SENATE BILL NO. 426

A bill to amend 1951 PA 51, entitled

"An act to provide for the classification of all public roads, streets, and highways in this state, and for the revision of that classification and for additions to and deletions from each classification; to set up and establish the Michigan transportation fund; to provide for the deposits in the Michigan transportation fund of specific taxes on motor vehicles and motor vehicle fuels; to provide for the allocation of funds from the Michigan transportation fund and the use and administration of the fund for transportation purposes; to promote safe and efficient travel for motor vehicle drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and other legal users of roads, streets, and highways; to set up and establish the truck safety fund; to provide for the allocation of funds from the truck safety fund and administration of the fund for truck safety purposes; to set up and establish the Michigan truck safety commission; to establish certain standards for road contracts for certain businesses; to provide for the continuing review of transportation needs within the state; to authorize the state transportation commission, counties, cities, and villages to borrow money, issue bonds, and make pledges of funds for transportation purposes; to authorize counties to advance funds for the payment of deficiencies necessary for the payment of bonds issued under this act; to provide for the limitations, payment, retirement, and security of the bonds and pledges; to provide for appropriations and tax levies by counties and townships for county roads; to authorize contributions by townships for county roads; to provide for the establishment and administration of the state trunk line fund, local bridge fund, comprehensive transportation fund, and certain other funds; to provide for the deposits in the state trunk line fund, critical bridge fund, comprehensive transportation fund, and certain other funds of money raised by specific taxes and fees; to provide for definitions of public transportation functions and criteria; to define the purposes for which Michigan transportation funds may be allocated; to provide for Michigan transportation fund grants; to provide for review and approval of transportation programs; to provide for submission of annual legislative requests and reports; to provide for the establishment and functions of certain advisory entities; to provide for conditions for grants; to provide for the issuance of bonds and notes for transportation purposes; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state and local agencies and officials; to provide for the making of loans for transportation purposes by the state transportation department and for the receipt and repayment by local units and agencies of those loans from certain specified sources; to investigate and study the tolling of roads, streets, highways, or bridges; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,"

(MCL 247.651 to 247.675) by adding section 11j.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 11j. (1) The department, for the purpose of administering the local grade separation grant program created in section 11i, shall create and publish on its website an application point-based scoring system that awards points to an applicant based on all of the following criteria:

(a) Up to 15 points based on the characteristics of the grade crossing, including all of the following:

(i) Federal Railroad Administration predicted accident rank.

(ii) The host railroad.

(iii) The population and annual daily traffic of the county, township, or city in which the crossing is located.

(iv) The grade crossing average annual daily traffic based on the most current available data.

(b) Up to 25 points for safety, based on the average daily train traffic through the grade crossing.

(c) Up to 10 points for mobility, as determined by multiplying the grade crossing average annual daily traffic and the average daily train traffic through the grade crossing.

(d) Up to 20 points based on the applicant's narrative included with the application describing the economic development benefit to the county, township, or city in which the grade crossing is located, and based on the financial participation of entities other than the department, as determined by the following categories of financial participation:

(i) High end, if the applicant contribution is 25% or greater and railroad support is 10% or greater of the total match.

(ii) Mid-range, if the applicant contribution is greater than 20% and less than 25% and railroad support is greater than 5% and less than 10% of the total match.

(iii) Low end, if the applicant contribution is 20% or less and railroad support is 5% or less of the total match.

(e) Up to 10 points for the effect of the grade separation project on the environment and quality of life, based on all of the following:

(i) The proximity of the grade separation project to a current or planned department project that will enhance transportation in the area.

(ii) If the grade separation project is a stand-alone project or is in an isolated area.

(iii) If the grade separation project is shovel-ready. As used in this subparagraph, "shovel-ready" means planning and engineering for the grade separation project has advanced enough that with sufficient funding construction can begin within a short time.

(iv) Whether the grade separation project would be funded without the local grade separation program.

(f) Up to 20 points based on how many additional grade crossings would be eliminated as part of the grade separation project.

(g) Up to 15 bonus points if the applicant submits additional documents or information, including 1 or more of the following:

(i) Congressional letter of support.

(ii) Community letter of support.

(iii) Verified tax base increase due to the grade separation project.

(iv) Community impact due to an international border crossing.

(v) Other documents as determined by the department.

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 101st Legislature are enacted into law:

(a) Senate Bill No. 425.

(b) Senate Bill No. 427.