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Push for Prop 1: Gov. Snyder joins West Michigan road crews

Posted at 6:12 PM, Apr 22, 2015
and last updated 2015-04-22 18:14:23-04

CALEDONIA, Mich. — With just under two weeks until voters to head to the polls to decide whether to pass Proposal 1 to fund road repairs, Gov. Snyder joined roads crews in West Michigan on Wednesday to push the issue.

The governor joined crews on M-37 between 84th and 100th Streets in Caledonia on Wednesday afternoon.

FOX 17 broke down the numbers earlier this month. In all, passage of Proposal 1 would would raise the state sales tax rate limit from the current 6 percent to 7 percent and would bring innearly $2 billion in additional revenue, according to some estimates. A hike in the state sales tax is one of eight changes that could be made because of other bills attached to the proposal.

A national transportation research group out of Washington D.C. called TRIP released a report Monday, showing Michigan roads are expected to get even worse due to a lack of funding.

TRIP’s research projected 53 percent of state roads to be in poor condition by 2025, which plays into economic growth. “While the state’s economy has begun to rebound in recent years, after a devastating downturn, that recovery could be put in jeopardy if the state’s transportation system is not adequate to handle the growth,” said Carolyn Kelly, associate director of research and communication for TRIP.