I have received several telephone calls and e-mails from residents concerning the condition of Grand River Avenue. After several communications with Mr. Brent Bair and the Road Commissioners, the dangerous potholes which have turned Grand River into an obstacle course, have been filled. This temporary “fix” will continue on an ongoing, “as-needed” basis. We all know that Grand River Avenue needs to be surfaced.

A plan to re-surface Grand River Avenue and add specific turn lanes has been approved by the Oakland County Road Commission and by the City of Novi. The project is tentatively scheduled to start in 2012. The question posed to me on numerous occasions is whether we can move that project forward on the schedule. Scheduling of the project is directly tied to the funding of the project. I will try to explain how funding of the Grand River (Novi Road to Haggerty Road) project, has been structured.

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) plans to reconstruct Grand River Avenue between Novi and Haggerty roads in Novi in 2012. The project will provide a smooth new surface for the road.

The project is tentatively scheduled to start in 2012 because that is when the federal funds will be available. If Congress enacts a second federal “stimulus” program, there is a chance that the project could be moved ahead to 2011, but that is dependent upon Congress adopting and the president signing a second stimulus bill.

As are most federal road funds coming to Oakland County, the federal dollars identified for the Grand River project are channeled through the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), the federally required regional planning agency for Southeast Michigan. Federal funds are first allocated to each state based on a formula, and then distributed to regions within each state based on another formula. Finally, the regional planning body divides the federal funds it receives among the counties in the region based on another formula.

Federal funds coming to Oakland County are distributed by the Oakland County Federal Aid Task Force, which includes representatives of RCOC, the Michigan Department of Transportation and the cities, villages and townships in the county. The committee allocates funds four years in advance of their receipt, so all funds available through 2014 have already been allocated for specific projects. The committee uses an objective point system that allocates funds based on a “worst-first” system that rates and evaluates projects based on factors such as the condition of the road, the ability of the project to reduce congestion and the likelihood of the project to improve safety. Oakland County cities and villages and RCOC all submit projects to the committee. In essence, the Road Commission and the cities and villages compete with each other for the limited available funding. Each year, tens of millions of dollars worth of worthwhile projects are passed over because there simply is insufficient funding available, meaning it often takes many years for funding to become available to resurface or widen a road, despite the obvious need for the project.

RCOC has hired the engineering firm of Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment to design the Grand River project.

Between now and 2012, RCOC will continue to conduct frequent pothole patching operations on the road, in an effort to maintain a drivable surface on the rapidly deteriorating road.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Attorney Kim Capello is a long-time Novi resident, Novi's
County Commissioner, and a former Novi City Council
Member. He can be reached online at kim@ktcapellolaw.com