Bill Text: MI SB0364 | 2019-2020 | 100th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Transportation: railroads; local grade separation fund and grant program; create. Amends 1951 PA 51 (MCL 247.651 - 247.675) by adding sec. 11i.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-12-16 - Placed On Second Reading [SB0364 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2019-SB0364-Introduced.html
SENATE BILL No. 364
June 5, 2019, Introduced by Senator ZORN and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
A bill to amend 1951 PA 51, entitled
"An act to provide for the classification of all public roads,
streets, and highways in this state, and for the revision of that
classification and for additions to and deletions from each
classification; to set up and establish the Michigan transportation
fund; to provide for the deposits in the Michigan transportation
fund of specific taxes on motor vehicles and motor vehicle fuels;
to provide for the allocation of funds from the Michigan
transportation fund and the use and administration of the fund for
transportation purposes; to promote safe and efficient travel for
motor vehicle drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and other legal
users of roads, streets, and highways; to set up and establish the
truck safety fund; to provide for the allocation of funds from the
truck safety fund and administration of the fund for truck safety
purposes; to set up and establish the Michigan truck safety
commission; to establish certain standards for road contracts for
certain businesses; to provide for the continuing review of
transportation needs within the state; to authorize the state
transportation commission, counties, cities, and villages to borrow
money, issue bonds, and make pledges of funds for transportation
purposes; to authorize counties to advance funds for the payment of
deficiencies necessary for the payment of bonds issued under this
act; to provide for the limitations, payment, retirement, and
security of the bonds and pledges; to provide for appropriations
and tax levies by counties and townships for county roads; to
authorize contributions by townships for county roads; to provide
for the establishment and administration of the state trunk line
fund, local bridge fund, comprehensive transportation fund, and
certain other funds; to provide for the deposits in the state trunk
line fund, critical bridge fund, comprehensive transportation fund,
and certain other funds of money raised by specific taxes and fees;
to provide for definitions of public transportation functions and
criteria; to define the purposes for which Michigan transportation
funds may be allocated; to provide for Michigan transportation fund
grants; to provide for review and approval of transportation
programs; to provide for submission of annual legislative requests
and reports; to provide for the establishment and functions of
certain advisory entities; to provide for conditions for grants; to
provide for the issuance of bonds and notes for transportation
purposes; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state and
local agencies and officials; to provide for the making of loans
for transportation purposes by the state transportation department
and for the receipt and repayment by local units and agencies of
those loans from certain specified sources; and to repeal acts and
parts of acts,"
(MCL 247.651 to 247.675) by adding section 11i.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 11i. (1) The department shall create and operate a local
grade separation grant program for the separation of motor vehicle
traffic and railroad traffic in this state. The department shall
provide grants to cities, villages, and county road commissions in
this state.
(2) An application for funds from the local grade separation
grant program shall be made on a form approved by the department
and shall contain the information required by the department. An
application for funds under this section may be made at any time as
determined by the department.
(3) The department shall establish a review process for
considering funding applications under this section. No later than
120 days after receiving a funding application under this section,
the department shall notify the applicant in writing whether the
application is approved or rejected. If the department fails to
notify an applicant in writing whether an application is approved
or rejected within 120 days after receiving the funding
application, the application shall be considered approved. Prior to
releasing local grade separation grant funds, the department shall
enter into a written agreement with the funding recipient.
(4) The written agreement between the department and the
funding recipient shall provide for all of the following:
(a) Complete details of the grade separation project.
(b) A local, private, or federal match of not less than 20% of
the cost of the grade separation project.
(5) For each year in which the department receives funding
applications, the department shall report by December 1 to the
standing committees of the senate and house of representatives with
primary jurisdiction over issues pertaining to transportation and
the senate and house of representatives appropriations committees
on the utilization of funds from the local grade separation grant
program. The report shall include, at a minimum, all of the
following:
(a) The number of funding applications received under this
section.
(b) The name of each city, village, or county road commission
applying for funding, and whether each application was approved or
denied.
(c) The amount of local match for each award under this
section.
(6) The local grade separation fund is created within the
state treasury.
(7) The state treasurer may receive money or other assets from
any source for deposit into the local grade separation fund. The
state treasurer shall direct the investment of the local grade
separation fund. The state treasurer shall credit to the local
grade separation fund interest and earnings from local grade
separation fund investments.
(8) Money in the local grade separation fund at the close of
the fiscal year shall remain in the local grade separation fund and
shall not lapse into the general fund.
(9) The state transportation department shall be the
administrator of the local grade separation fund for auditing
purposes.
(10) The state transportation department shall expend money
from the local grade separation fund, upon appropriation, only to
fund and operate the local grade separation grant program created
in subsection (1).
(11) As used in this section, "grade separation" means an
intersection of a railroad and highway at different levels with the
railroad either above or below the highway.
