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Hate Michigan roads? Your neighbors’ may be way better. (with database)

pothole

No doubt, Michigan’s roads are bad. But their degree of awfulness varies widely throughout the state, rankings show, and that could inform debate about whether a tax increase is necessary for repairs.

Republican legislators this week approved budgets that include $400 million in road and bridge spending, ignoring Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s call for nearly $2 billion in spending through a 45-cent gas tax increase.

A roads deal could come yet this fall, however, after the start of the Oct. 1 fiscal year. The urgency is caused in part because road conditions have deteriorated over the years and the percent rated “poor” has increased from 30 percent in 2008 to 41 percent last year, according to ratings from state and local officials and compiled by the Michigan Department of Transportation.

But those ratings aren’t uniform –  in counties both urban (Kent) and rural (Schoolcraft), roads get passing grades. While in other urban counties (Saginaw, Oakland) and rural ones (Manistee, Cheboygan), poor roads outnumber the good and fair roads combined.

“You will find pockets where people think it’s not as bad as it is,” said John Sellek, a public affairs consultant who long worked for former Attorney General Bill Schuette, a Republican who lost to Whitmer for governor last fall.

In some counties, Sellek noted, road conditions have been managed well.

 

Look no further than Barry and Eaton counties in west central Michigan. They share a border and both are mostly rural. Barry has the best rated roads in the state while Eaton has the second worst.

“It’s a source of great pride for the road commission,” said Jake Welch, operations director for Barry County. A dozen times a year, he said, residents thank the commission for their work, noting the county’s roads are better than their eastern neighbor. “I definitely notice it too,” Welch said.

Running for governor, Whitmer campaigned hard on fixing infrastructure, making “fix the damn roads” her mantra. But since her victory, her prescription for solving the problem with the largest gas tax in the nation has been rejected by Republicans and Democrats alike. 

Sellek said most everyone agrees the roads are bad –  but do not trust that a big tax increase will solve the enormity of the problem.

Republicans have acknowledged the roads need for more money but finding a palatable increase has proven difficult. Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, has suggested the state has too many paved roads. In his county, Jackson, the percent of roads rated “poor” has nearly tripled in a decade to 33 percent, but that’s still below the state average.

Other GOP leaders live in counties with better roads too: House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, lives in Emmet County, where just over a third of roads are poor, again below the 41 percent statewide. And from 2008 to 2018, the percent of county roads rated “good” jumped from 16 percent to 29 percent.

(In Wayne and Oakland counties, the state’s most populous and the home of many of the state’s Democratic legislators, road conditions are worse than the state average.)

One solution: local funding

Welch said Barry County has only gotten by because local communities, including the 16 townships in the county, have pitched in to increase road funding. Five townships have special road taxes and the others dipped into general tax funds, he said.

Check out road conditions in your county, city or village

See how roads were rated in your community in 2018. Note: township roads are included in the countywide numbers. To see all roads in Kent County, for instance, type 'Kent' in the search box.

County,
city or village
Miles
of roads
% Good% Fair% Poor
Alcona
CountywideAlcona
61614.647.438.1
Alger
CountywideAlger
6012251.726.3
Allegan
CountywideAllegan
1,52223.432.843.8
Alpena
CountywideAlpena
65829.643.726.6
Antrim
CountywideAntrim
64319.324.156.6
Arenac
CountywideArenac
60824.842.932.3
Baraga
CountywideBaraga
42832.742.824.5
Barry
CountywideBarry
96739.647.712.8
Bay
CountywideBay
1,29017.337.545.2
Benzie
CountywideBenzie
50632.925.341.8
Berrien
CountywideBerrien
1,9401330.256.8
Branch
CountywideBranch
99011.446.342.3
Calhoun
CountywideCalhoun
1,72120.841.537.7
Cass
CountywideCass
84317.729.552.9
Charlevoix
CountywideCharlevoix
5263332.834.2
Cheboygan
CountywideCheboygan
88011.124.864.1
Chippewa
CountywideChippewa
1,30311.160.628.3
Clare
CountywideClare
58120.35524.7
Clinton
CountywideClinton
1,18622.252.924.9
Crawford
CountywideCrawford
6321133.755.3
Delta
CountywideDelta
1,12217.14240.9
Dickinson
CountywideDickinson
66217.128.554.4
Eaton
CountywideEaton
1,4028.525.765.8
Emmet
CountywideEmmet
6632934.736.3
Genesee
CountywideGenesee
2,7341052.537.6
Gladwin
CountywideGladwin
56721.950.727.5
Gogebic
CountywideGogebic
77622.643.334.2
Grand Traverse
CountywideGrand Traverse
86729.828.841.4
Gratiot
CountywideGratiot
86929.647.522.9
Hillsdale
CountywideHillsdale
1,01019.12753.9
Houghton
CountywideHoughton
92315.544.340.2
Huron
CountywideHuron
97215.345.539.2
Ingham
CountywideIngham
1,84417.437.844.8
Ionia
CountywideIonia
1,04026.342.131.6
Iosco
CountywideIosco
67814.241.144.7
Iron
CountywideIron
77518.544.836.7
Isabella
CountywideIsabella
73815.142.642.3
Jackson
CountywideJackson
1,7482343.733.3
Kalamazoo
CountywideKalamazoo
1,72838.743.118.3
Kalkaska
CountywideKalkaska
60616.737.745.6
Kent
CountywideKent
3,5333046.623.4
Keweenaw
CountywideKeweenaw
29712.445.542.1
Lake
CountywideLake
58219.119.661.3
Lapeer
CountywideLapeer
1,08219.816.963.3
Leelanau
CountywideLeelanau
54134.53233.5
Lenawee
CountywideLenawee
1,42726.438.335.3
Livingston
CountywideLivingston
1,36222.737.439.9
Luce
CountywideLuce
37016.869.913.4
Mackinac
CountywideMackinac
90715.369.215.4
Macomb
CountywideMacomb
2,94423.335.541.2
Manistee
CountywideManistee
7558.723.867.5
Marquette
CountywideMarquette
1,04922.552.225.3
Mason
CountywideMason
6781929.351.8
Mecosta
CountywideMecosta
86021.437.840.7
Menominee
CountywideMenominee
1,14012.138.149.9
Midland
CountywideMidland
1,12030.149.320.6
Missaukee
CountywideMissaukee
56929.635.335.1
Monroe
CountywideMonroe
1,46736.732.231.1
Montcalm
CountywideMontcalm
1,09131.123.545.4
Montmorency
CountywideMontmorency
46413.847.139.1
Muskegon
CountywideMuskegon
1,47532.327.340.4
Newaygo
CountywideNewaygo
9072023.256.8
Oakland
CountywideOakland
5,20316.635.647.8
Oceana
CountywideOceana
72833.42046.6
Ogemaw
CountywideOgemaw
56031.336.831.9
Ontonagon
CountywideOntonagon
74832.438.529.1
Osceola
CountywideOsceola
81622.141.536.4
Oscoda
CountywideOscoda
45823.737.938.4
Otsego
CountywideOtsego
67420.426.153.5
Ottawa
CountywideOttawa
1,61621.74731.3
Presque Isle
CountywidePresque Isle
69011.54543.5
Roscommon
CountywideRoscommon
68311.44048.6
Saginaw
CountywideSaginaw
1,97314.930.254.9
Sanilac
CountywideSanilac
94114.342.143.6
Schoolcraft
CountywideSchoolcraft
68138.737.323.9
Shiawassee
CountywideShiawassee
1,04911.15236.8
St. Clair
CountywideSt. Clair
1,65819.729.850.5
St. Joseph
CountywideSt. Joseph
1,02314.842.542.7
Tuscola
CountywideTuscola
86715.726.358
Van Buren
CountywideVan Buren
1,16721.325.353.4
Washtenaw
CountywideWashtenaw
2,29632.530.337.2
Wayne
CountywideWayne
7,25515.839.245
Wexford
CountywideWexford
8263632.831.2
Adrian
CityLenawee
8519.335.645
Albion
CityCalhoun
489.830.160.2
Algonac
CitySt. Clair
130.52871.5
Allegan
CityAllegan
3014.723.761.6
Allen Park
CityWayne
11526.550.722.8
Alma
CityGratiot
451.643.45
Alpena
CityAlpena
6415.632.551.9
Ann Arbor
CityWashtenaw
32833.725.940.4
Au Gres
CityArenac
710.8089.2
Auburn
CityBay
1112.667.619.8
Auburn Hills
CityOakland
23822.641.136.3
Bad Axe
CityHuron
811.845.842.4
Bangor
CityVan Buren
816.827.755.5
Battle Creek
CityCalhoun
29220.858.420.8
Bay City
CityBay
1346.14548.9
Beaverton
CityGladwin
37.135.957
Belding
CityIonia
3812.122.365.5
Belleville
CityWayne
814.951.833.3
Benton Harbor
CityBerrien
425.737.856.5
Berkley
CityOakland
308.938.352.8
Bessemer
CityGogebic
181.42375.6
Big Rapids
CityMecosta
4610.128.661.3
Birmingham
CityOakland
5311.132.456.5
Bloomfield Hills
CityOakland
437.377.115.6
Boyne City
CityCharlevoix
209.35139.7
Bridgman
CityBerrien
2357.541.60.9
Brighton
CityLivingston
3920.534.844.7
Bronson
CityBranch
727.728.643.7
Brown City
CityLapeer
300.299.8
Buchanan
CityBerrien
165.96.687.5
Burton
CityGenesee
18817.929.552.6
Cadillac
CityWexford
755.221.673.2
Caro
CityTuscola
2615.647.536.9
Carson City
CityMontcalm
5048.451.6
Caseville
CityHuron
5046.953.1
Caspian
CityIron
64610.144
Cedar Springs
CityKent
921.858.619.6
Center Line
CityMacomb
3423.648.427.9
Charlevoix
CityCharlevoix
1213.316.869.9
Charlotte
CityEaton
509.232.158.8
Cheboygan
CityCheboygan
338.137.154.8
Chelsea
CityWashtenaw
2324.114.561.4
Clare
CityClare
4089.610.4
Clawson
CityOakland
2642.135.222.7
Clio
CityGenesee
9054.945.1
Coldwater
CityBranch
8412.535.452.1
Coleman
CityMidland
6549.845.2
Coloma
CityBerrien
817.110.572.4
Coopersville
CityOttawa
2012.36522.7
Corunna
CityShiawassee
1819.66317.3
Croswell
CitySanilac
3087.912.1
Crystal Falls
CityIron
1218.25526.8
Davison
CityGenesee
148.861.829.5
Dearborn
CityWayne
4041354.432.6
Dearborn Heights
CityWayne
15312.838.948.3
Detroit
CityWayne
2,93913.138.148.8
Dewitt
CityClinton
1635.156.38.5
Dexter
CityWashtenaw
1037.432.430.2
Dowagiac
CityCass
355.935.358.8
Durand
CityShiawassee
129.251.139.7
East Grand Rapids
CityKent
2334.231.134.6
East Jordan
CityCharlevoix
1418.748.732.6
East Lansing
CityIngham
13331.236.732
East Tawas
CityIosco
1425.237.437.4
Eastpointe
CityMacomb
664219.738.4
Eaton Rapids
CityEaton
202036.643.4
Ecorse
CityWayne
2007.292.8
Escanaba
CityDelta
9115.936.447.7
Essexville
CityBay
10079.820.2
Evart
CityOsceola
104.944.350.8
Farmington
CityOakland
410.81782.3
Farmington Hills
CityOakland
35530.327.941.8
Fennville
CityAllegan
5015.584.5
Fenton
CityGenesee
606.660.133.3
Ferndale
CityOakland
5115.521.363.2
Ferrysburg
CityOttawa
2632.337.829.8
Flat Rock
CityWayne
3912.628.159.3
Flint
CityGenesee
5816.633.759.6
Flushing
CityGenesee
276.951.241.8
Frankenmuth
CitySaginaw
1918.481.60
Frankfort
CityBenzie
57.7092.3
Fraser
CityMacomb
6012.56126.5
Fremont
CityNewaygo
2515.536.747.9
Gaastra
CityIron
51.6098.4
Galesburg
CityKalamazoo
731.838.230
Garden City
CityWayne
751.155.343.5
Gaylord
CityOtsego
4331.325.842.9
Gibraltar
CityWayne
1912.74443.3
Gladstone
CityDelta
5112.856.330.9
Gladwin
CityGladwin
121.77424.3
Gobles
CityVan Buren
49.2090.8
Grand Blanc
CityGenesee
2610.758.630.7
Grand Haven
CityOttawa
6612.933.253.9
Grand Ledge
CityEaton
288.729.162.3
Grand Rapids
CityKent
59734.350.715.1
Grandville
CityKent
11228.930.240.9
Grant
CityNewaygo
5050.149.9
Grayling
CityCrawford
1424.629.246.2
Greenville
CityMontcalm
565.727.866.5
Grosse Pointe
CityWayne
126.73360.3
Grosse Pointe Farms
CityWayne
262.121.776.2
Grosse Pointe Park
CityWayne
18227.770.4
Grosse Pointe Woods
CityWayne
216.618.275.3
Hamtramck
CityWayne
323.443.353.3
Hancock
CityHoughton
2618.847.933.4
Harbor Beach
CityHuron
63162.26.8
Harbor Springs
CityEmmet
866.329.93.8
Harper Woods
CityWayne
396.148.145.9
Harrison
CityClare
1076.723.3
Harrisville
CityAlcona
499.900.1
Hart
CityOceana
147.466.725.8
Hartford
CityVan Buren
718.223.858.1
Hastings
CityBarry
448.766.225.2
Hazel Park
CityOakland
647.141.651.4
Highland Park
CityWayne
641.858.539.7
Hillsdale
CityHillsdale
504.819.575.8
Holland
CityAllegan
17525.650.224.2
Houghton
CityHoughton
3141.826.531.7
Howell
CityLivingston
4614.150.435.5
Hudson
CityLenawee
718.238.343.5
Hudsonville
CityOttawa
398.516.674.9
Huntington Woods
CityOakland
230.566.433.1
Imlay City
CityLapeer
200.742.656.7
Inkster
CityWayne
701.41583.6
Ionia
CityIonia
3522.25720.8
Iron Mountain
CityDickinson
667.522.869.7
Iron River
CityIron
3125.252.722.1
Ironwood
CityGogebic
5333.134.432.4
Ishpeming
CityMarquette
403340.226.8
Ithaca
CityGratiot
344.455.60
Jackson
CityJackson
1479.743.546.7
Jonesville
CityHillsdale
190.365.833.9
Kalamazoo
CityKalamazoo
29818.841.439.9
Keego Harbor
CityOakland
68.236.155.6
Kentwood
CityKent
21625.154.620.3
Kingsford
CityDickinson
362.125.172.8
Laingsburg
CityShiawassee
6043.156.9
Lake Angelus
CityOakland
200100
Lake City
CityMissaukee
4236.170.9
Lansing
CityIngham
4671027.662.4
Lapeer
CityLapeer
6853.837.48.8
Lathrup Village
CityOakland
2219.527.652.9
Leslie
CityIngham
52.537.160.5
Lincoln Park
CityWayne
9911.776.811.5
Linden
CityGenesee
114.763.731.6
Litchfield
CityHillsdale
122.439.558
Livonia
CityWayne
46425.123.851.1
Lowell
CityKent
2428.956.514.6
Ludington
CityMason
4226.515.957.7
Luna Pier
CityMonroe
602872
Madison Heights
CityOakland
129249.948.1
Manistee
CityManistee
413814.547.5
Manistique
CitySchoolcraft
2024.33738.6
Manton
CityWexford
633.32046.8
Marine City
CitySt. Clair
182.457.939.7
Marlette
CitySanilac
737.259.13.7
Marquette
CityMarquette
10439.346.314.5
Marshall
CityCalhoun
4532.83532.2
Marysville
CitySt. Clair
58755.637.3
Mason
CityIngham
4915.170.714.2
McBain
CityMissaukee
543.27.649.2
Melvindale
CityWayne
400.337.861.9
Memphis
CityMacomb
617.827.854.4
Menominee
CityMenominee
6129.42545.5
Midland
CityMidland
30027.135.337.6
Milan
CityMonroe
2521.63048.4
Monroe
CityMonroe
8817.93646.1
Montague
CityMuskegon
2226.49.763.8
Montrose
CityGenesee
58.274.217.6
Morenci
CityLenawee
71639.144.9
Mt Clemens
CityMacomb
5316.756.127.2
Mt Morris
CityGenesee
1427.131.141.8
Mt Pleasant
CityIsabella
616.752.341
Munising
CityAlger
198.86.584.7
Muskegon
CityMuskegon
17436.33429.7
Muskegon Heights
CityMuskegon
497.118.973.9
Negaunee
CityMarquette
4324.662.513
New Baltimore
CityMacomb
24056.343.7
New Buffalo
CityBerrien
916.963.519.6
Newaygo
CityNewaygo
154.329.466.2
Niles
CityBerrien
4259.985.1
North Muskegon
CityMuskegon
1434.94322.1
Northville
CityWayne
202.539.657.9
Norton Shores
CityMuskegon
15629.627.542.9
Norway
CityDickinson
235.522.372.2
Novi
CityOakland
25021.234.644.2
Oak Park
CityOakland
60460.135.9
Olivet
CityEaton
3084.915.1
Omer
CityArenac
701000
Onaway
CityPresque Isle
556.632.710.7
Orchard Lake Village
CityOakland
1541.52038.6
Otsego
CityAllegan
1612.239.548.3
Ovid
CityClinton
33.496.60
Owosso
CityShiawassee
597.843.648.7
Parchment
CityKalamazoo
62.920.676.4
Perry
CityShiawassee
1015.963.720.3
Petersburg
CityMonroe
31.329.868.9
Petoskey
CityEmmet
4541.832.725.5
Pinconning
CityBay
6065.834.2
Plainwell
CityAllegan
1738.130.231.7
Pleasant Ridge
CityOakland
174.97619.2
Plymouth
CityWayne
271.917.680.4
Pontiac
CityOakland
262728.964.2
Port Huron
CitySt. Clair
13017.630.352.2
Portage
CityKalamazoo
21150.127.822.1
Portland
CityIonia
1813.557.728.8
Potterville
CityEaton
1212.919.967.2
Reading
CityHillsdale
402971
Reed City
CityOsceola
102.62275.5
Richmond
CityMacomb
14074.725.3
River Rouge
CityWayne
140.496.33.3
Riverview
CityWayne
3233.830.835.4
Rochester
CityOakland
2123.538.138.4
Rochester Hills
CityOakland
22736.133.130.8
Rockford
CityKent
2131.450.218.4
Rockwood
CityWayne
2048.628.423
Rogers City
CityPresque Isle
166.588.35.2
Romulus
CityWayne
30023.238.238.5
Roosevelt Park
CityMuskegon
1548.827.523.7
Rose City
CityOgemaw
433.449.317.3
Roseville
CityMacomb
17822.545.631.9
Royal Oak
CityOakland
2332.844.153.1
Saginaw
CitySaginaw
27915.824.559.7
Saline
CityWashtenaw
3145.74.150.2
Sandusky
CitySanilac
920.463.715.9
Saugatuck
CityAllegan
221.770.87.5
Sault Ste Marie
CityChippewa
9819.14238.9
Scottville
CityMason
813.239.147.7
South Haven
CityVan Buren
4627.355.417.3
South Lyon
CityOakland
197.933.159
Southfield
CityOakland
41722.836.440.8
Southgate
CityWayne
11524.14431.8
Springfield
CityCalhoun
42663.830.1
St Clair
CitySt. Clair
267.551.740.8
St Clair Shores
CityMacomb
17318.144.837.1
St Ignace
CityMackinac
25381.215.8
St Johns
CityClinton
439.238.552.3
St Joseph
CityBerrien
516.342.751.1
St Louis
CityGratiot
345.633.620.8
Standish
CityArenac
929.369.21.5
Stanton
CityMontcalm
716.420.962.8
Stephenson
CityMenominee
735.744.419.9
Sterling Heights
CityMacomb
41127.534.637.9
Sturgis
CitySt. Joseph
6214.645.539.9
Swartz Creek
CityGenesee
4429.146.624.4
Sylvan Lake
CityOakland
3019.181
Tawas City
CityIosco
1322.540.736.9
Taylor
CityWayne
27421.243.335.6
Tecumseh
CityLenawee
4224.922.452.7
Grosse Pointe Shores
CityWayne
13086.413.6
Three Rivers
CitySt. Joseph
4917.140.142.8
Traverse City
CityGrand Traverse
9827.71854.3
Trenton
CityWayne
623439.826.2
Troy
CityOakland
35814.441.544.1
Utica
CityMacomb
3123.849.426.8
Vassar
CityTuscola
107.733.658.7
Village of Clarkston
CityOakland
5037.562.5
Village of Douglas
CityAllegan
1120.528.650.9
Wakefield
CityGogebic
238.558.932.6
Walker
CityKent
19734.64421.4
Walled Lake
CityOakland
268.517.274.3
Warren
CityMacomb
50323.837.938.3
Watervliet
CityBerrien
92.743.753.6
Watervliet
CityBerrien
92.743.753.6
Wayland
CityAllegan
97.958.533.6
Wayne
CityWayne
767.741.351
West Branch
CityOgemaw
1017.741.940.4
Westland
CityWayne
2265.730.563.7
White Cloud
CityNewaygo
838.143.418.6
Whitehall
CityMuskegon
2125.93242.1
Whittemore
CityIosco
456.614.628.8
Williamston
CityIngham
163.536.360.2
Wixom
CityOakland
634.919.675.5
Woodhaven
CityWayne
6047.814.637.6
Wyandotte
CityWayne
5325.163.311.6
Wyoming
CityKent
30023.848.527.7
Yale
CitySt. Clair
645.924.329.9
Ypsilanti
CityWashtenaw
7622.621.955.5
Zeeland
CityOttawa
371869.412.6
Addison
VillageLenawee
400100
Ahmeek
VillageKeweenaw
100100
Akron
VillageTuscola
201000
Alanson
VillageEmmet
42.230.867
Allen
VillageHillsdale
300100
Almont
VillageLapeer
655.4044.6
Alpha
VillageIron
31.65444.4
Armada
VillageMacomb
425.755.718.6
Ashley
VillageGratiot
010000
Athens
VillageCalhoun
334.33332.7
Augusta
VillageKalamazoo
42.735.961.4
Baldwin
VillageLake
94.534.960.6
Bancroft
VillageShiawassee
33.8096.2
Baraga
VillageBaraga
153.279.217.6
Baroda
VillageBerrien
416.8083.2
Barryton
VillageMecosta
3020.979.1
Barton Hills
VillageWashtenaw
100100
Bear Lake
VillageManistee
208.991.1
Bellaire
VillageAntrim
616.726.257.1
Bellevue
VillageEaton
500100
Benzonia
VillageBenzie
762.97.429.7
Berrien Springs
VillageBerrien
1030.657.412
Beulah
VillageBenzie
441.9058.1
Beverly Hills
VillageOakland
2221.116.862.2
Bingham Farms
VillageOakland
1081.5612.4
Birch Run
VillageSaginaw
875.722.81.5
Blissfield
VillageLenawee
168.675.216.2
Bloomingdale
VillageVan Buren
441.119.939
Boyne Falls
VillageCharlevoix
3012.987.1
Breckenridge
VillageGratiot
4086.513.5
Breedsville
VillageVan Buren
313.8086.2
Britton
VillageLenawee
439.660.40
Brooklyn
VillageJackson
9060.839.3
Buckley
VillageWexford
5519.839.2
Burlington
VillageCalhoun
4038.661.4
Burr Oak
VillageSt. Joseph
7014.185.9
Byron
VillageShiawassee
308.191.9
Caledonia
VillageKent
56.634.958.6
Calumet
VillageHoughton
324.82352.3
Camden
VillageHillsdale
4028.471.6
Capac
VillageSt. Clair
52.737.459.9
Carleton
VillageMonroe
396.93.10
Carney
VillageMenominee
506436
Carsonville
VillageSanilac
206832
Casnovia
VillageKent
623.26313.8
Cass City
VillageTuscola
8039.960.1
Cassopolis
VillageCass
1232.13038
Cement City
VillageLenawee
401000
Central Lake
VillageAntrim
73.5591.5
Centreville
VillageSt. Joseph
99.51179.5
Chatham
VillageAlger
8067.732.3
Chesaning
VillageSaginaw
862.714.522.8
Clarksville
VillageIonia
316.849.733.6
Clayton
VillageLenawee
303565
Clifford
VillageLapeer
56.110.483.5
Climax
VillageKalamazoo
420.779.30
Clinton
VillageLenawee
92.934.862.3
Colon
VillageSt. Joseph
7040.459.6
Columbiaville
VillageLapeer
54.121.174.9
Concord
VillageJackson
73840.321.7
Constantine
VillageSt. Joseph
93.866.629.5
Copemish
VillageManistee
620.48.571.2
Copper City
VillageHoughton
108.991.1
Custer
VillageMason
4024.675.4
Daggett
VillageMenominee
643057
Dansville
VillageIngham
402278
Decatur
VillageVan Buren
86.867.725.5
Deckerville
VillageSanilac
000100
Deerfield
VillageLenawee
43.543.752.8
Detour
VillageChippewa
8055.344.7
Dimondale
VillageEaton
410.933.156.1
Dryden
VillageLapeer
227.336.336.4
Dundee
VillageMonroe
2831.929.438.7
Eagle
VillageClinton
131690
Eastlake
VillageManistee
7035.164.9
Eau Claire
VillageBerrien
49.9090.1
Edmore
VillageMontcalm
7444.851.3
Edwardsburg
VillageCass
8050.149.9
Elberta
VillageBenzie
455.2044.8
Elk Rapids
VillageAntrim
98.910.181
Elkton
VillageHuron
2097.62.4
Ellsworth
VillageAntrim
628.416.754.9
Elsie
VillageClinton
4056.743.3
Emmett
VillageSt. Clair
505050
Empire
VillageLeelanau
5283438
Estral Beach
VillageMonroe
1034.465.6
Fairgrove
VillageTuscola
317.9082.1
Farwell
VillageClare
450.820.828.4
Fife Lake
VillageGrand Traverse
404.195.9
Forestville
VillageSanilac
201000
Fountain
VillageMason
2049.250.8
Fowler
VillageClinton
772.712.614.7
Fowlerville
VillageLivingston
9729.863.1
Franklin
VillageOakland
1334.612.453
Freeport
VillageBarry
3066.633.4
Freesoil
VillageMason
36.418.974.7
Fruitport
VillageMuskegon
69.650.539.9
Gagetown
VillageTuscola
2051.148.9
Gaines
VillageGenesee
38.92566.1
Galien
VillageBerrien
30.466.932.7
Garden
VillageDelta
3027.472.6
Goodrich
VillageGenesee
1018.662.119.3
Grand Beach
VillageBerrien
300100
Grass Lake
VillageJackson
401000
Hanover
VillageJackson
301000
Harrietta
VillageWexford
32.656.341.1
Hersey
VillageOsceola
40.913.885.3
Hesperia
VillageOceana
747.42824.6
Hillman
VillageMontmorency
632.90.466.7
Holly
VillageOakland
16013.786.3
Homer
VillageCalhoun
73.672.923.5
Honor
VillageBenzie
400100
Hopkins
VillageAllegan
100100
Howard City
VillageMontcalm
827.115.857.1
Hubbardston
VillageIonia
58.757.134.3
Kaleva
VillageManistee
3011.588.5
Kalkaska
VillageKalkaska
114.718.976.5
Kent City
VillageKent
1029.82.567.7
Kinde
VillageHuron
200.999.1
Kingsley
VillageGrand Traverse
537.918.144
Kingston
VillageTuscola
449.9050.1
Lake Ann
VillageBenzie
432.641.226.3
Lake Linden
VillageHoughton
3093.16.9
Lake Odessa
VillageIonia
612.881.75.5
Lake Orion
VillageOakland
6090.99.1
Lakeview
VillageMontcalm
504.495.6
Lakewood Club
VillageMuskegon
1019.114.166.8
Lanse
VillageBaraga
99910
Laurium
VillageHoughton
624.927.747.5
Lawrence
VillageVan Buren
8028.871.2
Lawton
VillageVan Buren
1024.723.451.9
Lennon
VillageShiawasee
401000
Leonard
VillageOakland
400100
Leroy
VillageOsceola
6060.539.5
Lexington
VillageSanilac
5032.267.8
Lincoln
VillageAlcona
517.317.864.9
Luther
VillageLake
6036.863.2
Lyons
VillageIonia
562.912.824.3
Mackinaw City
VillageEmmet
2228.532.339.2
Mancelona
VillageAntrim
754.42124.5
Manchester
VillageWashtenaw
94048.511.4
Maple Rapids
VillageClinton
5020.879.2
Marcellus
VillageCass
4064.435.6
Marion
VillageOsceola
436.124.539.4
Martin
VillageAllegan
45045.54.5
Mattawan
VillageVan Buren
2435.220.444.4
Maybee
VillageMonroe
559.510.430
Mayville
VillageTuscola
57.423.968.7
McBride
VillageMontcalm
211.4088.6
Mecosta
VillageMecosta
4081.518.5
Melvin
VillageSanilac
201000
Mendon
VillageSt. Joseph
470.229.80
Merrill
VillageSaginaw
562.837.20
Mesick
VillageWexford
617.92458
Metamora
VillageLapeer
3057.442.6
Middleville
VillageBarry
1125.257.117.7
Milford
VillageOakland
1517.126.156.8
Millersburg
VillagePresque Isle
300100
Millington
VillageTuscola
4035.964.1
Montgomery
VillageHillsdale
46.379.214.4
Morley
VillageMecosta
415.135.349.7
Morrice
VillageShiawassee
600.799.3
Muir
VillageIonia
416.958.924.2
Mulliken
VillageEaton
3069.630.4
Nashville
VillageBarry
707921
New Era
VillageOceana
5077.122.9
New Haven
VillageMacomb
13166.377.6
New Lothrop
VillageShiawassee
201000
Newberry
VillageLuce
414.464.920.7
North Adams
VillageHillsdale
315.123.561.5
North Branch
VillageLapeer
420.2079.8
Northport
VillageLeelanau
624.12649.8
Oakley
VillageSaginaw
200100
Onekama
VillageManistee
400100
Onsted
VillageLenawee
4075.424.6
Ontonagon
VillageOntonagon
1422.577.50
Ortonville
VillageOakland
6067.332.7
Otisville
VillageGenesee
3074.325.7
Otter Lake
VillageLapeer
3060.539.5
Owendale
VillageHuron
001000
Oxford
VillageOakland
714.61.583.9
Parma
VillageJackson
35.656.537.9
Paw Paw
VillageVan Buren
2922.235.242.6
Peck
VillageSanilac
4024.975.1
Pellston
VillageEmmet
617.161.321.6
Pentwater
VillageOceana
619.242.238.7
Perrinton
VillageGratiot
150050
Pewamo
VillageIonia
401000
Pierson
VillageMontcalm
201000
Pigeon
VillageHuron
3059.940.1
Pinckney
VillageLivingston
105.2094.8
Port Austin
VillageHuron
419.638.941.5
Port Hope
VillageHuron
400100
Port Sanilac
VillageSanilac
610000
Posen
VillagePresque Isle
450.549.50
Powers
VillageMenominee
503367
Prescott
VillageOgemaw
4083.216.8
Quincy
VillageBranch
7069.630.4
Ravenna
VillageMuskegon
62.1097.9
Reese
VillageTuscola
451.66.741.7
Richland
VillageKalamazoo
737.420.841.8
Romeo
VillageMacomb
1413.825.560.7
Roscommon
VillageRoscommon
1528.952.418.7
Rosebush
VillageIsabella
89.148.642.3
Rothbury
VillageOceana
410000
Sand Lake
VillageKent
437.6062.5
Sanford
VillageMidland
523.335.641.1
Saranac
VillageIonia
6079.920
Schoolcraft
VillageKalamazoo
8073.726.3
Sebewaing
VillageHuron
224.125.750.2
Shelby
VillageOceana
1015.64638.3
Shepherd
VillageIsabella
510.827.561.8
Sheridan
VillageMontcalm
521.86.371.9
Sherwood
VillageBranch
5064.735.3
Shoreham
VillageBerrien
518.1081.9
South Range
VillageHoughton
256.143.90
South Rockwood
VillageMonroe
2037.129.533.3
Sparta
VillageKent
1020.323.656.2
Spring Lake
VillageOttawa
166.850.642.6
Springport
VillageJackson
541590
St Charles
VillageSaginaw
6097.22.8
Stanwood
VillageMecosta
208.791.3
Sterling
VillageArenac
772.55.122.3
Stevensville
VillageBerrien
1835.9559.1
Stockbridge
VillageIngham
613.4185.6
Sunfield
VillageEaton
4049.550.5
Suttons Bay
VillageLeelanau
623.223.353.4
Tekonsha
VillageCalhoun
816.461.622
Thompsonville
VillageBenzie
449.5050.5
Three Oaks
VillageBerrien
51318.968.2
Turner
VillageArenac
200100
Tustin
VillageOsceola
149.750.30
Twining
VillageArenac
4049.250.8
Ubly
VillageHuron
338.826.934.3
Union City
VillageBranch
8111178.1
Unionville
VillageTuscola
575.720.73.6
Vandalia
VillageCass
4066.933.1
Vanderbilt
VillageOtsego
11189.772.3
Vermontville
VillageEaton
540.3059.7
Vernon
VillageShiawassee
613.553.932.6
Vicksburg
VillageKalamazoo
812.575.212.3
Village of Lake Isabella
VillageIsabella
612.568.519
Waldron
VillageHillsdale
332.9067.1
Walkerville
VillageOceana
418.464.117.5
Webberville
VillageIngham
115.952.741.4
Westphalia
VillageClinton
447.249.83
White Pigeon
VillageSt. Joseph
9041.958.1
Wolverine
VillageCheboygan
610.864.225
Wolverine Lake
VillageOakland
65.629.664.7
Woodland
VillageBarry
4050.449.6

Source: Michigan's Transportation Asset Management Council

As state funding stood nearly stagnant for almost 20 years, from 1997 until the 2015 roads deal that raised the gas tax, road maintenance costs rose markedly, Welch said. Without the townships pitching in “we would have been in big trouble,” he said.

The townships contribute roughly $1.5 million, or 15 to 20 percent of the road commission’s budget, Welch said.

Statewide, not all townships, cities and villages have dedicated road taxes. Statewide, 32 have dedicated property taxes for roads, fewer than half of the state’s 83 counties.

Trying to find a simple reason why Barry is better than Eaton is hard. Eaton County has a roads tax yet 66 percent of roads in the county were rated “poor”. Barry does not have a countywide millage and only 13 percent got a poor rating; 40 percent were rated “good”.

Welch’s counterpart in Eaton County, Blair Ballou, said he’s envious of his neighboring county’s help from townships. He said that’s one reason Barry County has better roads. 

But Eaton County voters narrowly approved a road tax in 2014 and Ballou said the money, about $4 million a year, along with increased state funding from the 2015 roads deal, is allowing the county to repair and replace many more miles of road.

“Now that we have the millage it’s really getting things done,” he said.

Bad for you, good for some

In Dickinson County in the Upper Peninsula, drivers may hate the poor roads (12th worst –  54 percent rated “poor”), but it works out for for B&B Tire in Ironwood, on the far western edge of the Upper Peninsula.

Every spring, during the thaw from the long U.P. winter, the shop is filled with customers spending money on new tires and alignments.

“The bad roads are good for our business,” said Kevin Barglind, manager of the shop, “but I have people (coming) in here all the time complaining. Nobody understands why they’re so bad.”

While politicians in Lansing argue over finding the money, be it $400 million (the GOP leaders) or $1.9 billion (Whitmer), the figures are smaller –  and easier to understand: the cost of a new set of tires or the price of an alignment, but the solution is just as evasive as it is 500 miles south in Michigan’s capital.

“People don’t know who to blame,” Barglind said. “They just know they (the roads) are bad and they don’t know how to fix them.”

Dickinson County abuts Wisconsin in the far western edge of the Upper Peninsula and the difference offers a stark contrast to Barglind. “We’re two miles from the Wisconsin border,” Barglind said. “I don’t know what their tax (rate) is, but their roads are far superior to ours.”

According to MDOT, Wisconsin spends double, annually, on road funding: $302 per person compared to $154 per person in Michigan.

City roads vary too

When it comes to the roads in the state’s cities and villages, the disparity is wide. In Inkster, a poor community in Wayne County, more than 80 percent of the city’s 70 miles of roads are rated poor. Yet a few miles away in Woodhaven, it’s 38 percent  – and 48 percent are considered in good condition.

So, too, is that wide gap found in Oakland County: Wixom has some of the worst roads (76 percent poor) while Rochester Hills has more good roads than fair or poor.

Oddly, the city of Lapeer has the best rated roads –  54 percent rated “good” – yet the county as a whole has some of the worst, overall with 63 percent rated “poor.”

 

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