Report: Michigan has $4 Billion in Annual Infrastructure Needs

A recent report out of the state of Michigan lays the groundwork for a coordinated approach to the state's infamous infrastructure challenges.

1 minute read

December 8, 2016, 11:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Aerial photo of the US 131/M-6/68th St. interchange in Wyoming, MIchigan

Michigan Dept. of Transportation / Wikimedia

"Michigan must spend an additional $4 billion a year on infrastructure," reports John Wisely from the findings of a report commissioned by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.

"The report by the 21st Century Infrastructure Commission urges a unified approach to planning, including the creation of a statewide database of assets such as roads, bridges, sewers, water mains, fiber-optic cables and energy supply lines," explains Wisely. "That way, for example, a road project could be coordinated with sewer and gas main replacement, ensuring the road would be torn up only once, and the costs could be shared by all agencies doing work there."

As for how the $4 billion price tag might be funded, the report mentions options at the federal, state, and local level, as well user fees and bond financing. 

Monday, December 5, 2016 in Detroit Free Press

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

4 hours ago - Diana Ionescu

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Aerial view of new neifhborhood under construction with enpty lots in foreground.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won

A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

5 hours ago - CALmatters

Low-rise Pearl Sreet mall in Boulfer, Colorado.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide

Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.

6 hours ago - Boulder Reporting Lab

Two-story buildings with porches in walkable Florida neighborhood.

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code

The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.

7 hours ago - CNU Public Square