic signal is going to change. County (RCOC) is leading the charge technology. Sharing data with vehicles is also one to help self-driving cars travel the Connected-vehicle technology is of the steps needed to enable the area’s 2,700-plus miles of roads for allowing vehicles to talk to each auto industry to move from which it bears responsibility. other and to the road infrastructure connected to autonomous vehicles. RCOC has been on the cutting edge in order to avoid collisions and RCOC was a founding member and of road-related technology for more improve traffic flow. RCOC is also remains active in the Intelligent than 25 years. The agency was the involved in many other connected- Transportation Society of Michigan first to introduce an “adaptive” vehicle initiatives. (ITS Michigan) and the state chapter traffic-signal system in 1992 (the For example, the agency is working of ITS American, which is the trade signals adjust automatically based on with auto manufacturers and association chartered by Congress traffic present). Today, RCOC has the suppliers as well as the Federal to bring together public, private and second-largest such system in the Highway Administration and Michigan academic sectors to develop and nation. Department of Transportation on deploy advanced transportation several initiatives to potentially technology. share traffic-signal phase and timing

Dennis Kolar, PE, managing director/secretary-clerk of the Road Commission for Oakland County, reviewing road conditions at the desk of Oakland’s tech-driven Traffic Control Center.

9 CORE VALUES

EFFICIENCY: CREATIVELY DOING MORE WITH LIMITED ROAD RESOURCES

Most county road agencies have 40 to 50 Advantages of participation in the County percent fewer staff than a decade ago. From Road Association of Michigan are the 1997 through 2017, there was no significant networking and educational opportunities to increase in funds to county road agencies – county road agencies across the state. even as costs for fuel, asphalt, steel and other They share knowledge and ideas among all materials steadily rose. types of road agency staff from finance Doing more with less and on a tight budget directors and superintendents, to engineers has been a way of life. and commissioners.

Sharing seasonal employees in Newaygo County.

A challenge faced by many county road commission staff and helped them The arrangement is a step above agencies in tight fiscal times is finding attain the Commercial Driver privatizing in that it maintains properly licensed snowplow operators Licenses (CDL) needed to drive consistent, qualified, trained to quickly address winter conditions, snowplow trucks and other heavy employees. It’s a win-win-win for yet being unable to keep them equipment. the county, the road commission employed the rest of the year due to and the employees. Now NCRC gets the same three minimal road improvement projects. trained employees back every year, the The Newaygo County Road employees have more job stability, and Commission (NCRC) found a the county saves significant funds by creative solution by partnering with not having to pay full freight for laid-off the Newaygo County Drain employees’ salaries and benefits. Commission, according to NCRC Extending the partnership, in summer manager Kelly Smith. the drain commissioner often uses Because the drain commission staff NCRC to maintain some of its ditches does most of its work in spring and culverts and to do site design through early fall, a few of its work– providing another income employees were being laid off every stream to help balance the road fall. NCRC trained three drain commission’s bottom line.

10 County Road Association of Michigan HERE’S HOW IT’S DONE. COST SAVING ACHIEVEMENTS St. Clair County Road Commission’s public-private partnership (P3) in the garage. Reduction of fleet size by eight trucks. With vehicles operational 99 percent of the time, fewer trucks are needed.

Provision of modern mechanic and diagnostic equipment by FVS.

Reduction in workers’ compensation rates,

including some of the lowest incident rates among road commissions.

Elimination of $600,000 St. Clair County Road Commission managing director Kirk Weston (left) poses with in on-site parts inventory, Todd Rumball of First Vehicle Services (FVS), which is the road commission’s public- while increasing parts availability. private in-house mechanic service.

With its own take on maximizing SCCRC led the effort and put out a call Elimination of mechanic available resources, in 2009 the St. for proposals. All involved parties certification, recertification Clair County Road Commission conducted public interviews, settling and associated (SCCRC) began considering the on First Vehicle Services (FVS) in training costs. possibility of having a commercial January 2010. mechanic service take over its on-site Through the transition to a privatized fleet management in a leading-edge mechanic service, SCCRC retained all public-private partnership (P3). of its garage staff, as they were already “We knew we had some efficiency CDL licensed. issues within our shop,” said Kirk Savings for the road commission have “When we staffed our own garage, I Weston, SCCRC managing director. totaled upwards of $1 million over the would walk over there two and a half “The main thing we wanted was last seven years, Weston reported. hours after a storm started, and it was better availability of our fleet.” “We rolled those dollars back into full of yellow vehicles,” Weston said. Weston initiated collaborative our fleet and onto the roads.” “Today when I walk out into the discussions with the county “We pay a flat rate with First Vehicle garage, there is never a backlog of commission, the sheriff’s department, Services, so if there’s a snow call out vehicles.” the drain commissioner’s office and we don’t experience the overtime “These guys are doing a good job for us county parks department. Ultimately, costs associated with it,” Weston said. on preventative maintenance. That way all five agencies agreed to find a fleet “And with their parts availability, if we we’re able to work on the roads when management contractor to service have a truck down at 3 o’clock in the the work needs to be done and better everything from large road commission afternoon, by start time the next day serve the drivers in St. Clair County.” equipment to police squad cars, lawn they have it ready to go.” mowers and other light equipment.

11 CORE VALUES

The 2018 County Road Association of Michigan Highway Conference brought together over 1,100 road agency staff, commissioners and stakeholders to learn, network and see new products and technologies to improve county road management.

COLLABORATION: FOR BETTER RESULTS

Michigan’s 83 county road agencies are very “Frugal Five”) of managing directors, several involved in community relations. First, it’s good annual statewide meetings, and one statewide business. association: The 100-year-strong County Road Association of Michigan. Second, state law requires that Michigan Transportation Fund dollars may be expended for construction purposes on county local roads only to the extent that the dollars are matched by money from other sources. That requires everyone to work together. CRA is also affiliated with the Roads+™ political Road agencies also share best practices and ideas action committee to search out and promote among themselves on a regular basis, which helps quality candidates for Michigan legislative offices advance good ideas across the state. County road who will advocate for good local roads and agencies have nine CRA District Councils that support county road agencies. meet quarterly, several standing committees to address specialized needs of county road agencies, “neighborhood groups” (like the

12 County Road Association of Michigan HERE’S HOW IT’S DONE. Road commission meets with townships, participates in business fairs

The Kent County Road Commission projects, explore best practices and (KCRC) likes to build positive develop mutual aid strategies. intergovernmental relationships, even Getting the most “bang for the buck” while it rebuilds Michigan roads to is vital, and KCRC increases purchasing keep Kent County moving. power for area transportation “Residents don’t see ‘primary’ or agencies, local units of government, ‘local,’ they just see roads,” said Steve and other institutions by serving as the Warren, managing director of KCRC administrative buying agent to garner and 2017 president of the County lower unit pricing through higher Road Association of Michigan. “That’s volume buying. why KCRC is committed to investing KCRC also collaborates with other in both systems.” Michael DeVries, supervisor of Grand rural road commissions to enhance Rapids Township (left) and Kent County Through its local road matching their efficiencies in several ways. For Road Commission managing director Steve program, KCRC partners with each one, administering federal aid jobs can Warren cultivate ongoing communication of its 21 townships to select local be burdensome to rural agencies. That’s and partnership. projects for the upcoming why KCRC partners with rural road construction season based on the commissions like Montcalm and principles of asset management and Newaygo in the new statewide Federal available township contributions. Aid Exchange Program. This exchange allows the rural agencies to exchange Communication with townships is an their federal aid with an urban agency ongoing process throughout the year like KCRC, receiving less restrictive that includes visits and field trips to funds to complete projects with less individual townships as well as annual expense and red tape, and lets KCRC KCRC events like its fall Township use the exchanged dollars to expedite Dinner and spring Township Picnic. LOCAL GOVERMENT completion of larger federal aid projects. OPINIONS ON COUNTY Ongoing coordination also occurs “Our focus on intergovernmental ROAD AGENCIES between KCRC and the cities and communication and collaboration villages within Kent County through results in a winning strategy for KCRC, 78% the Metro Public Works Committee. our partners, and the residents and of local governments KCRC hosts monthly meetings to businesses of Kent County,” Warren self-reported having a “good” coordinate road improvement said. relationship with their county road agency.

Trusted in the community. 76% say county road agencies provide timely response. Local government partners support As much as we’d like to hit 100 county road agencies! In 2015, a 360o percent approval with all partners, CLOSUP Public Policy Survey by the this data reflects a very good job 68% University of Michigan looked at the using minimal funds to address say county road agencies relationships between county road competing interests in often difficult are “fair” and agencies and their local government circumstances. 68 percent approve overall of partners. their county road agency.

13 DID YOU KNOW?

As Michigan’s second-largest industry, agriculture and implements of husbandry depend on local roads. Ag equipment also places significant demands on a system with crumbling roads and inadequate bridges and culverts.

AGRICULTURE, MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU AND COUNTY ROAD COMMISSIONS GO WAY BACK!

In the late 1800s, townships were responsible roads, so that the agricultural sector of for the development of Michigan’s road system. Michigan’s economy could reach the market With no dedicated road taxes, development hubs, cities and railroads. depended on local volunteers – and even the The Michigan Association of Road occasional Road Bee Day held in mid-June. Commissioners and Engineers (now the The uneven advancement of the road system County Road Association of Michigan) was and differences between neighboring townships created just two years earlier. At the time, created havoc for farmers trying to bring goods about 56 counties had voted to create a road to market. commission.* Today’s formidable Michigan Farm Bureau Maintaining Michigan’s network of local roads, organization was created in February 1919, in bridges and culverts remains an important large part to help develop Michigan’s rural aspect of county road agency work.

* From A History of Michigan Roads, co-authored by Dorothy Pohl, CPA, managing director/clerk of the Ionia County Road Commission, and Norman Brown, Michigan Department of Transportation.

14 County Road Association of Michigan COUNTY ROADS AND THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY.

The right-of-way (ROW) concept for poles were installed in the ROW. As • gas lines local roads was created in 1909 to telephone service came to Michigan, • water and sewer pipes provide adequate space on either side it often shared the electrical pole. • sidewalks and bike paths of the road for shoulders, runoff and County road agencies’ management All of these are either utilities or a safe recovery area for vehicles that of the ROW includes oversight of the allowable ancillary uses of the right-of leave the road surface. development and deployment of way. Yet they must be properly County road agencies have oversight non-road infrastructure such as: managed for safety and to of the public ROW, which is typically accommodate future road work, road • electrical and telecommunications a distance of 66 feet (as illustrated expansion and other utilities. poles, small cell, cable and fiber here) –33 feet on either side of the centerline. All told, there are an estimated 31 billion square feet of ROW along county roads! 66’ RIGHT-OF-WAY

Road agencies actively manage the road ROW through a variety of activities that may include mowing, ditching, controlling or removing brushy vegetation and trees, regrading, guardrail placement and repair, and sign and signal placement, maintenance and repair. CL Utilities in the ROW During the electrification of rural VARIES 0-4’ 8-12’ 8-12’ 0-4’ VARIES DITCH SHOULDER TRAVEL TRAVEL SHOULDER DITCH Michigan in the 1930s, the first utility LANE LANE

THE STORY OF ROAD FUNDING.

In 2015 the Michigan Legislature The crown jewel of the package was passed a landmark 12-bill $1.2 billion in new road funding, that transportation package to address gradually increases from 2017 through 18% Michigan’s crumbling roads and 2021, and thereafter is indexed to bridges. The bill included fuel tax inflation. While it is half what the increases as well as tax parity on experts said was needed to improve 48% diesel fuel; a modest increase in roads, the dollars will assist in slowing 2017 vehicle registration fees; expansion of the deterioration of Michigan’s the Homestead Property Tax credit; 122,000 miles of local roads and state 34% the first charges on alternative fuel highways, and 11,000 bridges. vehicles; a new Local Pavement It will require decades to return Warranty Program that all county the road system to mostly “good” road agencies, cities and villages must rated roads. adopt; and revenue directly Good Fair Poor appropriated by the Michigan Legislature from income tax revenues Source: Transportation Asset and deposited into the Michigan Management Council Pavement Ratings for 26,900 miles Dashboard, April 2017. Transportation Fund. of local roads that are eligible for federal aid. 15 WHERE IT COMES FROM.

Michigan road revenue comes County road agencies may receive primarily from fuel tax and vehicle extra dollars for rural all-season 5% registration fees, about $2.7 billion in roads, mitigation and congestion, 10% nearly equal amounts. These funds forest roads, economic development are historically Constitutionally and job creation roads, and above- dedicated to the Michigan average snowfall. Transportation Fund (MTF). However, 19% The County Road Association can 2016 half of the new dollars ($600 million) 55% provide additional information on the in the 2015 package is legislatively MTF if needed. appropriated from income tax 11% revenue and moves directly into the MTF. The MTF is a complex formula that addresses a complex multi-modal State Sources (MTF, programs, state approp.) transportation system. It distributes Source: Transportation Asset Management Council Finance funds not only to roads and bridges, Federal Sources Dashboard, April 2016. but also public transit, rail transport, Local Government (millages, contributions from recreational travel and aeronautics, local townships, counties) and provides administrative fees to multiple departments of state Other government. Service Charges

WHERE IT GOES.

After the specific program deductions described above are made in the 2% MTF, the balance is run through the Preservation/Structural 10% 4% “internal formula” and divided: Routine Maintenance 38% 39.1% – Michigan Department of Winter Maintenance 8% Transportation 2016 (10,000 road miles + 4,700 bridges) Other 8% 39.1% – County Road Agencies Administrative (90,000 road miles + 5,700 bridges) Construction/Capacity 30% 21.8% – Cities, Villages Trunkline Maintenance (22,000 road miles + 700 bridges)

Totals Statewide: 122,000 miles of road 11,000 bridges (approximately) Source: Transportation Asset Management Council Finance Dashboard, April 2016.

16 County Road Association of Michigan COUNTY ROAD ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN. CRA’s mission is to help our members promote and maintain a safe, efficient county road and bridge system, including stewardship of the county road right-of-way, in rural and urban Michigan.

For 100 years, the County Road Resources CRA has nine District Councils that Association of Michigan has served as meet quarterly to share ideas and CRA is governed by a 17-member the only statewide association build relationships: board, which includes representation dedicated to serving the needs of by road commissioners and road Blue Water Highway Council Michigan county road agencies. commission management drawn from East Central Council Based near the State Capitol in four Sectional Associations across Great Lakes Council downtown Lansing, CRA provides Michigan. Paul Bunyan Council advocacy, education and Seven County Council CRA has several standing committees communication resources to all 83 Southeastern Council that address specific road agency county road agencies, and assists with Southwestern Council needs: telling the stories of local roads and Straits Area Council county road agencies. • General Policy Urban Council • Commissioners Counties have also come together to Although the responsibilities of • Education create road commission-specific county road agencies vary, they are • Engineering self-insurance services through two professionally staffed with talented, • Finance and Human Resources related organizations: The County committed men and women who take • Legislative Review Road Association Self-Insurance seriously their responsibility to ensure • Negotiating Fund (CRASIF) and the Michigan a safe, efficient county transportation • Public Relations County Road Commission Self- infrastructure system, including • Superintendents Association Insurance Pool (MCRCSIP). management of the public road of Michigan (SAM) right-of-way. CRASIF is focused on a road A key contributor to a seamless commission-specific workers’ Together, Michigan county road county road network is compensation program authorized agencies manage 75 percent of all roads communication and cooperation under the State of Michigan Workers’ in the state and 52 percent of the among neighboring counties, regional Compensation Agency. The MCRCSIP state’s bridges. County road agencies planning organizations, and a variety of program insures general, auto and also maintain the state’s highway stakeholder organizations. system in 64 counties, under a trunkline liabilities; public officials contract negotiated by CRA and errors and omissions; property and MDOT. equipment damage; employee fidelity; and employment practices.

WHAT IS A “PE”? Every county road agency is required to have a professional engineer (PE) on staff or under contract. These individuals are licensed by the State of Michigan and must meet significant ongoing education requirements. PEs are by nature driven to consider new technology while making safety of the traveling public their top priority. 417 Seymour Ave., Suite 1, Lansing, MI 48933-1143 517- 482 -1189 micountyroads.org

Denise Donohue, Director Ed Noyola, Deputy Director