M-53 widening project may fall victim to cuts

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M-53 widening project may fall victim to cuts

• By Edward L. Cardenas / The Detroit News
• February 24, 2002

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Upper Macomb

• ROMEO -- The promising plan to expand M-53 over
  the next two years is in doubt because federal
  funding for the project may not come through.
• Under President Bush's proposed budget,
  Michigan could lose 237 million in federal
  funding. It is unclear how much of that money
  would be unavailable for road projects and which
  plans would be affected, but Michigan Department
  of Transportation officials are mulling over
  possible scenarios for its upcoming road work.

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• "Capacity improvement projects such as M-53 may
  be targeted," said Rob Morosi, Michigan
  Department of Transportation spokesman.
• Between 27 1/2 Mile in Washington Township
  through Romeo to 34 Mile in Bruce Township, M-53
  runs one lane north and one lane south. It
  handles residential traffic to some of the
  fastest growing communities in Metro Detroit, and
  commercial and industrial trucks to a number of
  businesses, including Ford Motor Co.'s Romeo
  Engine Plant.
• The heavy traffic volume has contributed to
  the 18 fatal accidents along M-53 since it opened
  in 1990.

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The Economics
Mgl. Total Cost
Demand

• We see market solution.

Mgl. Private Cost

• Congestion makes marginal total cost gt marginal
  private cost.

Opt.
Mkt.

• Market flow gt optimum flow.

Flow