LANSING – The House and Senate Transportation committees could hold joint hearings on legislation to create the Detroit River International Crossing.
Sen. Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba), chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, said he and Rep. Paul Opsommer (R-DeWitt), the House Transportation chair, have been discussing how they will handle the legislation in the wake of Governor Rick Snyder’s call in last week’s State of the State address to pass legislation authorizing DRIC.
Casperson said he expects the two committees would hold joint hearings, but final decisions have yet to be made. Casperson said he has opposed DRIC in the past, but is noncommittal at this point.
“I don’t know what the details are,” he said of Snyder’s proposal. “Until I know them, I’m withholding judgment on it.”
Casperson said Snyder’s securing of an agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation to let the $550 million Canada would put up to cover Michigan’s share of the DRIC count toward the state’s matching fund share of federal highway money was a unique move. But Casperson said he wants more assurances as to how the bridge itself would be funded.
DRIC supporters have said bridge tolls would cover the cost of bonds sold to pay for the bridge.
In the past, Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) has shown greater openness to DRIC than most other Republicans. “All he’s asked me to do is be open to both sides,” Casperson said of his discussions with Richardville on the issue.
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