NONMOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION H.B. 4555 (S-4): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 4555 (Substitute S-4 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)
Sponsor: Representative Tom Pearce
House Committee: Transportation
Senate Committee: Commerce and Labor
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF) law to do all of the following:
-- Specify that the funds required to be spent for nonmotorized transportation services and facilities would have to be used for construction or improvement of those services and facilities.
-- Include the addition or improvement of a sidewalk in a city or village as a qualified nonmotorized facility.
-- Remove the paving of unpaved roads from improvements that are considered qualified nonmotorized facilities.
-- Require a county, city, or village to consult with the State transportation development region where it is located in its annual preparation and submission of a five-year program for the improvement of qualified nonmotorized facilities, as required under the law.
The MTF law specifies that transportation purposes provided for in the statute include provisions for facilities and services for nonmotorized transportation, including bicycling. The law requires at least 1% of the funds allocated from the MTF to be used for nonmotorized transportation services and facilities. The bill specifies that those funds would have to be used for "construction or improvement of" nonmotorized transportation services and facilities.
Under the law, an improvement in a road, street, or highway that facilitates nonmotorized transportation by the paving of unpaved road surfaces and shoulders, widening of lanes, or any other appropriate measure, is considered to be a qualified nonmotorized facility. The bill would delete the reference to road "surfaces". Also, the addition or improvement of a sidewalk in a city or village would be considered a qualified nonmotorized facility, under the bill.
MCL 247.660k Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government. The bill would require that a portion of the MTF funds allocated to the State Trunkline Fund and local road agencies be used for construction or improvement of nonmotorized transportation services and facilities. This requirement would add specificity to the use of MTF funds for nonmotorized transportation. According to the Department, for fiscal year 2002-03, counties spent about $54.0 million and cities and villages spent about $158.0 million for this purpose. The Department spent about $6.5 million in fiscal year 2003-04.
Date Completed: 3-14-06 Fiscal Analyst: Craig Thiel
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb4555/0506