U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten was joined by Ranking Member on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Congressman Rick Larsen as they met at the Kent County Road Commission to discuss securing federal funding for future West Michigan road projects.
Kent County Road Commission Director Jerry Byrne also met with representatives to discuss the importance of funding Kentwood’s Patterson Road Project.
“It’s out heaviest volume primary road in Kent County, okay? It goes to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. It’s a gateway. It needs to be better, but we need some federal dollars to help our local dollars go further.”
Joining them was Michigan Department of Transportation Director Brad Wieferich, who addressed securing sustainable funding for Michigan roads.
“Right now, the highway trust fund is not solvent and is often propped up with general funds that can be unpredictable, and the more clarity we have on long-term, sustainable funding, the more that our department and out local partners can be even more efficient at actually implementing those taxpayer dollars.”
Both Scholten and Larsen are working together to ensure the upcoming Surface Transportation Reauthorization, which funds highways, railways, and infrastructure programs, will include priorities for West Michigan. The law is set to expire in 2026.
“For me, it’s essential that our federal tax dollars are coming back home to do the work they need to do here in West Michigan.”
