Introduced
by
To require the Department of Transportation to enter "community benefits" agreements with local governments and/or "community representatives" (presumably from labor, environmental, and faith-based organizations, although the term is not defined) when undertaking large projects such as the new Detroit River International Crossing bridge (DRIC). The bill suggests that such “benefits” might include such things as paying higher-than-market wages on projects, increased state spending for additional welfare-like benefits in the area such as subsidized housing or health services, plus subsidies to local businesses, new recreational or other facilities, etc. They might also include requiring additional state spending on environmental or aesthetic impact mitigations such as buffers, sound walls, etc.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation
