About Roads
Did you know...
Clinton Township has no authority to make road decisions (jurisdiction) within our community.
All public roads in Michigan townships, except for a few owned and maintained by the state, are controlled by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and are under the jurisdiction of their respective county governments; in our case, the Macomb County Department of Roads (MCDoR). Township policymakers and our departments work closely with the MCDoR on public infrastructure projects and are responsible for administrative and engineering duties when we are required to contribute matching funds to complete road projects within our community. Further, we are responsible for advocating for projects that will improve the quality of life for our residents and maintain a healthy business climate in our community.
Clinton Township does not receive road funding.
Under state law, townships do not collect or receive taxes for roads unless voter-approved millages for roads are in place (Clinton Township has no such millages). Therefore, townships do not receive state or federal government funding to fix or repair roads.
Ensuring quality roads is a Clinton Township strategic planning initiative.
Our focus on roads is an outgrowth of Clinton Township's Strategic Plan, where residents, businesses, and community leaders came together to identify our street conditions as the most critical issue facing the Township. In response, the Establishing Quality Roadways Committee (EQR) was developed and chaired by Treasurer Paul Gieleghem, who assembled a multi-disciplinary team to thoroughly study the issue and develop recommendations on ways the Township can improve roads.
Understanding road funding and maintaining roads is complicated.
Subject matter experts from the community and the state testified before the EQR Committee, which increased our member's understanding of the impediments to fixing roads and maintaining a quality road network. During the process, the Committee discovered that very few people, from policymakers to administrators, let alone the general public have a fundamental understanding of how roads are funded and who makes decisions on which roads receive funding. As a result of the testimony presentations, Q&A sessions, and workgroups, the Establishing Quality Roadways Committee developed a comprehensive presentation designed to help our community understand the multifaceted process involving repairing, building, and managing our roads.
You can do something about it.
CLICK HERE to contact your State Legislator with our easy-to-use fillable form.