NONMOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION H.B. 4555 (H-2): COMMITTEE SUMMARY


House Bill 4555 (Substitute H-2 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Tom Pearce
House Committee: Transportation
Senate Committee: Commerce and Labor


Date Completed: 6-21-05

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 improvement or preservation of those services and facilities.
-- Include the addition or preservation 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.

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 "improvement or preservation 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", while retaining the reference to road "shoulders". 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 improvement or preservation 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.

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