A new idea to raise money to fix the state’s roads involves selling state assets to pay for the infrastructure. As Cheyna Roth reports, the assets include the Blue Water Bridge.
A spending bill in the state House includes a requirement that the Department of Transportation put together a proposal for the potential sale of multiple assets. The assets include a railroad line, eight welcome centers, the Blue Water Bridge, and four airports.
Republican Representative Shane Hernandez is chair of the House committee in charge of the state budget. He says this is just one option to explore.
“I think it’s appropriate for us to find out, is there interest, what is the value of our assets and we can’t make decisions going forward if we don’t know those things.”
Opponents say GOP lawmakers don’t even know if it’s possible to sell a bridge that the state owns with Canada. Or how much money some of these assets are making for the state.
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—Cheyna Roth is a reporter for the Michigan Public Radio network. Contact WEMU News at 734.487.3363 or email us at studio@wemu.org
