Insider Intelligence

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is seeking to streamline the permitting process to help infrastructure projects get started quicker and be completed on time and budget by boosting inter-departmental coordination through an executive directive signed this week. The directive requires the Michigan Infrastructure Office (MIO) to convene all relevant state departments and agencies to develop a coordinated […]

Legislation seeking to save local communities from increased road repair costs associated with the use of federal funding received legislative approval this week. According to the Department of Transportation, its estimated local road agencies see a cost increase of 20% – 30% from meeting federal standards associated with utilizing federal funding. While the department only […]

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Directive 2022-2, directing the Department of Transportation to speed up pothole repairs on state trunkline highways. It calls on the department to use all available resources, including overtime pay and contracted services, to expedite repair of road surface, as well as ensure the public can easily report the location of […]

The House passed legislation designating some major bridges and tunnels throughout Michigan as key facilities. By doing so, this will provide protections for these key infrastructure facilities in the state. Intentionally entering or remaining on the premises of a key facility without authorization is a felony, punishable by up to four years in prison and […]

Zachary Kolodin has been selected to serve as Michigan’s chief information officer and director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office. Mr. Kolodin currently serves as Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s public policy counsel. Prior to that, he worked as a private practice attorney and served as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Edward R. Korman. Mr. Kolodin […]

In preparation for the federal funds Michigan is expected to receive over the next five years, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an Executive Directive to ready the state in expanding high-speed internet access. It directs state departments and agencies to collaborate with the legislature to work towards lowering costs, while expanding access of reliable high-speed service. […]

The Department of Transportation closed on an additional $800 million bond issues, the second installment in Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s $3.5 billion Rebuilding Michigan Program. The latest round of bonds will cover the cost of rebuilding some of the state’s most highly traveled freeways. The full scope of the project will see the rebuilding of 122 […]

Utilizing one-time Federal Funding, Senator Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City) introduced legislation that would provide funds to repair every severe bridge in the state. Of the nearly 12,000 bridges in Michigan, 7,038 are managed by local municipalities. Of that, over 400 are in critical need of repairs. This bill would fund repairs for all those bridges […]