House transportation committee advances $3.3 billion package, creates Neighborhood Roads Fund and funds local bridges

The Michigan House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced a multi‑bill transportation package Thursday that includes House Bill 42‑30, which establishes a Neighborhood Roads Fund and directs $100 million per year to local bridge repairs.

The Neighborhood Roads Fund, as presented by Representative Brian Altman, would create a dedicated source of funding for neighborhood streets in cities, villages and townships and eliminates the requirement that townships match county road agencies on projects using those dollars. “This change eliminates a major financial hurdle, making it easier for townships to improve their roads,” Altman said in committee testimony.

Why it matters: supporters from cities, counties, townships and engineering and labor groups said the package shifts money toward local roads that “people use every day,” provides predictable funding for long‑term maintenance and would help avoid emergency repairs that cost more over time. John Lamaki of the Michigan Municipal League called the package “tremendous progress” toward a solution and said his group supports the inclusion of HB 42‑30. Robert George of the Michigan Labor District Council said long‑term funding would protect thousands of construction jobs and related pension and health contributions.

What the bill would do: the substitute…