Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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