LANSING, Mich. (May 20,2014) — It’s no secret that our state’s roads are in need of some fixing. In fact, according to the Detroit Free Press, Michigan is currently dealing with a road and bridge funding shortfall of between $1.2 and $2 billion a year.
To help fund some of the repairs, a number of ideas have been thrown out there, including toll roads and higher gas taxes. Now, according to a study done by the University of Michigan, there’s talk of a new ‘pay as you go’ program being a possible solution.
The proposal involves charging drivers based on the amount of miles they drive. To do that, recording devices and even GPS devices may be used on drivers’ vehicles, but not everyone is on board with the idea.
“No one should have to pay more if they’re driving more. No one should have to pay less if they’re driving less. It should be fair for everyone,” said one driver to WNEM. Another said, “You just kind of wonder where the money did go from before, if it’s being used wisely.”
Other states that are currently considering similar mileage fee proposals are Texas, Minnesota, Florida, Wisconsin, and Nevada.
A spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Transportation told the Detroit Free Press that the agency isn’t advocating for a system like this, but says it’s definitely a conversation that needs to happen.
Right now, this idea is in the preliminary stages, and nothing has been passed.
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