Michigan Senate To Take On Roads Proposal This Week -- Again

LANSING (WWJ/AP) There are two big things on the agenda for the Michigan Senate this week and one of those will take orange barrels, according to WWJ's Tim Skubick.

The Senate will look at the House of Representatives $500 million proposal to fix Michigan roads this week, Skubick said, adding the plan is about "$1 billion below what it needs to be according to the governor."

In the meantime, House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Wayne Schmidt said a plan in the works could generate at least $1.5 billion a year more for Michigan roads.

So far legislators haven't acted on bills, despite Governor Rick Snyder's calls to do so.

And the calls have been going on a very long time.

Almost exactly one year ago, David Eggert of the Associated Press reported that "high-level talks over fixing Michigan's deteriorating roads are at a standstill in the Capitol, with Republican and Democratic leaders still unable to agree much on how to even start."

"Neither side appears to be budging," he wrote.

At the time, Snyder said was "going slower than what I'd like."

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)