LANSING – Spending for $873 million of the state’s transportation federal stimulus funds, which will support more than 130 projects around the state, which could create 25,000 news jobs, cleared the House overwhelmingly Wednesday.

Projects include repair and reconstruction of I-475 in Flint, I-94 in Ann Arbor, I-196 in Grand Rapids, as well as reconstruction and widening of M-59 in Pontiac and I-94 near Kalamazoo.

HB 4582 (109-1) was fast tracked for a vote after coming out of the House Appropriations Committee earlier in the day.

The reason for the rush is that the state is required to let half of these highway, road, bridge and transit projects out for bid within 120 days of receiving the money.

While that deadline is June 28, the governor needs to sign the measure by April 2 in order to meet the first letting date of the construction season, according to the Michigan Municipal League, which supported the bill along with the County Road Association of Michigan.

In a statement, Gov. Jennifer Granholm thanked the House for passing the measure, saying, “I applaud the state House of Representatives for passing the transportation supplemental legislation and look forward to swift action in the state Senate. This funding will put thousands of Michigan citizens to work across the state during this construction season.” Officials estimate that 25,000 jobs will be created or maintained with the projects.

“These statewide projects will open the door for economic growth across Michigan and let job providers know we’re serious about making our state an attractive place to do business,” said sponsor Rep. Lee Gonzales (D-Flint).

State trunkline and road and bridge funding make up the largest share of the spending, $635 million. Local road and bridge construction would receive $211.8 million.

Public transit agencies in non-urban parts of the state would see $21.9 million under the bill, while rural intercity bus services will receive $3.9 million.

Any further discretionary dollars the state receives through the stimulus will be dealt with in a separate bill.

But while the bill received almost unanimous support, Rep. James Bolger (R-Marshall) voted against it, arguing the stimulus is about creating jobs and long-term growth in the economy, but for Calhoun County, the money will go for a bike path.

The legislation appropriates spending through the already existent formula process, so local and state projects already in the pipeline will get financing first.

But Bolger said voters don’t care about the bureaucracy of how the funding is handled through formulas, adding, “Our roads are crumbling in the district. Now is not the time to build a bike path.”

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