The Mackinac Bridge Authority is a government group in the U.S. state of Michigan that manages the Mackinac Bridge, which connects the two sides of the Straits of Mackinac. Michigan has asked this group to keep the bridge in good condition using only the money it earns. The Mackinac Bridge is a toll bridge, and the cost of the tolls is decided by the authority and its leadership group.
History
The Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) was formed in 1950 to examine whether building a suspension bridge to connect Michigan's Lower Peninsula with its Upper Peninsula was possible. In 1952, a law gave the MBA the right to issue special bonds to raise money for the bridge's cost. The authority managed the bridge's construction from 1954 to 1957 and has operated the bridge since it opened on November 1, 1957. The MBA was originally planned to end in 1986 after all the bonds were fully paid.
Between 2004 and 2005, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Director Gloria Jeff took actions that challenged the MBA's independence, arguing it was not a separate agency. In 2004, Jeff transferred $25 million from the MBA to the Michigan Treasury, stating the state treasurer was responsible for the MBA's funds. On August 12, 2005, Jeff claimed that engineering inspections and insurance would be handled by MDOT instead of the MBA, citing a 40-year-old opinion from the state's Attorney General, which she refused to share.
In September 2005, Governor Jennifer Granholm worked with MDOT and the MBA to resolve conflicts caused by MDOT's efforts to reduce costs due to budget challenges. These efforts included limiting the MBA's board power. The discussions led to an agreement allowing the bridge authority to resume its usual operations, with MDOT making decisions and Kirk Steudle, MDOT's top assistant director, being assigned to the MBA's board.
Board
Six members of the Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) are chosen by the Governor of Michigan. The director of the Transportation Department is a member by virtue of their position. The MBA is a state agency that operates independently and is responsible for managing the Mackinac Bridge, which is part of the State Trunkline Highway System. The MBA collaborates with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) but does not answer to it. The MBA’s executive secretary is selected by MDOT with the MBA’s agreement, and the MDOT director is a member of the MBA board. Patrick F. Gleason has been the board’s chairman since 2018, and Kim Nowack has served as the executive secretary since 2019.