Mackinac Bridge Authority Agreement To Be Codified With Legislation

A view of the Mackinac Bridge fromBridge View Park in St. Ignace.

State Senator Jason Allen says he wants the legislature to guarantee the autonomy of the Mackinac Bridge Authority and will introduce legislation in the next two weeks to do so. He contended last week that a September 20 agreement between the Mackinac Bridge Authority and Michigan Department of Transportation, negotiated by Governor Jennifer Granholm, needs the added protection of state law. The agreement returned operations and budgeting to the Bridge Authority.

"The agreement reached between the Governor and the Mackinac Bridge Authority is a good beginning and reversed the Department of Transportation's takeover,” Senator Allen said. “Unfortunately, this agreement can easily be changed by the current or any future administration. I am proceeding with legislation that will set this agreement in statute to protect the Mackinac Bridge and ensure that the Mackinac Bridge Authority continues their traditional role for generations to come."

The role and responsibilities of the Mackinac Bridge Authority had been challenged by Transportation Director Gloria Jeff, who sought control of its money through state reinvestment of bridge revenues, deferred grating replacement, and self-insurance, all of which could move cash to Lansing.

Michigan has wrestled all year with a billion-dollar budget deficit.

Governor Granholm, a Democrat, quelled the brewing controversy in her administration with the September 20 agreement. Senator Allen, a Republican who hosted a well-attended public meeting on the issue, said he thinks a state statute will make it harder to raid the agency in the future.