Township Road Initiative Will Pool Funds To Tune Of $14M For Wayne County Road Repairs

DETROIT (WWJ) - Roads in several Wayne County communities that are in bad shape could get the repairs they desperately need.

The county's executive, Robert Ficano, announced Wednesday the Township Road Initiative which partners Wayne County Department of Public Service and the county's townships, will be making $14 million available over the next two years to repair roads.

"This is money that we are redirecting, we are pooling," said Ficano. "Traditionally, because the township is separate under the Road Act, the county works directly with the township - cities get all their own independent money for their roads and repairs and things like that."

Unlike cities, townships don't get gas tax revenues for the roads.

They have to rely on the county to get their money.

"Instead of the county just laying down at $1,500 a mile we would pool all the money and use it as a matching program," Ficano said.

Each township will decide which roads will see the repairs first.