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1. How much money does a penny of gas tax generate in Michigan, and for Oakland County?

 One Penny (Gas & Diesel) = $54.5 Million statewide (Gas tax only = $47 Million).

For MDOT, one penny of gas tax generates $17 million.

In Oakland County, one penny of gas tax generates approximately $1.8 million for RCOC and $1.3 million for Oakland’s 40 Cities and Villages.

Gas Tax Graphic

Roads in Oakland County brochure.

2. Are all of our taxes going to fixing the roads?

 We are all sensitive to the amount of taxes we pay, and some are downright upset. Statements similar to the following are frequently heard: “I pay all these taxes; why can’t I get my roads fixed?” Read more about where the money goes. 

3. Doesn’t all the development taking place in Oakland County mean lots of new money for roads?

 No. New development generates new tax revenue in three ways: New property taxes from the increased property value; new sales tax from increased commerce; and new income tax from new jobs. None of those taxes are used to fund roads in Michigan. The primary sources of road funds in Michigan are the gas tax and vehicle registration fees. 

4. How are federal funds distributed in Oakland County?

All the federal road funds are allocated to the Oakland County Federal Aid Funding Committee. The Road Commission and all cities and villages in the county submit projects to the Funding Committee. The Committee objectively evaluates all the projects and determines which one should receive funding.  

5. Statistics indicate that we’ve all been driving more. Doesn’t that mean more gas tax revenue?

 No. Because cars are continuously becoming more fuel-efficient, we're able to drive further on less gas. That means we're putting more wear and tear on Michigan roads and paying less to maintain them. The Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association estimates gasoline consumption is up 5% since 1978, while we're driving 56% more miles! 

6. How are road funds divided between the state and local road agencies?

 State fuel tax and vehicle registration fee revenues are collected in a single "pot" known as the Michigan Transportation Fund. After money is taken off the top for a number of items including the Bridge Fund and Mass Transit, the remaining money is divided between the Michigan Department of Transportation, county road commissions and cities and villages according to a formula established by the state Legislature.

The formula calls for 39.1% of the money to go to MDOT (which has jurisdiction over 8% of Michigan's roads), 39.1% to go to county road commissions (which have jurisdiction over 75% of Michigan's roads) and 21.8% to go to cities and villages (which have jurisdiction over 17% of Michigan's roads).

Show All Answers

1. How much money does a penny of gas tax generate in Michigan, and for Oakland County?

One Penny (Gas & Diesel) = $54.5 Million statewide (Gas tax only = $47 Million).

For MDOT, one penny of gas tax generates $17 million.

In Oakland County, one penny of gas tax generates approximately $1.8 million for RCOC and $1.3 million for Oakland’s 40 Cities and Villages.

Gas Tax Graphic

Roads in Oakland County brochure.

2. Are all of our taxes going to fixing the roads?

We are all sensitive to the amount of taxes we pay, and some are downright upset. Statements similar to the following are frequently heard: “I pay all these taxes; why can’t I get my roads fixed?” Read more about where the money goes.

3. Doesn't all the development taking place in Oakland County mean lots of new money for roads?

No. New development generates new tax revenue in three ways: New property taxes from the increased property value; new sales tax from increased commerce; and new income tax from new jobs. None of those taxes are used to fund roads in Michigan. The primary sources of road funds in Michigan are the gas tax and vehicle registration fees.

Roads in Oakland County brochure.

4. How are road funds divided between the state and local road agencies?

State fuel tax and vehicle registration fee revenues are collected in a single "pot" known as the Michigan Transportation Fund. After money is taken off the top for a number of items including the Bridge Fund and Mass Transit, the remaining money is divided between the Michigan Department of Transportation, county road commissions and cities and villages according to a formula established by the state Legislature.

The formula calls for 39.1% of the money to go to MDOT (which has jurisdiction over 8% of Michigan's roads), 39.1% to go to county road commissions (which have jurisdiction over 75% of Michigan's roads) and 21.8% to go to cities and villages (which have jurisdiction over 17% of Michigan's roads).

Roads in Oakland County brochure.

5. Statistics indicate that we've all been driving more. Doesn't that mean more gas tax revenue?

No. Because cars are continuously becoming more fuel-efficient, we're able to drive further on less gas. That means we're putting more wear and tear on Michigan roads and paying less to maintain them. The Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association estimates gasoline consumption is up 5% since 1978, while we're driving 56% more miles!

Between 1997 and 2007, Michigan's gas tax revenues actually decreased by an annual average of 0.19 percent.

6. How are federal funds distributed in Oakland County?

All the federal road funds are allocated to the Oakland County Federal Aid Task Force. The Road Commission and all cities and villages in the county submit projects to the Task Force's Funding Committee. The Committee objectively evaluates all the projects and determines which one should receive funding.

7. Is RCOC spending all its money in some other community?

Assertion: "The Road Commission is not spending enough money in my community because it is spending all its money in other communities."

Response: The above statement is both true and false. It is true that the Road Commission is not spending enough in any community. It is not true that the Road Commission is spending the money someplace else. The Road Commission spreads the road dollars around as best it can. There simply are not enough dollars to do an adequate job anywhere.

8. What do road improvements cost RCOC?

Activity costs include:
- Rehabilitate/resurface two-lane asphalt road, adding selected passing and turn lanes: $1.5 million/mile
- Rehabilitate/resurface 5-lane concrete road: $1.6 million/mile
- Pave a main gravel road: $2 million/mile
- Widen from 2 lanes to 5 lanes: $7.5 million/mile
- Widen from 2 lanes to 4-lane boulevard: $12 million/mile
- Widen from 2 lanes to 6-lane boulevard $15 million/mile

9. Why don't developers pay more for adding traffic to our area?

Traffic volumes have been growing in our area due to development, and it's not likely that the necessary road improvements will occur before the traffic problems get really bad. If the increase in traffic is the result of the development, why not get the developers to pay for some of the costs of needed road improvements? Learn more on the Traffic Impacts page.

10. What about using property taxes for roads?

Statewide, 14 counties, some townships and many cities and villages are already doing this. Why? Necessity, resulting from decades of inadequate road funding by the state.

Which is the most equitable way to raise money for road maintenance and repairs? Should it be based on:
A. The amount you use the roads; or
B. The value of your property?

Which hits the elderly and those on fixed incomes the hardest?
The Gas Tax = a "User" Tax. The more you use the roads, the more you pay to maintain and improve them.

11. Why not eliminate Oakland's donor status?

Some have suggested that road problems in Oakland County could be eliminated or reduced if we simply eliminated this condition and returned 100 percent of the funds collected for roads in the county. For a number of reasons, this is simply not realistic, though adjustments have been made in the past to reduce Oakland's donor status.

Here are some of the reasons Oakland's donor status cannot simply be eliminated:
1. Oakland is not the only donor in terms of transportation dollars. In fact, all "urban" counties in Michigan are donors.
2. The "urban" counties subsidize the rural counties that do not have the population or other tax base to generate enough money to maintain their roads.
3. In recent winters, the road commissions in some northern counties were unable to plow snow on the weekends because they could not afford the overtime. Eliminating the donor status of "urban" counties would make this situation worse.
4. If all "urban" counties got back 100 percent of the transportation funds they generate, rural counties would be devastated.

12. Why aren't the roads widened before multiple housing projects (or commercial developments or other traffic generators) are allowed?

Certainly, it would be ideal to widen and pave roads before development occurs. Unfortunately, in reality, this is infrequently possible. Learn more on the Widening Before Development page.

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1. How does the Oakland County Federal Aid Task Force Funding Committee rate projects?

The Committee uses a very objective point system to evaluate the projects submitted. It reviews each project in two categories, engineering considerations and planning considerations. Within each category, there are individual criteria against which each project is rated on a numeric scale. The highest number of points is given for a project's potential for accident reduction. The result of this system is that all projects submitted, whether they are from the Road Commission or a city or village, compete against each other for the federal funds. Only those that demonstrate that they are truly worthwhile are selected for funding. This system has been deemed so fair and objective that the Federal Highway Administration has recommended it for use nationwide.

2. Why isn't litter pickup at the top of the Road Commission's priority list? Whose responsibility is it?

Every spring when the snow melts, we are again reminded of what lies along most of our roads, especially our rural gravel roads: litter. Read more on the Litter Pickup page.

3. Which Roads are plowed first? Why does it take so long for our subdivisions to be plowed?

If you cannot be everywhere at once, you've got to set priorities. That is what the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) does. Learn more on the Snow Plowing page.

4. Why not just require road agencies to be more efficient? How about privatizing some of the services they provide?

Michigan's road agencies in general, and county road commissions in particular, are already some of the most privatized public operations. Consider the Road Commission for Oakland County:
- Since 2007, RCOC has reduced its staff by about 35 percent due to the road-funding crisis.
- Today, RCOC has fewer employees than at any time since at least 1962, when the county had half the population it has today and one fifth the traffic.
However, we are doing more work than ever today -- we are doing it through contracted services.
We have contracted out not only the major construction work, such as paving, widening, and resurfacing, but many maintenance activities as well. In other words, road agencies are already among the most efficient public agencies in the state.

5. Does the Road Commission plan for future projects?

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) often hears comments to the effect that the reason we have all these road congestion problems is because of "poor planning." Usually those comments are made by people who are not familiar with the kind or amount of planning that actually occurs. Road agencies have been working with communities for decades to identify future road needs. Learn more about our Project Planning page.

6. What is the Road Commission doing to help protect our environment?

Our society is becoming increasingly sensitive about our environment and rightfully so. We are concerned about what corporations and even public agencies are doing that might damage the environment and make this a less pleasant place to live, especially for our children. Read about how we are working towards

Environment Page

7. Does Oakland County have special road problems?

There are at least four factors that make Oakland County's road problems unique. These factors are:
1. Oakland County is located in a state that simply does not invest in roads.
2. Oakland County is a donor county. Oakland County doesn't get back all the funds that it generates and sends to Lansing; it subsidizes the more rural counties in Michigan.
3. Construction costs are higher in Oakland County than in other areas of the state. This is due to soil problems (such as wetlands) and high land values. Because land costs are higher, it is more expensive to acquire rights-of-way for roads in Oakland County.
4. Oakland County's roads have some of the highest traffic volumes in the state. Growth and economic development continue in Oakland County, bringing more and more traffic. Unfortunately, that development does not directly generate additional funding to improve the roads so that they can handle the increased traffic.

8. What steps are involved in starting and completing a road project?

We all tend to get impatient when things don't get done as fast as we think they should. If any level of government is involved, we tend to blame bureaucracy and bureaucratic red tape. Learn about all the steps in a road project.

9. What can we do about the traffic congestion problem in Oakland County?

Our roads are becoming more congested because the volumes of traffic using the roads often exceed the capacity of those roads. Why not just get the traffic moving much faster so that you get that many more vehicles through an area in an hour? Learn more on the Traffic Congestion page.

10. What are the different levels of road jurisdiction?

As in all counties in Michigan, all roads in Oakland County fall into one of three categories of road jurisdiction: 1. State highways (MDOT) 2. County roads (RCOC) 3. City or village streets. Learn more on the Road Jurisdiction page.

11. How often does the Road Commission sweep roads?

Primary (heavier traveled) roads are swept three times a year. Township subdivision roads are swept once a year.

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1. Won't a "children at play" sign help protect our kids?

At first consideration, it might seem that this sign would provide protection for youngsters playing in a neighborhood. It doesn't. Studies conducted in cities where such signs were widely posted in residential areas show no evidence of having reduced pedestrian crashes, vehicles speeds or legal liability. Learn more on the Children at Play page.

2. Are mailboxes a safety concern?

Mailbox installation may seem simple, but residents need to think about safety before they install a new mailbox. Mailboxes that are set firmly into the ground, and/or have large posts, can become a fixed-object hazard. Learn more on the Mailboxes page.

3. What is process for requesting speed bumps?

This section is being updated. For information or questions, please email us at dcsmail@rcoc.org or call 877-858-4804. 

4. How are speed limits determined and by whom?

Have you ever watched cars go by your home or business and felt that they were going too fast and perhaps the speed limit was too high? Complaints regarding the speed of traffic and even petitions for lower speeds are very common. Ever wonder just how speed limits are determined? Read how on the Speed Limits page.

5. Will a stop sign slow traffic on our street?

Stop signs installed in the wrong places for the wrong purposes usually create more problems than they solve. One common misuse of stop signs is to arbitrarily interrupt traffic, either by causing it to stop or by causing such an inconvenience that motorists are forced to use other routes. Learn more on the Stop Signs page.

6. How does the Road Commission determine when and where to put a traffic signal?

Often developers proposing a new subdivision or shopping mall hope to get the Road Commission to install a traffic signal at the entrance to their development to make it easier to get in and out. If there are already traffic problems in the area, frequently local residents will voice their agreement that what is needed to solve the problem is another traffic signal. It is as if signals are viewed as some sort of cure-all. Learn more on the Traffic Signal page.

7. What is a HAWK Crosswalk Beacon?

The HAWK is a new form of pedestrian crosswalk beacon. It is referred to as a "beacon" rather than a "signal" because it is only lit when it is activated by a pedestrian pushing the crosswalk button. It has a different configuration than traditional signals, with two red lights next to each other above one yellow light. There is no green light. HAWK pedestrian-crosswalk beacons may be used where traffic signals or stop signs are not appropriate, such as at roundabouts.

Hawk Pedestrian Crosswalk Brochure

8. What are "warrants" for traffic control devices?

A warrant for any traffic control device (sign, signal or pavement marking) is the minimum criteria that must be met before such a device can be installed. Meeting a warrant does not mean a traffic control device must be installed. View information about Warrants for Traffic Control Devices page.