MDOT’s Reality Check: Roads like Ohio

Lansing, Mich. — "We need to find out how Ohio builds roads that are so much better than Michigan's." The latest "Reality Check" video and fact sheet from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) examines why Ohio's roads are in better shape than Michigan's: greater investment.

"The heart of this myth isn't that Ohio's roads are better than Michigan's – they are – it's about why they're better," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "It's not some secret formula. Ohio simply invests $1 billion more each year in its roads than Michigan does."

The video and fact sheet outline how, per capita, every other state in the country invests more in its roads than Michigan does. Among its Midwestern neighbors, Michigan spends $60 to $376 less per capita on transportation each year.

Myth: Ohio's roads are so much better than Michigan's. MDOT needs to learn how they do it so they can build better roads.

Reality: There's no secret to why Ohio's roads are better than Michigan's. They spend $1 billion more each year on them.

Throughout the year, MDOT will continue to take on more transportation myths. Future topics will include issues like: why signs are replaced when they are, the safety of roundabouts, truck weights, road-building standards, and the effect of gas prices on fuel tax revenues. The first four myths, and the facts that deflate them, are available at www.michigan.gov/realitycheck.