By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-991132.mp3
LANSING, MI –
Governor Rick Snyder will deliver a widely anticipated address on infrastructure Wednesday at a technical college in Southfield. As we hear from Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta, the governor is expected to call for new investments to ensure public health and safety, and to resuscitate Michigan's economy.
The governor will certainly talk about fuel taxes and fixing roads and bridges. He will bring up mass transit and the importance of reliable bus and light rail service. And he will say improving access to broadband is also critical to improving the state's economy.
The governor will say upgrading and maintaining infrastructure is a bargain for taxpayers and in some cases, like ensuring good sewers, critical to public safety.
Geralyn Lasher is the governor's communications director. She says Michigan's sewer infrastructure is already old and prone to failures.
"Those costs can be quite expensive not only in dollars and cents, but also in public health," she says.
The governor is not expected to share a lot of details on how to pay for infrastructure investments, but he will promise to work with the Legislature to come up with funding.