LANSING – A bipartisan package of bills aimed at providing increased funding for Michigan's crumbling roads and dangerous bridges was introduced today in the Michigan Legislature.

The 13-bill package will raise nearly $1.4 billion annually to relieve an annual funding shortfall that will deepen if a solution is not found, according to Mike Nystrom, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA), and co-chair of the Michigan Transportation Team (MTT).

"This proposal is an excellent response by the Legislature to what Governor Rick Snyder suggested in his October 2011 Infrastructure Message," Nystrom said. "It not only reforms how taxpayer dollars are spent, but it also provides the necessary revenue to properly maintain our infrastructure."

Bills were introduced in both the House and Senate; and, if passed, will raise revenue through registration fee adjustments and a tax on fuel at the wholesale level. Proposed reforms include requiring funding recipients to demonstrate "best practices" as a condition of receiving future funds, more transparent reporting of benchmarks and progress, as well as expanded compliance with asset management plans.

"The taxpayers of Michigan deserve roads and bridges that are not only safe to drive on, but that also are the foundation for turning Michigan's economy around," Nystrom said. "At current funding levels, we will continue to see a sharp and predictable decline in the quality of our infrastructure as the cost of improvements escalates. We applaud the Governor's leadership and encourage the Legislature to act now. Michigan's infrastructure is at a tipping point, and finding a solution cannot be ignored any longer."

MITA is a statewide association representing the interests of the heavy construction industry. MTT is a coalition of over 80 companies, associations and labor unions with a common goal of obtaining increased funding for Michigan's roads and bridges.