Spring is right around the corner, and that means our unofficial state flower, the orange barrel, will soon be in full bloom. Big projects w





*March 6, 2025*



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Dear Friend,

Spring is right around the corner, and that means our unofficial state flower, "the orange barrel", will soon be in full bloom. Big projects will resume or start across Michigan like the US-127 Corridor near Lansing and the reconstruction of I-696 in Metro Detroit.

Since I took office, we have fixed more than 23,000 lane miles of road and 1,600 bridges. These projects have supported tens of thousands of good-paying jobs and haven’t raised taxes on drivers a dime.

While I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, there’s still a lot more work to do to keep fixing the damn roads. The Rebuilding Michigan plan I created in 2020 to fix our most heavily trafficked state highways and bridges is phasing out soon, and we need a sustainable, long-term solution for local roads.

In my Road Ahead Address in January, I introduced my new MI Road Ahead Plan [ [link removed] ] to help fix local roads, improve safety, and reduce the cost of vehicle repairs for Michigan drivers. I urge Republicans and Democrats to work together to come up with a road plan that will fix all the damn roads. I am looking forward to working with Speaker Hall, Majority Leader Brinks, and others in the state legislature to find a commonsense solution that will keep fixing our roads without slashing vital funding for public schools, safety, or health, or forcing commuters to pay more. At the same time, we do know that fiscally responsible cuts will need to be a part of the solution. Both parties will have to compromise to get this done right and that’s the way it ought to be.

Michiganders won’t accept inaction on this. Let’s get it done.

Sincerely,

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Gretchen Whitmer

Governor 






*MI Road Ahead Plan*

Data shows a majority of Michiganders think roads should get more funding and they are ready for a commonsense long-term funding plan. In my Road Ahead Address and my State of the State, I made it clear that I will work with anyone to find a solution to road funding, and I call on the Michigan legislature to set aside their differences, embrace compromise, and negotiate a bipartisan roads deal in 2025.

My MI Road Ahead Plan proposes $3 billion to fix the roads that is not funded on the backs of commuters, reflecting Michigan’s 21st-century transportation infrastructure needs, and ensures local governments still get the resources they need through Constitutional Revenue Sharing, with the plan not making any cuts to the School Aid Fund. I know that repairing local roads is a top priority, which is why this plan explicitly allocates more than $1 billion in new, ongoing investments for local communities to fix your neighborhood roads, lower the cost of car repairs, and keep your family safe.

Key elements of my plan include new revenue and cuts to ensure ongoing, dedicated roads and transit funding:

*Ensure Every Dollar at the Pump will Fix Roads*

The MI Road Ahead Plan will ensure that every dollar drivers pay at the pump goes toward fixing the roads, building better transportation infrastructure, and building better transportation. Right now, Michigan drivers pay a federal and state gas tax plus a 6% state sales tax on every gallon of gas but not all of that goes toward roads. Under laws set by previous administrations, the state sales tax funds are diverted away from fixing the roads, leaving a gap in funding. This plan will close the gap by ensuring that every penny drivers pay at the pump goes toward Michigan infrastructure. This will put a total of $1.2 billion towards roads, bridges, and transit across the state.

*Require Corporations Pay their Fair Share*

My plan will ask massive corporations and Big Tech industries, such as Amazon, X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook, and TikTok, led by the nation’s wealthiest individuals, to pay their fair share to do business in Michigan and use Michigan roadways. Currently, Michigan laws have not been updated to account for Big Tech industries that profit tremendously from using Michigan’s infrastructure. To deliver goods and services to Michiganders these corporations haul heavy weights using semi-trucks that deteriorate roads and bridges faster than commuter vehicles. My plan will make sure that corporations pay their fair share to do business in Michigan and rebuild roads proportionally to the damage they cause. This will raise $1.7 billion in additional revenue to fix the roads without putting the costs on the backs of everyday Michiganders.

*Cutting Red Tape and Finding Efficiencies and Savings*

Since day one, I have been working to cut red tape, find savings, and make government more efficient. We have paid down billions in debt and brought the Rainy Day Fund to an all-time high of more than $2 billion. My plan includes fiscally responsible cuts as part of a long-term solution to fix the damn roads. By cutting costs, this plan will inject $500 million of additional funding into road and bridge repairs.

*Close Marijuana Loophole*

The MI Road Ahead Plan will close a loophole that exempted the marijuana industry from wholesale tax, which is applied to similar smoking products, like cigarettes, and other tobacco items. After voters legalized marijuana, the industry has grown exponentially thanks in part to Michigan’s industry-friendly taxes, the fourth lowest in the nation. The industry, which recorded billions in sales in 2024, uses Michigan roads to transport marijuana multiple times throughout the process, including to grow operations, testing labs, distribution hubs, and finally retail stores. This will add an additional $470 million to help fix roads across the state.

*Boost and Build Transit Across Michigan*

Michiganders support investing in a robust public transit system that helps more people travel safely, lowers costs for commuters and seniors, and eases congestion on roads and bridges. That’s why the MI Road Ahead plan will build on the progress we’ve made with $250 million to invest in every local bus service and build new transit projects across the state.








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