Unused Tri-party funds available to OC communities

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC), in conjunction with the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, has put out a one-time call to county communities seeking road improvement projects that could be constructed this year or next with $2.9 million in unused Tri-party Program funds.

“The county Board of Commissioners wants to make sure these dollars are used to improve our roads, and do not languish in a bank account,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Mike Gingell (R-Lake Orion). “I am very pleased that we are ensuring that these dollars will be put to good use as quickly as possible.”

The Tri-party Program involves one-third funding from Oakland County, one-third from the RCOC and one-third from the community. Projects are selected by the communities on RCOC roads with the approval of the road commission.

In recent years, the program has had an annual budget of $3 million, based on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners’ budgeting of $1 million toward it. However, due to the economy, over the last several years some communities have not been able to utilize their share of Tri-party dollars because they could not provide the local match, resulting in the one-time availability of the $2.9 million in unused funds.

“Many communities used their funds previously, but we have unused dollars of $2.9 million,” said RCOC Spokesperson Craig Bryson. “If a particular community doesn’t use their money, we will make it available to others who need it.”

Board of Road Commissioners Chairman Eric Wilson said that, given the worsening condition of Oakland County roads resulting from years of declining state road funding, it’s important to make sure every available dollar is invested in the system.

“This effort lets those communities who have available matching funds move ahead with badly needed projects,” Wilson said.

Communities interested in applying for some of the available funds are asked to submit a request identifying the project and amount of funding needed to the road commission by Wednesday, Sept. 5. All Oakland County communities have been notified of this opportunity.

The communities must be willing to proceed with the projects this year or next and the projects must address either the surface condition of a county road or improve the safety of the county road network.

The RCOC will select the projects that receive the available funding.