LANSING — Michigan lawmakers have decided not to count on approval of a new international bridge over the Detroit River as part of the state highway spending plan in 2012.

Republican legislators rejected Gov. Rick Snyder’s proposal to use $50 million in international bridge funds from the Canadian government to secure federal matching funds in a final draft of the highway bill released this week, substituting money from Ambassador Bridge tolls to get the match.

Snyder supports joining with Canada to build a publicly-owned bridge across the river, but many Republican lawmakers have sided with the owners of the Ambassador Bridge, who oppose the government project.

The lawmakers also inserted language in budget bills slated for final approval next week that would prohibit expenditures on planning for the bridge or the development of a public-private partnership to manage it.
But both lawmakers and Snyder administration officials said none of the moves should be taken as an indication the bridge project is in peril.

State Sen. John Pappageorge, R-Troy, who headed the committee which drafted the budget language, said changing the source of the highway matching funds was a practical move; the toll money was available and approved for use and the Canadian funds remain speculative, at least until both governments complete a bridge deal.

Lt. Gov. Brian Calley said Wednesday the administration did not object to the bridge-related budget language because they “don’t materially change anything.”

The administration realizes it needs legislative authorization of the project to move forward, he said, and hopes to get the process rolling next week with the long-awaited introduction of an international bridge bill.
In any event, the process of preparing and planning for such a massive project means that little, if any, state spending would be required in 2012 anyway, Calley said.

http://www.freep.com/article/20110525/NEWS15/110525055/Lawmakers-reject-plan-use-50-million-bridge-funds