Fix it First in Other States

Other states are already implementing Fix-it-First policies, notably Michigan, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.  These advances have been made by Democratic and Republican governors.

With the poor condition of its roads a major public concern, in 1997 Michigan’s Department of Transportation pledged to bring 90% of all roads into ‘good or fair’ condition by 2007. 

Michigan has some of the worst road conditions in the entire country – as much as 65% of its roads were not in ‘good’ condition in 2001 – and the amount of roads not in ‘good’ condition actually increased between 1994 and 2001. (After making that pledge, however, the former administration and Michigan DOT dropped the word ‘fair’ and changed its definition of ‘good’ by diluting it and making the life expectancy of a ‘good’ road just 3 years – meaning that ‘good’ roads will actually be in need of repair soon after the deadline.) 

With the inauguration of Governor Jennifer Granholm in 2003, Michigan appears poised to keep its promise on maintenance and repair needs.  The Michigan DOT announced a ‘Preserve First’ program in April 2003.  Governor Granholm remarked, “During these tight budgetary times, we must focus our efforts on fixing our existing infrastructure before we look at expanding our transportation system.”  As a result of its ‘Preserve First’ focus, the Michigan DOT revised its 5 Year Road and Bridge Program and provided a detailed list of expansion projects that would be deferred until 90% of the state’s roads are in ‘good’ condition. 

In January 2003, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney implemented a ‘Fix-it-First’ policy that gives priority to the repair of existing streets, roads and bridges.  (This policy was coupled with a ‘Community-Friendly Solutions’ policy that focuses on community sensitive project design.)  The stated purposes of the policies are to: “prevent sprawl; recognize all the Commonwealth’s citizens and communities as its transportation agencies’ customers; avoid the costs associated with unnecessary road widenings and the conflicts they entail, and thereby use available funding to complete more projects in more communities and to produce more construction jobs; and, provide enhanced mobility for sustainable transportation modes (walking, bicycling, and public transportation.)”

In early 2003, New Jersey Governor James McGreevey also enacted a ‘Fix-it-First’ policy, citing the need to focus “on improving aging bridges and rehabilitating highways, rail and aviation systems first, instead of pursuing an expansion policy.”

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