About

On Tuesday, November 8, 2016, Washtenaw County voters approved a road and non-motorized millage to fund approximately 200 miles of road improvements over the course of four construction seasons (2017 – 2020). In addition to road improvements, the millage also provides funding to expand the county’s pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure.

Washtenaw County levied a similar 0.5 mill road tax (using Public Act 283) in 2014 and 2015 which funded approximately 140 miles of road improvements in 2015 and 2016. Click here to learn more about P.A. 283.

Projects

Click here for the latest map of 2017 – 2020 millage projects.

Please be advised that these project lists and maps above are subject to change. While projects will remain the same, the construction year may change.

Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Which roads will be repaired?

WCRC has assembled a four-year road improvement plan that outlines which projects will be completed each year the millage is levied. WCRC will use millage revenue to improve the primary road network. Primary roads are designed for collecting traffic from local roads and connecting motorists to state highways, freeways, cities, and villages.

When did road work begin?

The first year of projects began in the summer 2017. Each year, the millage appears on Washtenaw County resident’s winter tax bill and road improvements will begin the following summer. The 2020 construction season is the last year of projects funded by this millage.

How is the revenue generated by the millage divided?

All revenue generated by the millage stays in Washtenaw County.

  • WCRC receives approximately $3.3 million per year to fund road work in the county’s twenty townships.
  • Cities and villages receive $2.5 million per year, with specific allocations based on the amount raised within a municipality’s borders. For example, the City of Ann Arbor would receive approximately $2 million.
  • The Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission receives $1.5 million per year to support the expansion of the county’s non-motorized path network.

How is this millage different from Ann Arbor’s street millage?

The four-year road and non-motorized path millage funds road improvements in every city, village, and township throughout Washtenaw County. Ann Arbor’s street millage, approved by voters during the August 2, 2016 primary, only funds improvements within the City of Ann Arbor’s borders. The city’s millage does not fund any improvements to the 1,649 miles of county roads, including many commuter roads into Ann Arbor, such as Huron River Drive, Pontiac Trail, and Geddes Road.

I understand that the state approved a road funding package in 2015. Why isn’t that enough to fix Washtenaw County’s roads?

Between 1997 and 2015, there were no increases in state road funding. State funding comprises a majority of WCRC’s revenue.  During these years, no adjustments were made to the fuel taxes to keep pace with inflation or to balance the reduction in gas tax revenue due to cars’ increased fuel efficiency.

In November 2015, state lawmakers approved a package that will increase road funding. Unfortunately, road agencies will not receive the full amount of funding until 2021 and half the funding outlined in the package is not guaranteed. The millage will help fill the funding gap while Washtenaw County awaits the full phase-in of new funding. Additionally, the millage will provide the county with a funding mechanism to continue improving county roads if state lawmakers do not fully actualize the road package.

How are the non-motorized funds spent?

The Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission receives 20% of the revenue generated by the millage (approximately $1.5 million per year). This money is divided annually between investments in the Border-to-Border (B2B) trail system and funding for the Connecting Communities Grant Program.

The B2B is a non-motorized pathway that connects cities, parks, and many destinations throughout Washtenaw County. Within the county, 35 miles are complete and 19 more miles are planned. Millage funds for the B2B go directly to construction and so far have been used to leverage more than $11 million in grant funding and private donations. In 2019, construction was initiated on B2B projects in Lyndon, Lima, Scio, and Ypsilanti Townships, and the City of Ann Arbor.

The Connecting Communities Grant Program provides supplemental funding to assist municipalities with the development of locally important non-motorized projects. Millage funds are used to help with a variety of project expenses, with an emphasis on construction and engineering costs. So far, millage dollars have supported 17 Connecting Communities projects, including the completed construction of path segments along Textile Road in Pittsfield Township and the Matthaei Botanical Gardens Trail in Ann Arbor Township.

2015 and 2016 Road Millage

Click to learn more about the P.A. 283 road millage levied in 2015 & 2016.

Road Funding

Click to learn more about how WCRC funds road improvements.