Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS)

We’re interested in getting a sense of local officials’ views on their local county road commissions or county road departments (where road commission duties have been transferred to the county). Thinking about how the county road commission or road department interacts with your jurisdiction in particular, to what extent do you agree or disagree that, overall, you're satisfied with the performance of your county road commission/road department?

Thinking beyond traditional road issues, have added or expanded biking or walking trails been implemented within your jurisdiction's geographic boundaries in the last five years?

Thinking beyond traditional road issues, have added or expanded dedicated bike lanes on streets been implemented within your jurisdiction's geographic boundaries in the last five years?

Thinking beyond traditional road issues, have added or expanded ATV or snowmobile trails been implemented within your jurisdiction's geographic boundaries in the last five years?

Thinking beyond traditional road issues, have added or widened sidewalks been implemented within your jurisdiction's geographic boundaries in the last five years?

Thinking beyond traditional road issues, has reduced the number of vehicle lanes (a "road diet") been implemented within your jurisdiction's geographic boundaries in the last five years?

In 2010, "Complete Streets" legislation gave project planning and coordination responsibilities to local governments and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to develop "roadways planned, designed, and constructed to provide appropriate access to all legal users...whether by car, truck, transit, assistive device, foot or bicycle." How familiar are you with the Complete Streets initiative?

There are many methods states could use to fund roads and bridges, including some that are not currently allowed in Michigan. Thinking about a broad range of policy options, and assuming the Michigan Legislature does increase funding for roads and bridges, please identify whether you would support or oppose increasing fees for overweight trucks for the state to raise more revenue.

Thinking about the condition of roads and bridges within your community overall, to what degree would you say their current condition has a positive or negative impact, if any, on citizen satisfaction with your jurisdiction’s government?

In your opinion, where would you say the majority of your jurisdiction’s Board/Council would rank the need for road and bridge maintenance and improvement compared to other public service priorities (e.g., public safety services, economic development, public health, trash collection, etc.) for your local government?

In your opinion, where would you say the majority of your jurisdiction’s citizens would rank the need for road and bridge maintenance and improvement compared to other public service priorities (e.g., public safety services, economic development, public health, trash collection, etc.) for your local government?

In your opinion, where would you say the majority of your jurisdiction’s business community would rank the need for road and bridge maintenance and improvement compared to other public service priorities (e.g., public safety services, economic development, public health, trash collection, etc.) for your local government?

In your opinion, where would you say you personally in your role as a local official would rank the need for road and bridge maintenance and improvement compared to other public service priorities (e.g., public safety services, economic development, public health, trash collection, etc.) for your local government?

Once again, thinking about the condition of roads and bridges in your community overall, to what degree would you say their condition has changed over the past five years, if at all? Please indicate whether—in your opinion—the overall condition of roads and bridges in your geographic boundaries, in general, has improved, deteriorated, or not changed significantly over the past five years.

In some local jurisdictions, the focus of road and/or bridge maintenance and improvement is on long-term asset management. In other jurisdictions, the focus is necessarily on short-term repairs and “band-aid” fixes. Which of the following, in your opinion, best describes the current approach to road and/or bridge maintenance and improvement within your jurisdiction’s geographic boundaries? (Please respond to the best of your knowledge, even if your jurisdiction does not control local road policy.)

Some counties or localities have had to resort to grinding up paved roads that they can no longer afford to maintain. As far as you know, has this been done to one or more paved roads within your jurisdiction’s geographic boundaries during the past five years?

If the state legislature does not significantly increase funding for roads and/or bridges in your jurisdiction, in your opinion, how much of a problem, if at all, would it be to maintain the roads and bridges, in general, within your geographic boundaries?

If the state legislature does not significantly increase funding for roads and/or bridges in your jurisdiction, in your opinion, how much of a problem, if at all, would it be to improve the roads and bridges, in general, within your geographic boundaries?

Now, if the state legislature increases funding for roads and/or bridges in your jurisdiction by some amount, which of the following, in your opinion, would be closest to meeting your jurisdiction’s needs to maintain the roads and bridges, in general, within your geographic boundaries?

Now, if the state legislature increases funding for roads and/or bridges in your jurisdiction by some amount, which of the following, in your opinion, would be closest to meeting your jurisdiction’s needs to improve the roads and bridges, in general, within your geographic boundaries?

There are many methods states could use to fund roads and bridges, including some that are not currently allowed in Michigan. Thinking about a broad range of policy options, and assuming the Michigan Legislature does increase funding for roads and bridges, please identify whether you would support or oppose increasing the gas and/or diesel taxes for the state to raise more revenue.

There are many methods states could use to fund roads and bridges, including some that are not currently allowed in Michigan. Thinking about a broad range of policy options, and assuming the Michigan Legislature does increase funding for roads and bridges, please identify whether you would support or oppose increasing vehicle registration fees for the state to raise more revenue.

Does your jurisdiction provide any kind of retiree health care benefits to any current or former employees and/or elected officials?

There are many methods states could use to fund roads and bridges, including some that are not currently allowed in Michigan. Thinking about a broad range of policy options, and assuming the Michigan Legislature does increase funding for roads and bridges, please identify whether you would support or oppose increasing the sales tax for the state to raise more revenue.

There are many methods states could use to fund roads and bridges, including some that are not currently allowed in Michigan. Thinking about a broad range of policy options, and assuming the Michigan Legislature does increase funding for roads and bridges, please identify whether you would support or oppose adding toll roads and/or lanes for the state to raise more revenue.

There are many methods states could use to fund roads and bridges, including some that are not currently allowed in Michigan. Thinking about a broad range of policy options, and assuming the Michigan Legislature does increase funding for roads and bridges, please identify whether you would support or oppose introducing mileage fees (Vehicle Miles Traveled) for the state to raise more revenue.

There are many methods states could use to fund roads and bridges, including some that are not currently allowed in Michigan. Thinking about a broad range of policy options, and assuming the Michigan Legislature does increase funding for roads and bridges, please identify whether you would support or oppose increasing drivers’ license fees for the state to raise more revenue.

There are many methods states could use to fund roads and bridges, including some that are not currently allowed in Michigan. Thinking about a broad range of policy options, and assuming the Michigan Legislature does increase funding for roads and bridges, please identify whether you would support or oppose increasing traffic violation fines, surcharges, and permit fees for the state to raise more revenue.

There are many methods states could use to fund roads and bridges, including some that are not currently allowed in Michigan. Thinking about a broad range of policy options, and assuming the Michigan Legislature does increase funding for roads and bridges, please identify whether you would support or oppose leasing road right-of-way and/or state property for cell phone towers, advertisements, etc. for the state to raise more revenue.

Thinking beyond state funding, does your jurisdiction currently expend any own-source local revenues on-road and/or bridge maintenance, improvement, or construction—either directly or as matching funds?