Appearing today in an automotive repair shop in Southfield on the first stop of her "Fix the Damn Roads Tour," Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer unveiled her strategic plan for rebuilding the state's infrastructure.
Whitmer called for a bold investment in a state infrastucture bank to fix Michigan's crumbling roads, bridges and water systems.
Her plan also would build a new Soo Lock and connect more Michiganders to high-speed broadband internet.
"Michigan roads are so bad they cost the average driver more than $540 a year," said Whitmer. "And not one dime of it goes to fix a single pothole."
Whitmer said fixing Michigan's infrastructure is essential to the state's economic growth and to job creation.
"Roads, water and broadband come up everywhere that I go," said Whitmer. "People know that if we're going to get ahead in Michigan, we've got to get those fundamentals right and we're falling behind the rest of the nation."
"I will write a budget that has $3 billion dedicated to roads, and I'm hoping that the legislature will work with me," Whitmer said. "If they don't, I will go straight to the people and get a bond passed."
Whitmer said she recommends paying for this with user fees, and that could mean a higher gas tax or registration fee.
