Update: Infrastructure Projects In Livonia

Infrastructure has been a topic of immense focus for Michiganders. Vote.Run.Serve-Livonia discussed the deluge of infrastructure funding a few weeks ago, but often the topic of how infrastructure gets paid for and what projects get prioritized can be complicated. How can Livonians be rest assured that their infrastructure priorities are being properly addressed? The questions grow even important as immense amount of incoming funding as a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill comes to our state.

Federal funding, developed mostly from federal highway gas tax funds, for Michigan roads amounted to 1.1 million in 2017 (1), while state funding, generated from vehicle registration fees and state gas tax funds, amounted to 2.3 billion (2). These funding levels have decreased in recent years, even as inflation has increased, forcing Michigan to tackle fewer infrastructure projects (3).

Michiganders will soon see even more orange cones, as the funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) will soon come our way. Michigan is expected to receive 10 billion, with more than 7 billion of that specifically allocated to our roads (4).

Determining how Livonia, or any municipality in Michigan, gets their share of the pie can be complicated. Federal highway funds are calculated using a variety of metrics. To be clear, Michigan drivers benefit from the current formula, in that they get more or about the same or more than their contribution (5). This formula is now used to determine how other key budgeted funds get spent, such as the electric vehicle infrastructure dollars got allocated (6).

Similarly, Michigan uses formulas to allocation state tax generated revenue (7). These funds get funneled to counties and cities, with cities being allocated more funding for ‘major’ road projects. Local cities, like Livonia, make up the funding gap on local roads with a millage. Livonians will have a chance to weigh in on the local road mileage this August, as it goes before Livonia voters for renewal.

Besides the allocated funds mentioned above, the BIL also provides nearly 60 billion in grant opportunities (. Municipalities, utility companies, and nonprofits will have the opportunity to bid on competitive grants for different infrastructure needs, including electrical vehicle infrastructure. Some of these grants have actively been administered, and those details are published online (9).