New Report Shows How Much Money Grand Rapids Roads Cost Drivers

If you think the roads are bad in Michigan you're not wrong.

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A new report released by TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, reveals how bad the roads in Grand Rapids are.

The study, titled "Michigan Transportation by the Numbers: Meeting the State's Need for Safe, Smooth and Efficient Mobility," highlights the significant economic impact of poor road conditions on local drivers.

According to the report, the average driver in the Grand Rapids area loses a jaw dropping $2,297 annually due to roads that are deteriorated, congested, and lack essential safety features.

This comes from increased vehicle operating costs, time lost to traffic congestion, and car repairs needed because of bad road conditions.

The TRIP report is part of a broader examination of Michigan's transportation infrastructure, which found that the state faces a large funding gap for road and bridge maintenance and improvements.

Despite recent increases in state and federal transportation funding, Michigan still needs to spend an additional $3.9 billion to $4 billion annually to properly address its infrastructure needs.

Ed Noyola, Legislative Director of the County Road Association of Michigan, emphasized the importance of addressing this issue saying;

"If Michigan wants to be the state of growing population and increased business investment, we cannot be complacent with the current condition of our infrastructure"

Experts predict that solving Michigan's road funding problem will become increasingly challenging due to the rise of fuel-efficient and electric vehicles, which contribute less to traditional fuel tax-based funding models.

Lawmakers and policymakers may need to look into other funding measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Michigan's transportation infrastructure.