HB 4961 Summary

• Authorizes the Michigan Department of Transportation to enter into public-private agreements (PPAs) for researching, planning, designing, developing, financing, constructing, operating, and maintaining public transportation facilities including highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, and rail facilities.

• Allows public transportation facilities to impose user fees and ancillary charges on users, with initial fee increases capped at the consumer price index unless otherwise specified in the agreement; dynamic pricing for congestion management lanes may exceed this cap.

• Requires the Transportation Commission to approve all public-private agreements and conduct public hearings at least every 5 years; establishes that public transportation facilities must remain publicly owned and dedicated to public use.

• Permits the department to issue bonds and notes to finance facilities, accept federal and private funding, and create public transportation authorities as separate legal entities; prohibits delegation of eminent domain power to concessionaires.

• Establishes enforcement procedures for unpaid user fees including $50 civil fines, liability for 2 times the unpaid fee, and civil collection actions; creates presumption of liability based on vehicle registration and allows barriers to facility access for non-payment.