WATS Blog

Help Shape the Future of Transportation in Michigan

2012-02-07T07:16:00.000-08:00

Southeast Michigan residents have a unique opportunity to provide valuable guidance to elected leadership in Lansing and help shape how we will maintain and improve the transportation system – roads, bridges, and transit – in Southeast Michigan through a regional online survey sponsored by the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC) and SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. Citizens can take the online survey directly, or by visiting theSEMCOG or MAC websites.

The region’s and state’s infrastructure needs are estimated to cost $2.8 billion per year over the next 20 years, with only $1.4 billion currently available from federal, state, and local sources (primarily gas taxes and vehicle registration fees). There are many causes for this large gap, including the general economic downturn, fewer vehicle miles traveled, more fuel-efficient vehicles, and the fact that the gas tax has not been increased since 1997. In addition, we are the only large metropolitan area in the country without a coordinated transit system that serves the needs of the region.

To ensure that Southeast Michigan preserves a high quality of life and attracts and retains business investment, tourism, and a dynamic and educated workforce, we need to maintain our roads and bridges in good condition, and provide better transit options.

The brief survey asks nine questions pertaining to two transportation-related topics:

The importance of investing in maintaining and improving Michigan’s roads and bridges; and

The importance of expanding public transit in Southeast Michigan

This Pulse of the Region survey is an easy way for the public to voice their opinions and have an impact on the future of the region’s transportation system. “With legislation just introduced in the State House and Senate on these critical issues, now is a perfect time to speak up and let your elected officials know what you think,” said Paul E. Tait, Executive Director of SEMCOG and President of MAC.

This survey is powered by Cobalt Community Research, a Michigan-based 501c3 nonprofit research coalition with a mission to provide research and educational tools that help schools, local governments, and other nonprofit member organizations thrive as changes emerge in the economic, demographic, and social landscape.

SEMCOG is a regional planning partnership of governmental units serving 4.7 million people in the seven-county region of Southeast Michigan striving to enhance the region’s quality of life.

The Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC), a non-profit public/private partnership, is the only group that brings business, labor, government, and education together to build consensus and seek solutions to regional issues. MAC is uniquely positioned to be a catalyst for change and help move the region and state forward.

Temporary Road Closure: Tuebingen Parkway

2012-02-03T13:57:00.000-08:00

The City of Ann Arbor will close Tuebingen Parkway for repairs to a sanitary sewer pipe. The closure affects the portion of Tuebingen between Traver Road and Lancashire Drive. Weather permitting, repairs begin February 6, 2012 and will be complete on February 13. During this work, traffic will be diverted to Nixon for southbound traffic and Huron Parkway for northbound Tuebingen traffic. The image below shows the traffic control plan. View the full notice here.

Project Contacts:

Nichole Woodward, P.E., Utility Engineer (734) 323-3763
Chris Rachwal, Civil Engineering Specialist, (734) 323-7932
Dan Wooden, Sanitary Utilities, (734) 972-2413

E. T. MacKenzie Company
Eric Evans, Construction Contractor, (734) 216-0838

New Zipcars Added to Downtown Ann Arbor Fleet

2012-01-31T12:03:00.000-08:00

As of Monday, January 23rd, 2 new Zipcars have been added to the downtown Ann Arbor Zipcar Fleet. These Zipcars–2 Ford Focuses–are at the Washington Street entrance to the 415 W. Washington parking lot. And the best thing about these cars (and all the Ford Zipcars) is that they only cost $7/hr rather than the usual $8/hr.

Thanks to the Ann Arbor DDA for providing the spaces for these Zipcars!

With this addition, the downtown Ann Arbor fleet now has 10 cars. The other downtown Ann Arbor Zipcar locations are 1st Street (across from Liberty Lofts), Fourth and Catherine (by the Farmer’s Market), Main and William (in the Palio Parking Lot), and the McKinley Town Centre Parking Lot (on Washington across from the 411 Lofts).

Anyone who’s a Zipcar Ann Arbor Member has access to more than 20 cars on the UM campus and to Zipcars all over the country.

Want more information about Zipcar? Visit zipcar.com/annarbor or contact getDowntown at info@getdowntown.org.

New Pedestrian Bridge Near Dexter High School

2012-01-31T11:57:00.000-08:00

The Dexter Leader reports that a Pedestrian bridge on Shield Road near Dexter High School will be completed this spring. Prior to the bridge, pedestrians used a narrow shoulder along the roadway to reach the nearby football field. The new bridge will improve access and safety in the Dexter Community.

This project was funded by a 2008 bond proposal and selected for its overlaps in student health and safety.

For more details about the project, see the original story at the Dexter Leader.

Feds Looking at New Transportation Bill

2012-01-24T10:51:00.000-08:00

Article originally published on the Michigan Land Use Institute's (MLUI) website.

Feds Looking at New Transportation Bill

January 20, 2012 by James Bruckbauer ·

Rep. John Mica (R-FL) introduced a new six-year transportation bill late last fall.

The wait will soon be over. In the next month or two, Congress is expected to pass a $112 billion federal highway bill, putting an end to a long delay in setting a six-year transportation strategy for the country. The last transportation bill, titled SAFETEA-LU, expired on September 30, 2009.

Over the past two years, Congress extended SAFETEA-LU through a series of resolutions. For far too long, legislators put off the decision to create a new long-term nation-wide transportation policy, leaving Michigan and its towns, both large and small, wondering what to expect year to year.

With a five-year strategy in place, Michigan can better plan its transportation projects and shape its communities accordingly.

Even though details of the bill have not been released, for transportation advocates like me, striking a deal on a new strategy is big news.

A strong bill would be one that spends our tax dollars wisely by fixing our existing road network, providing more choices like rail and bus transit for folks to get around, and makes investments in bicycle and pedestrian safety. It would also set policies that make Americans less dependent on cars and oil (whether foreign or our own). A bill that fails to provide these elements is shortsighted.

If the bill directs revenue in much of the same outdated, highway-building policies, we’ll be back to where we are today – crumbling roads, a third-world passenger rail system, and nationwide car dependency.

.....(see rest of article here)

James Bruckbauer is the Michigan Land Use Institute’s transportation policy specialist. Follow him @jimbruckb. Reach him at james@mlui.org.

Public Transportation à la The Onion

2012-01-20T13:57:00.000-08:00

Here at WATS, we are passionate about improving Washtenaw County's transportation options, but even transportation planners appreciate a little humor. And because all fake news is good news, here is an article from satire site The Onion that we couldn't help sharing.

(Article reblogged from The Onion news, a news satire website. See original posting here)

Report: 98 Percent Of U.S. Commuters Favor Public Transportation For Others

November 29, 2000 | ISSUE 44•27 ISSUE 36•43

WASHINGTON, DC–A study released Monday by the American Public Transportation Association reveals that 98 percent of Americans support the use of mass transit by others.

"With traffic congestion, pollution, and oil shortages all getting worse, now is the time to shift to affordable, efficient public transportation," APTA director Howard Collier said. "Fortunately, as this report shows, Americans have finally recognized the need for everyone else to do exactly that." Of the study's 5,200 participants, 44 percent cited faster commutes as the primary reason to expand public transportation, followed closely by shorter lines at the gas station. Environmental and energy concerns ranked a distant third and fourth, respectively.

Anaheim, CA, resident Lance Holland, who drives 80 miles a day to his job in downtown Los Angeles, was among the proponents of public transit.

"Expanding mass transit isn't just a good idea, it's a necessity," Holland said. "My drive to work is unbelievable. I spend more than two hours stuck in 12 lanes of traffic. It's about time somebody did something to get some of these other cars off the road."

Public support for mass transit will naturally lead to its expansion and improvement, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials said.

"With everyone behind it, we'll be able to expand bus routes, create park-and-ride programs, and build entire new Metrolink commuter-rail lines," LACMTA president Howard Sager said. "It's almost a shame I don't know anyone who will be using these new services."

Morning rush hour on one of Los Angeles' economical, environmentally friendly buses.

"Improving public transportation will do a great deal of good, creating jobs, revitalizing downtown areas, and reducing pollution," Sager said. "It also means a lot to me personally, as it should cut 20 to 25 minutes off my morning drive."

The APTA study also noted that of the 98 percent of Americans who drive to work, 94 percent are the sole occupant of their automobile.

"When public transportation is not practical, commuters should at least be carpooling," Collier said. "Most people, unlike me, probably work near someone they know and don't need to be driving alone."

Collier said he hopes the study serves as a wake-up call to Americans. In conjunction with its release, the APTA is kicking off a campaign to promote mass transit with the slogan, "Take The Bus... I'll Be Glad You Did."

The campaign is intended to de-emphasize the inconvenience and social stigma associated with using public transportation, focusing instead on the positives. Among these positives: the health benefits of getting fresh air while waiting at the bus stop, the chance to meet interesting people from a diverse array of low-paying service-sector jobs, and the opportunity to learn new languages by reading subway ads written in Spanish.

"People need to realize that public transportation isn't just for some poor sucker to take to work," Collier said. "He should also be taking it to the shopping mall, the supermarket, and the laundromat."

Transportation Options Important to a Talented Workforce

2012-01-20T07:15:00.000-08:00

This is a news release from getDowntown and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority(TheRide). Check out getDowntown for tips, ideas, and programs for getting around Ann Arbor via foot, bike, or bus. Together, getDowntown and TheRide coordinate the go!Pass program, which reduces congestion and commute times by providing transit passes to downtown employees. More info here.

Transportation Options Important to Attracting

High-Quality Workers and Customers,

Ann Arbor Employers Say

More employees using public transit, biking to get to work

ANN ARBOR – More than 70 percent of downtown Ann Arbor employers say having transportation options is important to attracting customers and a talented workforce, according to a study released today by the getDowntown Program.

The study, funded jointly by the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (TheRide) and the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority surveyed more than 250 employers and 275 employees located in downtown Ann Arbor.

“A variety of transportation choices, including transit, gives businesses access to quality employees and variety of customers, and we’re glad employers recognize that value,” said getDowntown Program Director Nancy Shore. “We’re committed to helping improve access to alternative transportation options.”

“Downtown Ann Arbor is a great place to work and do business for a number of reasons, including the high quality of transportation options available for employees and customers,” said DDA Director Susan Pollay. “The DDA is committed to its mission to strengthen downtown Ann Arbor and encourage private reinvestment, and we are excited to see that our support of the getDowntown Program and the go!pass continues to benefit businesses in downtown Ann Arbor.”

Compared to the 2009 survey, more downtown employees are using public transit and biking to get to work. Public transit use increased 3 percent since the 2009 survey, while biking increased 4 percent. In addition, 40 percent of those surveyed indicated they at least occasionally commuted by bus in the past year, while 22 percent indicated they bike to work at least occasionally.

Go!pass ridership data from 2009 and 2010 further confirms an increase in bus commuting by downtown Ann Arbor employees. Go!pass ridership for 2010 was 15% higher than in 2009, and ridership for 2011 was 28 percent higher than it was in 2009.

According to the employee survey, a top reason that many employees use the bus to get to work and shift from driving to using the bus is the go!pass. The go!pass is an unlimited use transit pass that employers purchase for employees who work in downtown Ann Arbor. The Downtown Development Authority provides a grant to the getDowntown Program that allows the program to offer the go!pass to employers at a reduced rate.

The go!pass was the most highly rated component of the getDowntown Program by both employers and employees. In the Employer Survey, some employers stated that the go!pass is very important to them because it is one of the only benefits they can offer employees. In the Employee Survey, 63% of employees stated that the go!pass is an important benefit to their job.

According to the employee survey, downtown employees who live four miles or less from work are much more likely to bike, walk or take a bus instead of driving alone to work. At 2 miles to less than 4 miles from work, only 32% of employees surveyed said they drive alone, while 33% of employees take the bus. Additional data from the getDowntown Commuter Challenge confirms that the typical one-way commuting distance by bus for downtown Ann Arbor employees is 2.5 miles. TheRide’s service area is mainly within Ann Arbor city limits, which extends about four miles from downtown.

When asked what would encourage them to use transit more often, employees surveyed cited the need for more express and direct service as well as service later into the evening. These responses indicate that service improvements are likely to increase ridership among downtown employees.

“It’s encouraging to see more people looking to public transit for their daily commute,” said AATA CEO Michael Ford. “We hope public transportation use continues to increase among Washtenaw County residents in the coming months and years as we work to improve the customer experience by making public transit more efficient, reliable and convenient.”

The getDowntown Program is a partnership between TheRide, the City of Ann Arbor, and the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority. A program of TheRide, getDowntown provides information and assistance to downtown businesses and employees on commuting options. More information about the getDowntown Program can be found at getdowntown.org.

------------------------------------

The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (TheRide) was chartered in 1969 by the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a not-for-profit unit of government. AATA operates the local public transit system for the greater Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area, enabling the area’s residents to reach their destinations at reasonable cost, and offers the region efficient, environmentally sound transportation alternatives. For more information, please visit www.TheRide.org.

TheRide’s Board of Directors has endorsed a 30-year Transit Master Plan for Washtenaw County. Updates on the progress of the plan are available at www.MovingYouForward.org.

E-mail and text message updates on bus routes, schedules, detours and other news from TheRide are available by free subscription to MyRide at www.TheRide.org.

Connect with TheRide through social media at www.facebook.com/CatchTheRide, www.twitter.com/CatchTheRide, or www.youtube.com/CatchTheRide.

Tempory Traffic Delays and Detour at Maple and Dexter Road Intersection

2012-01-20T06:30:00.000-08:00

Between January 30 and February 3, 2012, the City of Ann Arbor will restrict traffic at the Dexter and Maple Road intersection for water main improvements. This work will provide the necessary connections for the water main replacement associated with the Dexter Avenue Improvements Projects.

Maple Road will be reduced to two lanes at the intersection, one northbound and one southbound. Turns from Maple Road onto eastbound Dexter Road will be prohibited. Eastbound Dexter traffic at North Maple Road will be detoured via Maple Road to Huron Street. Pedestrian traffic will be maintained throughout the project.

During the project traffic may experience delays within the areas influenced by this work so motorists are advised to choose alternate routes.

The image below shows the detour and traffic flow changes at the intersection. Visit this link to view the full announcement.

Thompson Street Detour

2011-12-20T06:01:00.000-08:00

Prepare for some traffic delays if you plan on driving in Downtown Ann Arbor between December 26 and December 31, 2011. Thompson Street south of East William will be closed as the developer of the Zaragon II project disassembles a construction crane. Pedestrian traffic on the west site of the street will be maintained during the project. Visit the city of Ann Arbor's website for more information.

2011-11-28T08:20:00.000-08:00

This weekend, the City of Ann Arbor is planning a temporary road closure along a short section of East William Street for transportation infrastructure improvements. From 12/2/2011 through the evening of 12/3/2011, the street will be closed to through traffic between Thompson and Maynard. A detour will route traffic along East Liberty. Expect short delays if you are driving downtown along Liberty or William this weekend. For further details, see the city's official notice here.

(view larger size)

Road Closures-Stadium Bridges

2011-11-22T07:55:00.001-08:00

On November 28th, Ann Arbor will begin to see major progress on its highest priority transportation project, replacement of the East Stadium bridges. In order to construct the project efficiently, the city will close East Stadium Boulevard completely to traffic throughout the majority of construction activities. Also, to remove the portion of the bridge over State Street, the city will detour traffic on South State between Packard and Stimson for two weeks. See the maps below for more details. Keep up-to-date with the East Stadium Bridges Replacement Project at the official project website. Visit this link for the official detour announcement. See the official project brochure here.

(click here for larger view)

Countywide Transit Advisory Committees Seeking Your Input!

2011-11-03T10:36:00.000-07:00

The public is beingasked to help determine which transit improvements are priorities for the nextfive years in communities across Washtenaw County. The Ann Arbor TransportationAuthority (TheRide) and the newly formed countywide board of directors will beholding the first round of Transit District Advisory Committee meetings toallow Washtenaw County residents and stakeholders the opportunity to providevaluable input on proposed routes, destinations and stop locations in theirlocal communities.

Details

In preparation forimplementing countywide transit improvements, Washtenaw County has been dividedinto eight transit districts represented by 15 delegates making up what isreferred to as the Unincorporated Act 196 (U-196) board of directors.

Each of the eight districts represented on the U-196 boardhas its own advisory committee. Each committee brings together transit serviceproviders, senior and human service representatives, the business community andother interested citizens to provide advice on the development andimplementation of transit improvements in their own district. The first meetingwill serve as a community forum for residents and interested parties to sharetheir input on what improvements they would like to see in their districts in thenear future.

Permanent Road Closure Notice

2011-11-02T11:08:00.000-07:00

Please note that due to the E. Stadium Bridges replacement project, Rose Avenue will permanently close between South State Street and White Street. View the official notice from Ann Arbor below or at these links (1, 2).

AATA Route Detour for Construction of Stadium Bridges

2011-10-31T07:33:00.000-07:00

With the replacement of the Stadium Boulevard bridges, AATA Route 14 will be detoured and no longer reach the Pioneer High School area. See the full detour notice from the AATA embedded below, or at this link.

Annarbor.com announcement
AATA website announcement

Meetings Scheduled for Proposed Changes to AATA Route #4

2011-09-20T13:49:00.000-07:00

PRESSRELEASE

Forimmediate release

September20, 2011

Ann ArborTransportation Authority

2700 South IndustrialHwy., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104

734.973.6500;734.973.6338F; www.theride.org

Mary K. Stasiak, Mgr.Community Relations

734.794.1870; mstasiak@TheRide.org

TheRide proposesincreased transit service

between Ann Arbor andYpsilanti

ANNARBOR, Mich.– The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (TheRide) is seeking public comment onproposed service changes that are designed to improve transit service betweenAnn Arbor and Ypsilanti on the #4 Washtenaw route.

Publiccomment will be gathered on a plan to double the number of weekday trips thatoperate on Route 4, primarily along Washtenaw Avenue, between the Blake TransitCenter in downtown Ann Arbor and the Ypsilanti Transit Center.

TheRide’sManager of Service Development, Chris White, said that the proposed serviceimprovement is intended to accomplish:

More frequent service east of US 23, where most of the current demand originates
More reliable service (better on-time performance)
Less crowded trips
More direct and faster service to and from U-M Central Campus and the Blake Transit Center on every other trip – seven minutes less than the current schedule

Currentservice on Route 4 operates between the two cities every 30 minutes mid-day andevery 15 minutes during morning and afternoon peak service hours. Additionalpeak trips also operate between the University of Michigan Medical Center andthe Ann Arbor city limits at US 23.

Ridershipon Route 4 has the highest ridership among all of TheRide routes. More than800,000 trips are taken per year and more than 3,000 trips on an averageweekday on Route 4.

Whiteadded, “Increased service frequency along Washtenaw Avenue has been needed forsome time, but funds have not been available for service expansion outside ofAnn Arbor. The new funds in Ypsilanti dedicated to transit service andpreparations to jump start the countywide Transit Master Plan implementationhave enabled TheRide to propose this long awaited service improvement.”

Theservice plan proposal includes:

Mid-day – four trips per hour in each direction (service every 15 minutes)
Peak Hours – eight trips per hour in each direction (service every 7.5 minutes on average)
Peak Hours – Discontinue service on trips which operate only between U-M Medical Center and US 23
Mid-day and Peak Hours – Every other trip to provide service to U-M Medical Center. Remaining trips to provide service directly to the Central Campus Transit Center

Public comments may also be submittedto TheRide between September 23 and October 22 by:

· Email– aatainfo@TheRide.org (put “ServiceImprovement” in subject line)

· Telephone – TheRide Hotline at 734.794.1880

· Fax – 734.973.6338 (put “ServiceExpansion” in subject line)

· Mail – AATA Service Improvement, 2700 S. IndustrialHwy., Ann Arbor, MI 48104.

Attendance at a public drop-in session – these are scheduled for:

Thursday, October 6, 5-7p.m.

Glencoe Hills Apartments, Clubhouse,2201 Glencoe Hills Drive, Pittsfield Township

Tuesday,October 11, 9-11 a.m.

UniversityHospital, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Classroom#2C108,

acrossfrom the Gift Shop and Cashier’s Office

Tuesday,October 11, 1-3 p.m.

MichiganUnion, 530 S. State St., Wolverine Room AB, Ann Arbor

Wednesday, October 12, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Dom Bakeries, 1305 Washtenaw Avenue,Ypsilanti

Tuesday, October 18, 5-7 p.m.

Ann Arbor District Library, 343 S.Fifth Avenue, downtown Ann Arbor

At each public drop-in session, therewill be an opportunity to discuss the proposed service improvementsindividually with TheRide staff members.

The facilities are accessible, andreasonable accommodation to permit persons with disabilities to participatewill be made if requested at least two days in advance at 734.973.6500.Two-week notice is required for interpreter service for persons with hearingimpairments.

Copies of maps and timetables for theproposed changes will be available at the AATA website, www.TheRide.org, or by contacting TheRide byone of the methods listed above. Copies are available in alternative formatsupon request.

A copy of all written comments and asummary of verbal comments will be provided to the AATA Board of Directorsbefore a decision is made on adopting the proposed changes. The board willconsider the service improvements at its November 16 meeting. If the finalrecommendations are approved, the route changes would go into effect on Sunday,January 29, 2011.

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TheAnn Arbor Transportation Authority (TheRide) was chartered in 1969 by the Cityof Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a not-for-profit unit of government. AATA operatesthe local public transit system for the greater Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area,enabling the area’s residents to reach their destinations at reasonable cost,and offers the region efficient, environmentally sound transportationalternatives. For more information, please visit www.TheRide.org.

TheRide’sBoard of Directors has endorsed a 30-year Transit Master Plan for WashtenawCounty. Updates on the progress of the plan are available at www.MovingYouForward.org.

E-mailand text message updates on bus routes, schedules, detours and other news fromTheRide are available by free subscription to MyRide at www.TheRide.org.

VisitTheRide at www.facebook.com/CatchTheRide or www.twitter.com/CatchTheRide.

Celebrate the New Washtenaw Ave Non-Motorized Path!

2011-09-01T06:10:00.000-07:00

In Summer 2011, the City of Ann Arbor completed a new shared use non-motorized path connecting Downtown to the Washtenaw Avenue shopping district. Come celebrate this non-motorized milestone with the City, MDOT, WATS, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Department, AATA, and area neighbors and businesses. The ribbon cutting ceremony and brief walk along the path begin at 2:30pm at the Ann Arbor Assembly of God parking lot. See flyer below for details. See the full sized flyer here.

2011 getDowntown Commuter Challenge

2011-06-20T13:10:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to all those who participated in the 2011 getDowntown Commuter Challenge! This year there were 192 registered organizations and 1,817 participants who logged at least 1 commute. Everyone who participated received a coupon for a free ice cream or Italian ice. Employees at organizations that met their participation goals will receive a bundle of prizes including coupons and gift cards to downtown stores.

Every WATS staff member participated this May, tying first place for organizations between 2 and 50 employees.

In total, WATS staff:

Logged 595.80 miles of sustainable travel
Took 32 green commutes
Avoided 509.94 lbs of CO2 emissions
Burned 4,855.20 calories

In July, getDowntown will begin its 2011 Commuter Club program, helping downtown employees stay motivated t to commute sustainably all year long. For more information, check out the Commuter Club website. See the getDowntown Blog for official results of the 2011 Commuter Challenge.

Again, congratulations to all those who participated!

Michigan and Washtenaw County Recognized as Complete Streets Leaders

2011-05-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

A new report by the National Complete Streets Coalition recognizes the WATS Non-Motorized Plan for Washtenaw County, the Village of Dexter’s Complete Streets Ordinance, and the State of Michigan’s Complete Streets policy as some of the best examples of Complete Streets policies. The report scores plans and ordinances based on the ten elements below.

· Vision

· All Users & Modes

· Connectivity

· Jurisdiction

· Phases

· Exceptions

· Design

· Context Sensitivity

· Performance Standards

· Implementation Plan

The Non Motorized Plan for Washtenaw County, developed by WATS in 2006, scored high marks in the Vision, Connectivity, Jurisdiction, and Context Sensitivity categories. Dexter’s Ordinance scored well in the Vision, All Users & Modes, Connectivity, Exceptions, Design, and Context Sensitivity categories.

Washtenaw County is already a leader in considering the needs of all road users. This recognition means that even more communities could look to Washtenaw County as a model for their own policies.

Other communities with Complete Streets Policies or Non-Motorized Plans include the Cities of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Saline. Communities that have designated a non-motorized section in their master plan or have adopted the WATS Non-Motorized Plan by reference include the City of Chelsea and Dexter, Lyndon, Pittsfield, Northfield, Scio, and Ypsilanti Townships.

WATS Complete Streets Public Meetings

2011-05-17T07:13:00.000-07:00

Come help WATS develop a Complete Streets Plan for Washtenaw County! Meetings will be held in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor on May 24th and 26th. See the flyer below for complete details, or check it out at this link.

Heritage News Letter to the Editor on Public Transportation

2011-03-11T07:25:00.000-08:00

A recent letter to the editor on public transportation was posted on the Heritage.com. The letter offers the perspective of a senior and the impact the lack of public transportation can have on the way one lives. Click on the link or read the full text below.

http://www.heritage.com/articles/2011/03/08/opinion/doc4d768a7145a5b152171317.txt

My husband and I are giving serious consideration to selling our home in Texas and moving back to my hometown.

I'm sure we would be welcomed by family and friends as well as local merchants, taxing entities and the governor.

Frankly, the one area that gives us "pause" in our decision is the limitations in the current public transit system.

Last fall, we moved into a senior apartment complex here in Chelsea to recover from injuries suffered in separate accidents. We love the activities and the residents where we live. Like most residents, we want to be active members of the community. We want to attend community events and do some volunteer work. There is so much to do in this area. The problem is getting to these activities.

The door-to-door bus service operates in Chelsea from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It costs $4 round trip for seniors needing service in Chelsea.

If you need door-to-door service to Ann Arbor, the cost is $10 one way for seniors and persons with disabilities.

You can take a personal care attendant at no charge.

The Chelsea Community Ride Shuttle offers free service three times a day, six days a week. Unfortunately, our apartment complex isn't one of the stops except for three times a week.

Many of the activities I had planned to attend during my recovery period were "off limits" due to problems with transportation. Participating in evening activities is out of the question in Chelsea since the system stops working here at 4:30 p.m.

The monthly lunch outing our residents enjoyed was canceled due to high costs. We can no longer attend concerts at another nearby senior facility due to lack of transportation. Few residents are able to attend the programs sponsored by the library, hospital and local merchants.

The time is here for every resident, regardless of age, to think ahead. What will happen when you can no longer drive and become dependent on public transportation? Do you want seniors to feel trapped and dependent on their children to provide transportation? What about the valuable volunteer services seniors often provide to the community? It will be very costly for everyone if our seniors are unable to fully participate in our community activities.

If you are still not convinced that we need to expand and improve our public transit system, stop driving. Start using public transportation and your family and friends to meet all of your transportation needs. I believe that you will quickly learn as we did that Chelsea isn't "45 minutes away from the world" as advertised by the Chamber of Commerce. It is much further away when you don't drive and/or have mobility issues.

Mary Ann Snider

Chelsea

Seasonal Weight Restrictions Return

2011-02-14T11:49:00.000-08:00

If this warm weather isn't sign enough that spring is right around the corner, check out this press release from the County Road Association of Michigan.

Lansing, Mich. – The County Road Association of Michigan (CRAM) announced today that counties are beginning to enact seasonal weight restrictions. The return of seasonal weight restrictions is an indication that spring- pothole season- is coming to Michigan.

"Although warmer weather is welcome after the subzero temperatures last week, the freeze thaw cycle makes road surfaces more susceptible to damage," Association Director, John Niemela said. "Even with weight restrictions our roads take a big hit each year."

Michigan's county road agencies are working to improve roads to accommodate commercial vehicles, but increasing costs and declining revenues delay these costly improvements.

The enforcement of seasonal weight restrictions, commonly known as frost laws, is vital to minimizing damage to Michigan's local road system. On average road commission weight restrictions last 5 to 6 weeks, between March and May.

By law, Michigan’s state and local road agencies may enact seasonal weight restrictions when ever conditions warrant. Weight restrictions are traditionally enacted each spring to minimize road damage caused by even legal load limit commercial vehicles during the freeze-thaw cycle of spring.

As the ground thaws, water is forced toward the surface exerting pressure under the pavement. This causes weak spots in the pavement and makes the road surface more prone to damage. The heavier the vehicle, the greater the probability of causing harm to roads. During the weight restriction period, trucks traveling on "posted/restricted" roads must carry lighter loads (legal load limit reduced by 25 to 35 percent) and travel at slower speeds.

CRAM offers a convenient Web resource for information on all county seasonal weight restrictions, simply visit www.micountyroads.org and click seasonal weight restrictions.

Most northern states and all Canadian Provinces allow road agencies to impose seasonal weight restrictions. The CRAM Web site is continually updated as counties change their restrictions and provides commercial truck operators the information they need to comply with these temporary restrictions.

The County Road Association of Michigan represents the state’s 83 county road agencies that are responsible for 75 percent of Michigan’s road system, representing more than 90,000 miles of roads and 5,600 bridges- the fourth largest local road system in the nation.

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County residents get another chance to provide input to transit master plan

2011-01-25T10:20:00.000-08:00

Ann Arbor, MI – Washtenaw County residents will have another opportunity to have their say on what types of public transit they would like to see in the future. TheRide (Ann Arbor Transportation Authority) will hold 20 community forums to review three possible transportation scenarios (combinations of public transportation solutions) that may be included in the new countywide transit master plan.

The community forums will be held from January 31 to February 23. A complete list of meeting locations and times can be found at the transit master plan website MovingYouForward.org.

“The transit master plan will impact everything from economic development and the environment to the quality of life for seniors for the next 30 years,” said TheRide CEO Michael Ford. “The only way to ensure the plan will have the greatest impact is to gather as much feedback as possible.”

The scenarios proposed for the master plan have been developed based on two key reports created to aid in the creation of the transit master plan: The Transit Master Plan Visioning Report, which outlines the shared goals that are common to all Washtenaw County communities and the Transit Audit and Needs Assessment, which identifies the needs that the Transit Master Plan must address for Washtenaw County’s shared goals to be met.

Each of the three transportation scenarios presented at the community forums will include a combination of transit solutions – such as extended service hours or increased express routes –designed to meet Washtenaw County’s current and projected transportation needs.

Possible Transportation Scenarios

Lifeline Plus Scenario

• Improves lifeline services where they exist today

• Provides essential door-to-door connections for seniors and people with disabilities across the County

• Ensures that our most vulnerable populations can remain independent with access to fresh food, employment and educations opportunities, health care and recreational facilities

Accessible County Scenario

• Builds on the Lifeline Plus Scenario to provide a basic level of transit service for all County residents

• Establishes transit as an integral part of the County transportation system, making the County a more attractive place for employers to locate and employees to live

Smarter Growth Scenario

• Adds to the Accessible County Scenario, with investment in high capacity systems and regional rail to guide land use development on high capacity transit corridors

• Stimulates job creation and economic growth

• Focuses development in areas that best accommodate growth

• Preserves green space

• Stems growing traffic congestion

Input received through the community forums will be used to guide development of a preferred scenario that will be used as the basis for the final Washtenaw County Transit Master Plan. The final outcome may be based on one of the scenarios, or a combination of transit options.

“This will be one of the last chances for the public to review what’s being proposed for the transit master plan, ask questions and provide feedback before a final plan is presented early this summer,” said Saline Mayor Gretchen Driskell, who serves on the transit master plan leadership committee. “We encourage Washtenaw County residents to take their future into their hands, get involved and offer their ideas and suggestions at one of the upcoming community forums."

Community forums to be held next week are:

• Manchester Village Offices, Monday, January 31, 6-8 p.m.

• Ann Arbor District Library, Downtown, Tuesday, February 1, 6-8 p.m.

• Domino’s Farms, Wednesday, February 2, 5-7 p.m.

• Ypsilanti Library, Whittaker Road, Thursday, February 3

• Washington Street Education Center, Chelsea, Friday, February 4, 8-10 a.m.

A complete list of community forums is available at http://www.movingyouforward.org/.

WiFi Added to A2Express Buses

2010-11-30T12:33:00.000-08:00

AATA recently announced an exciting addition to their A2Express service between Ann Arbor and Chelsea. The full press release is included below. Don't forget to follow TheRide on twitter @CatchTheRide for frequent updates.

ANN ARBOR, MI – Free WiFi and 10-ride tickets to try the A2Express bus service from to Ann Arbor from Chelsea and Canton are being offered to area commuters by the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (TheRide).

TheRide recently added WiFi to its A2Express buses and reduced the fare on each of the routes after taking over operation of the service from a contracted vendor. The fare on either route is now $99 a month, down from $125. Also available for riders are a 10-ride ticket priced at $40 and a one-way cash fare of $5. Eligible University of Michigan faculty and staff members and individuals with a go!pass are eligible for a reduced fare.

Each express route provides two weekday trips each morning and two return trips each afternoon for commuters between Chelsea or Canton and downtown Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan campus.

The A2Express began in May, 2008 as a new kind of bus service for TheRide, characterized by the commuter-oriented nature of the schedule and the premium fare. The Chelsea Express was the first implementation of longer-distance commuter service into Ann Arbor, followed 15 months later when the Canton Express was initiated.

Both routes were operated initially by a subcontractor, but have since been taken in-house by TheRide resulting in a significant reduction in costs. In fiscal year 2010, the budget for A2Express service was $509,428 and for fiscal year 2011, the budget has been set at $241,687, a 53 percent reduction.

The service was originally funded by a federal demonstration grant. The Chelsea route is no longer covered by the grant, but a portion of the funding remains for the Canton Express.

Current riders are enthusiastic about the service and have actively encouraged other to try it out. Several participated with TheRide in promoting the service at the Chelsea Parade in August. Combined ridership on the routes is currently about 82 trips per day, or 41 riders daily.

In describing his positive experience on the A2Express, rider Alan Vollmer said recently, “I park at the Arctic Coliseum in Chelsea and take the Chelsea Express. Riding a commuter bus saves me 700 miles of wear and tear on my car and 25 hours of driving time per month! I was sold after my first trip on the bus!”

The free 10-ride tickets may be requested through the A2Express web site www.a2express.org, or by calling TheRide at 734.973.6500. The tickets are available only to first-time riders.

Information about TheRide’s services, individual bus routes, schedules, detours and other news is available at www.TheRide.org. Available at TheRide’s web site are e-mail and text message updates by free subscription to MyRide.

WATS Expands Public Particpation Process through Goolge Earth and Twitter

2010-10-20T12:20:00.000-07:00

Public participation is a critical component to the transportation planning process. In fact, agencies like WATS are required to assemble a Public Participation Plan to document existing and future ways in which public will be able to participate in the process. You can view the WATS Public Participation Plan by clicking here.

In addition to the public involvement methods WATS has used for years, the agency is increasing the ways in which the public can stay informed and involved online. WATS now provides information on facebook and twitter in addition to this blog and our website.

WATS is now providing maps of Transportation Improvement Program projects in Google Earth. A .kml file of the WATS FY 2011-2014 TIP projects is available. If you already have Google Earth installed on your computer, click on this link http://bit.ly/chI0Vb, to download and open the file. The file will automatically open in Google Earth.

If you don't have Google Earth you can download it for free here.

If you'd like to see more maps provided in this format leave a comment on this blog or send us a tweet @miwats and let us know what you think.

AnnArbor.com Article Features Programs to Educate All Cyclists

2010-08-23T06:21:00.000-07:00

AnnArbor.com recently published a great article about PEAC, Programs to Educate All Cyclists. The original article can be found here.

Katie Berger really wanted to be like her siblings and friends and ride a bike. But after a series of strokes when she was 2 years old left her with a few fine motor issues, including difficulty with balance, riding a bike was difficult for the 13-year-old Saline girl.

“When we tried putting her on a bike with training wheels, she had a very difficult time keeping her feet on the pedals and getting that motion of pedaling the bike,” said her mom, Heather Berger.

Thanks to the help of Programs to Educate All Cyclists, Katie slowly learned to ride a bike. She has attended the summer program in Saline for six years. Katie started by working on pedaling, with her feet strapped to pedals so they wouldn’t slip off. She then graduated to riding a tricycle by herself, working on steering and using the hand brakes.

Now, Katie has her own adult-sized tricycle. “She can ride independently, totally through the neighborhood. She does really well,” Berger said. She doesn’t feel like she has to watch Katie’s every move. “This gives her that freedom of being able to go fast, that speed that she needs, and being able to do it and be confident. It’s made a huge difference.”

With trained staff, specialized bike equipment, and plenty of encouragement, PEAC provides disabled individuals and their families in cities across Michigan specialized training to safely ride a bike.

This summer, Katie learned about riding safely on the street. Berger hopes she graduates to riding a two-wheel bike next summer.

At first, Berger said it was a little scary to watch Katie on a bike, but the staff made her, and her daughter, comfortable.

“I felt very at ease doing it through the PEAC program, just because you could tell they knew what they were doing, and I felt very comfortable with them taking over and helping her, and helping build her self esteem and her confidence. I think that was a big part of it, too—they have to believe that she could do it, and that made her believe she could do it as well.”

Taking small steps toward goals

PEAC began as an idea in the late 1980s. John Waterman, PEAC founder, was a special education teacher in Battle Creek. A special-needs student was killed while riding a bike to school. Waterman started working with special needs students in the area.

In 2003, PEAC became an official nonprofit organization, offering lessons in the summers, special programs at schools and private lessons.

PEAC summer programs occur twice a week for seven or eight weeks in the summer, often in the parking lots of an elementary school. Families sign up for an hour time slot, during which children receive individualized training.

The trained staff pays attention to the individual needs of the students, whether they need specialized bikes or plenty of encouragement. There are 12 staff members during the summer, and three year-round.

Lauren Telfer, who has a master’s degree in special education at Eastern Michigan University, is one of the staff members.

Telfer said PEAC helps kids take small steps in moving toward their goals. Most start by riding a tricycle or by being on the back of a tandem bike led by a staff member.

Balance is usually the biggest difficulty for students, so staff members often add a back rest to a bike seat. To help the students stay on the bike, the staff can strap students to the back rest, or strap students’ feet to the pedals.

Telfer said this sounds strange, “but it works, and the kids love it.” Kids feel more secure on the bike, and are able to get used to the motion of pedaling. Telfer said the staff can also equip a tandem bike with a “kiddie crank,” which lets the kids pedal once for every two times pedaled by the captain of the tandem. This prevents the kids from getting too tired while they gradually build up their strength.

It’s all about baby steps, Telfer said, no matter the student’s goal. “We never tell them no, you’re not going to be able to do that. We don’t want to ruin their hopes and dreams. So we say OK, well first you have to do this. Let’s work on this, and then you’re one step closer.”

Gaining independence

Telfer said one of the most important things PEAC does is give their students a sense of independence, “to teach them to get from home to school or home to the library, even to a friend’s house, stuff that people without disabilities just take for granted getting up and going somewhere.”

Lisa Rentschler of Saline is grateful that the PEAC program is helping her 9-year-old son Connor become more independent. Connor is autistic and has attended the summer program for four years. He has improved his balance on the bike and his ability to concentrate.

“When he first started, he’d love to watch the wheel go round,” she said. “He wouldn’t watch where he was going. But they did break him of that habit, through patience, and repeated reminders that he needed to watch the road.”

Rentschler added, “There aren’t really any other programs out there with kids with special needs to help them learn how to ride a bike and learn how to ride it safely. To have it right in our backyard is a bonus. I’m thankful that John [Waterman] has fought to keep this program funded and keep the cost low for the participants.”

Waterman said that the summer program usually costs PEAC $450 per student. Parents pay $30. The lessons often have 1-1 student-to-teacher ratio.

Finding funding for this program has been difficult. But PEAC will receive more than $800,000 in grants over the next three years. The money is part of federal transit dollars given to the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. PEAC will use the money to help residents in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties walk or ride to local buses.

On Sept. 18, the PEAC is having its annual race and fundraiser, which provides most of the nonprofit’s funding. Riders can participate in a 12-, 35-, 50-, 75- or 100-mile course. Registration costs $20, and the ride starts in Hines Park in Dearborn Heights. More than 600 cyclists are expected to attend.

The race is called the “Celebration of Cycling,” because “we know everyone can ride,” Waterman said. “And [the race is] a chance to really enjoy the freedom of riding, feel the wind in your hair, and move yourself … It’s just a joy that everyone should have the chance to experience.”

Tara Cavanaugh is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk by e-mailing news@annarbor.com or by calling 734-623-2530.

Pure Michigan, Pure Pothole Hell

2010-08-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

Check out the video below put together by the Drive Michigan campaign. The video is a spoof of the highly succesful Pure Michigan tourism campaign.

For more information on the Drive Michigan campaign visit their website at http://drivemi.org/

Saline Area Sustainability Circle Drafts Growth Document

2010-07-20T07:53:00.000-07:00

The Saline Area Sustainability Circle (SASC), made up of five communities surrounding and including the City of Saline, explore policy changes. The SASC hired interns to explore establishing a growth management boundary. Working together, the group hopes to create one comprehensive region reducing sprawl while providing affordable housing, regional transportation options and protecting the environment and historic features.

The group has drafted a brochure which is shown below.

You can access the draft document by downloading the Word Document.

When Do Roads Pay For Themselves?

2010-07-20T07:16:00.000-07:00

This article was written by Eric de Place and was posted on the Sightline Daily at daily.sightline.org. The post examines the payback of costs for a widening project with issues similar to that of US-23, though at a much smaller scale. The original post can be found here.

When Do Roads Pay For Themselves?

Posted by Eric de Place 07/01/2010 02:15 PM

A Portland freeway expansion as a case study.

Kevin Downing, a reader in Portland, got me hooked on a fascinating exercise: trying to figure out how long it takes a road expansion to pay for itself. Let's take a look at how this might work. (But please stick around for all the caveats at the end.)

Consider, for example, the Delta Park Project in north Portland. It's a $60 million endeavor that will add one lane in each direction to a 1.2 mile-long segment of Interstate 5, which currently has two lanes in each direction. So the question is: will road-users on that segment pay for the $60 million price tag?

Here's how I see the numbers. Assuming fuel efficiency of 22.5 miles per gallon, on average, a typical passenger vehicle would burn a bit more than 0.05 gallons of gasoline to drive that 1.2 miles of roadway. Multiply the fuel usage by the federal gasoline tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, as well as by the Oregon gasoline tax of 27 cents per gallon (a figure that includes the 3 cent per gallon add-on for Multnomah County), and you find that a single trip on that section of road yields a little less than 2.5 cents in revenue.

So far so good. Now let's assume that the average daily traffic volume is 124,833 vehicles. (That's the average of the official numbers I got from ODoT from four monitoring points.) If each of those vehicles generates the average revenue, then a day's worth of travel nets $3,015. That's not much. In fact, in order to pay for the $60 million investment, you would need nearly 20,000 days of travel revenue. Put in simpler terms, it would take road-users more than 54 years to pay for the road expansion.

And it's probably much worse, because my simplistic accounting leaves out a lot.

For one thing, I'm assuming that the revenue from fuel burned on all six lanes of the expanded freeway is used to pay off the cost of the two new lanes. If the two new lanes had to pay for themselves, then the payback period could be more like 150 years.

I'm also not factoring in any financing costs. Nor am I accounting for overhead related to administration, contract management, or other government costs that aren't directly included in the Delta Park Project budget. (And I'm not discounting future tax receipts or doing anything fancy like that.) If the real price tag is greater than $60 million, then we're looking at a longer payback period.

Plus, I'm assuming that vehicle fuel efficiency stays unchanged for the next 54 years. If cars get more efficient, then each trip will generate less revenue, and therefore require a longer time period to pay for the road expansion.

On the other hand, I should be fair: the tax rate could go up faster than fuel economy improves (or some other tax, like the mileage tax, could kick in) and revenues from driving could come in faster than I've calculated, making for a shorter payback period. Well, maybe.

I've also assumed that the traffic volume remains unchanged over the next 54 years, but it may not. If driving gets more expensive--whether because of new taxes or rising world oil prices--then it's likely that people will drive fewer miles. And a lower traffic volume on that road segment would, once again, make for an even longer payback period.

Of course to be fair, the traffic volume on that section of I-5 could increase. Road widening often encourages more driving, which would mean more revenue, and therefore a shorter payback period. Interestingly, however, the Department of Transportation does not believe there will be any increase in traffic volume because of the new lanes.

Then there's all the other stuff I didn't factor in. When I say that the road pays for itself in 54 years, I'm not counting the direct costs that a road incurs such as cleaning, maintaining, resurfacing, and repairing it. Nor I am counting the cost of lighting it, policing it, and so on. What's more, I'm not counting the costs of any of the "externalities" of road use, including the carbon emissions that contribute to climate change, the air pollution that harms human health, the water pollution that degrades rivers and lakes, or the noise that reduces quality of life and property values alike; nor am I counting the economic costs of property damage, injuries, and fatalities that arise from collisions on the road segment.

That said, the road widening may help reduce the cost of some current externalities, such as time lost to traffic congestion. It's difficult to make such a calculation. And it's made harder by the fact that the construction itself usually causes further congestion, and even the congestion benefits of new lanes tend to be short-lived.

Whew!

What else didn't I calculate? Trucks for one. Trucks in Oregon are subject to a weight-mile tax that, in theory, is designed so that truckers pay the cost of their disproportionate impact on roads. For the purposes of my chicken-scratch calculation here, I've simply assumed that trucks actually do pay for themselves, which may not be a safe assumption.

Leaving trucks out does pose a few analytical hazards though. They put a lot of strain on road surfaces, and they tend to increase congestion and boost the cost of other externalities like air pollution and noise. But because they also burn more fuel than cars, they also generate more revenue from fuel taxes.

Is anyone still reading? Anyone?

So, okay, the bottom line is this: road expansions don't pay for themselves.

It's certainly true that getting an accurate accounting requires more workmanship than I've put into this blog post, but the balance of factors seems to pretty clearly suggest that the payback period is very long.

You might quibble that the Delta Park Project isn't a good example; that other projects are less expensive. And I'll concede that this freeway example includes bridge and ramp reconstruction. Yet it's also true that there are no right-of-way or displacement costs, and the four existing lanes are functioning okay already. So a new road project is likely to be even more expensive than this one.

What about the really big-ticket project next door, the Columbia River Crossing? Well, someone else will have to do that calculation.

And Seattle's deep-bore tunnel? (No, I can't help myself. It's a sickness.)

It will pay for itself in a mere 14,506 years. (That's using figures for the "no-toll" scenario.) Just think: if we had built it during the late Upper Paleolithic period, it would have almost paid its own way by now.

What do you think of Eric de Place's analysis?

Forum Attempts to Put Mass Transit On Right Track - The Rochester Citizen

2010-07-06T12:15:00.000-07:00

The original article, Forum Attempts to Put Mass Transit On Right Track, can be found here

A group of Royal Oak area citizens met with a handful of politicians on Monday in an attempt to jolt Michigan ’s mass transit system onto the right track.

A crowd of about 70 withstood the stuffy air inside St. John’s Episcopal Church for a two-hour forum discussing and brainstorming efforts to improve mass transit in Michigan , particularly rail traffic capabilities.

Leading the thought-provoking effort were state Rep. Marie Donigan, D-Royal Oak; Tim Fischer of the Michigan Environmental Council; Royal Oak Mayor Jim Ellison; John DeLora of the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers; and Angela Riess, environmental planner for Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.

The session was largely interactive, with the audience breaking up into groups, each proposing its wishes for railroad routes and making cases for their choices. Several times during the supposed structured practices, individuals couldn’t refrain from pleading their personal frustrations or solutions.

While many of the ideas appeared to have merit, none are going to be put into play anytime soon, thanks to the ever-present financial restraints.
“It’s a slow process, as representative Donigan will tell you,” said Fischer.

DeLora, who puts out the newsletter The Michigan Passenger, brought gasps when he reeled off this nifty fact: “The state constitution says that a minimum of 90 percent of transportation revenues have to be used on roads only.”

That leaves 10 percent or less for developing new rails and improving existing ones.

Added Donigan: “Write your congressman an e-mail saying that you want more rails and are willing to help pay for them.”

DeLora, who says he goes back 40 years in his involvement with Michigan ’s rails, blames the state’s top post for the lag in producing a more effective transit system.

“You don’t get action until you get a governor who makes it a priority,” he said. “We haven’t had a governor that did that since Gov. (William) Milliken.”

The three major railway routes in the state consist of Port Huron to Chicago , with many stops in between, Grand Rapids to Chicago and Pontiac to Chicago . Some of the suggestions the attendees of the forum expressed were:

• A line between Ann Arbor and Lansing , linking the state’s two largest college cities.
• Creating an efficient route from Detroit to Toledo that would allow for more direct continuation to destinations in the eastern part of the country.
• More North-South transportation to places such as Traverse City and Mackinaw City.

Turning single-lane tracks into double-lane options.
After patiently watching and listening to the varied suggestions, a slight woman raised her hand and unleashed her frustrations with a torrent.

“I need to go from Detroit to Cleveland and Philly to see family and I’m incensed with how hard that is,” said Eunice Rose. She even made up a word for her displeasure. “It’s angrifying,” she said. “It’s crazy that I have to sit here and talk about a system that is absolutely horrible.”
Ms. Rose’s plea brought laughs and applause.

Some of the common complaints of the current passenger system included, unreliable arrivals and departures; slow speeds; and a lack of auxiliary transportation, such as buses, when departing a train.

“Once people get there, they have no car,” Donigan said. “We have to make sure we have those connections. We have to remember to have multi-modal transportation, not just rails.”

One option officials are looking into – due largely to budget constraints – is making better use of freight tracks.

“We’re going to explore existing freight rails to see if it’s feasible to add passenger trains,” Fischer said.

“If we can use what’s already there to limit costs, it’s important to look into it,” Riess said.

That sentiment pretty much summed up the evening. Great ideas for improving mass transit in Michigan are anything but scarce. Unfortunately the funds to do so are scarce, at least today.

The small group of officials who sought input from “common folk” got it in abundance and hope to use the spirited banter to spur future growth in mass transit, convincing their political brethren to get on board.

The forum tour will also be making stops in Grand Rapids , Traverse City , Lansing , Jackson , Holland , Detroit , Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor .

AATA Welcomes Two New Board Members

2010-06-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

ANN ARBOR, MI – Two new board members – Anya Dale and Roger Kerson – have been welcomed to the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (TheRide) following their recent appointments by Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje with the approval of city council. Dale was appointed on May 17 and Kerson on June 7.

Dale brings to TheRide a passion for the environment, having focused much of her recent effort on encouraging sustainable land use and transportation. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University in environmental biology/zoology and a Masters from Eastern Michigan University in urban and regional planning.

Dale has gained experience ranging from writing agricultural conservation and wetland restoration plans to caring for African fruit bats and coordinating annual crane count events.

Professionally, she is a project manager with the Washtenaw County Department of Economic Development and Energy. Her work includes oversight for Re-imagine Washtenaw and several energy-related projects. Dale also provides support to projects awarded the Washtenaw County Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.

Of her appointment to the board, Dale said, “As someone who walks and buses to work, I am thrilled to join the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority board. I hope my technical background, volunteer experience and passion will enable me to bring a new perspective to the board and work with the community to develop a vision for how public transit can better serve the region.

Kerson is a media consultant at RK Communications, providing public relations, advertising, social media strategy and other services to labor unions, businesses and non-profit organizations. His current projects include media relations and advertising for “Save Our Ride”, a labor-community coalition advocating enhanced support of public transit agencies across the nation.

Kerson previously served as director of public relations at the United Auto Workers, where he helped lead the union’s successful advocacy campaign for aid for the auto industry in 2008 and 2009. His writings have appeared in various publications, including the Chicago Sun Times, The Michigan Voice and Washington Monthly.

Kerson’s community service activities include serving on the board of the Washtenaw County chapter of ACLU Michigan and the Ann Arbor Housing and Human Services Advisory Board. His leadership positions have included two terms as vice president of UAW Local 1981, the National Writers Union and three years as president of the Ecology Center board of directors.

Kerson lives in Ann Arbor with his wife, Robin Kaplan, and two daughters.

“I'm committed to maintaining the highest possible quality of service for AATA riders -- and to working with fellow board members and staff to create cleaner, greener transportation alternatives in our community," said Kerson about his appointment to the board.

Notice of Temporary Traffic Control Plan BROADWAY (SWIFT TO PLYMOUTH)

2010-06-16T06:03:00.000-07:00

Press release from the City of Ann Arbor on upcoming traffic control plan for Broadway.

Notice of Temporary Traffic Control Plan

BROADWAY (SWIFT TO PLYMOUTH)

June 21 – August 6, 2010

Location and Limits of Affected Area:

Broadway from Swift St to Plymouth Rd

Description of Work:

Road resurfacing

Temporary Construction Traffic Control Plan:

Two-way traffic will be maintained, but will be reduced to one lane in each direction.

During this work the traffic may experience delays within the areas influenced by this work. Detour signs will not be posted for this construction; however the motorists are advised to seek alternate routes. To maintain the safety of all, please reduce speeds and drive cautiously through work zones. We thank you in advance for your patience as these necessary public infrastructure improvements are completed.

Project Contacts:

City of Ann Arbor

Elizabeth Rolla, P.E., Senior Project Manager (734) 323-7156

Rob Wagner, Civil Engineering Specialist, (734) 323-5604

Barrett Paving Materials, Inc.

Bill Householder, Construction Contractor, (313) 363-2579

Michigan Moving on ‘Complete Streets’

2010-06-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

The following is a blog post from the Michigan Land Use Institute. Find more MLUI blog posts here.

This week a state House committee will review two bills aimed at supporting “Complete Streets” initiatives across Michigan.

If you like to walk or bike, the bills, HB 6151-6152, deserve your support. They would help communities and road agencies design streets and reconstruct roads so that everyone can use them-walkers, bikers, trucks and cars. In case you haven’t noticed while driving around in recent years, biking and walking are gaining popularity as gas prices increase and more people look for alternative modes of transportation.

The League of Michigan Bicyclists’ John Lindenmayer, one of the main leaders of the Michigan Complete Streets Coalition, even argues that the bills are potential boosters for Michigan’s lagging economy.

“Not only do complete streets make roadways safer by reducing accidents and making it easier for walkers and bikers to share the roads with cars,” Mr. Lindenmayer said, “they also stimulate economic growth by increasing property values and facilitating development.

“It’s the wave of the future,” he added, “and in cities across the country it’s also an indicator of healthy, sustainable development.”

So far Lansing lawmakers have heard from a wide and diverse range of organizations supporting the bills, including AARP, the Michigan Environmental Council, and the Michigan Municipal League. While there is great support for the bills, one state agency is standing in the way their passage.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) wants to make sure that these bills don’t end up creating unintended consequences for road builders.

But supporters of the bill point out that there’s more than a little irony in that concern.

Tim Fisher, of the Michigan Environmental Council, said that, “the unintended consequences of the current system makes it often unsafe for pedestrians. If we can avoid injury and other types of unintended consequences caused when bikes and cars collide, then we are making progress.”

Mr. Fisher points out that the Complete Streets bills leave room for communities to decide how to design roadways that accommodate all users of all ages. It’s a way to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists, and cars are able to share the right of ways with out creating dangerous circumstances for each other. The idea is to facilitate better working relations between the state transportation department and the communities it serves.

Traverse City’s mayor points out that the communitywide sentiment documented by the Grand Vision planning project makes the bills particularly important in that region.

“The Grand Vision talks about an overwhelming desire for streets that serve all uses because that’s what the citizens want,” Mayor Chris Bzdok explained. “Most of the main thoroughfares that cut through our region’s cities and villages are state roads, making it really important for a Complete Streets approach.

“Whether we are talking about Division Street in Traverse City, M-22 in Suttons Bay, or M-131 in Kalkaska,” he added, “these are state-owned roads that run through our neighborhoods. Completing these important roadways is vital to our region’s economic prosperity.”

Over the last 50 years Michigan residents have moved further away from their jobs and commercial centers and, as a result, planners and engineers have struggled to accommodate more automobile traffic on city roads.

Traditionally, the solution has always been wider roads with more car lanes. But not only have more lanes failed to relieve congestion, they have actually harmed communities: Too often, people cannot walk or bike safely along or across these multi-lane barriers, which harms property values and diminishes quality of life.

This legislation will help shift road designers’ emphasis away from an “autos only” mindset and toward inclusion of pedestrians and bikers as legitimate users of our public roadways. It’s a win for everyone.

That is why MLUI strongly supports passage of these bills.

The bills could be voted out of committee this week, so groups around the state are encouraging citizens to contact their lawmakers by phone or email and ask them to support it. After the committee vote, if it’s successful, the bills will move to the floor of the House of Representatives for a full vote.

Here’s a list of the members of the House Committee on Transportation and Commerce, who will decide whether the bill can move forward:

■pambyrnes@house.mi.gov,
■andrewkandrevas@house.mi.gov,
■mariedonigan@house.mi.gov,
■douglasgeiss@house.mi.gov,
■martingriffin@house.mi.gov,
■HaroldHaugh@house.mi.gov,
■gabeleland@house.mi.gov,
■JudyNerat@house.mi.gov,
■RoySchmidt@house.mi.gov,
■ColemanAYoungII@house.mi.gov,
■paulopsommer@house.mi.gov,
■JamesBolger@house.mi.gov,
■LarryDeShazor@house.mi.gov,
■martyknollenberg@house.mi.gov,
■tompearce@house.mi.gov,
■WayneSchmidt@house.mi.gov,
■PaulScott@house.mi.gov
Please drop a line to as many of them as you can and let them know your thoughts on having Complete Streets in Michigan!

Brian Beauchamp, a policy specialist at the Michigan Land Use Institute, bikes to work even when it’s raining. Reach him at brian@mlui.org.

A look at the Cost of Transportation by the Center for Neighborhood Technology

2010-05-14T12:33:00.000-07:00

What is the true cost of housing when one factors in the cost of transportation? The map below shows the cost of housing and transportation in the Washtenaw County area.

Explore the interactive map below to learn more about the housing and transportation affordability index.

H+T Affordability Index: Ann Arbor, MI: Comparing Housing Costs - % Income to Housing and Transportation Costs - % Income

The Housing + Transportation Affordability Index is an innovative tool that measures the true affordability of housing based on its location.

© Copyright 2003-10 Center for Neighborhood Technology
2125 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 · Tel: (773) 278-4800 · Fax: (773) 278-3840

You can learn more about CNT by visiting their website at cnt.org

NOTICE OF TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN

2010-05-13T12:36:00.001-07:00

CITY OF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN

Project Management Services Unit
100 N. Fifth Avenue, P.O. Box 8647
P.O. Box 8647, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48107-8647
Phone: (734) 794-6410 Fax: (734) 994-1744
Web: www.a2gov.org

Printed on recycled paper
Homayoon Pirooz, P.E., Manager
(734) 794-6411
For Immediate Release
May 12, 2010

NOTICE OF TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN
S. STATE STREET AND E. WASHINGTON STREET
MONDAY, MAY17, 2010 TO SATURDAY MAY 22, 2010

Location and Limits of Affected Area:
S. State Street from Huron to Washington and E. Washington from S. State to Fletcher.

Description of Construction:
Streets and sidewalks repairs by the U. Of M. North Quad Project.

Temporary Construction Traffic Control Plan:
Beginning May 17, 2010 Traffic will be detoured around the North Quad site. The intersection of S. State and E. Washington will remain open to at least one lane of “turning” traffic. Traffic will be detoured around the site using Washington to the West, Division, Huron, Fletcher, N. University and State.

Pedestrian traffic will be maintained on at least one side of the streets at all times.

Refer to the enclosed map for further details.

Project Contacts (City of Ann Arbor):
Alison Heatley, Project Engineer, 794-6410x43621
Tim Towles, Civil Engineering Specialist, 323-6526

Project Contacts
Christman Constructors, Inc.
Brendan Raftery, Project Manager, (734) 327-5999
Walbridge Aldinger
Mike Hubert, Project Superintendant, (313) 220-6546

National anti-texting campaign

2010-03-30T10:36:00.000-07:00

The US Department of Transportation has picked up on an anti-text messaging campaign by AT&T wireless. USDOT even made a post on their blog with links to videos, posters and more information about the campaign. One of the heart wrenching videos from the campaign is shown below.

Check out the USDOT blog post and access more information on the anti-text messaging campaign by clicking on the link below.

http://fastlane.dot.gov/2010/03/new-antitexting-campaign-breaks-hearts-and-unsafe-habits.html

A2 Journal Letter to the editor: Why should local taxpayers fund roads in other states?

2010-03-25T12:51:00.001-07:00

Andrew McCune of Saline sent in this great letter to the editor that was published in the A2Jounral. Do you think Andrew's solution is feasible? What else can Michigan residents do to get back more of the money we pay at the pump?

As our roads and bridges continue to deteriorate and thousands of Michigan residents remain unemployed, a developing scenario would use Michigan tax dollars to fund road and bridge construction in other states.

Our elected representatives in Lansing have the opportunity to avoid this scenario; however, lack of leadership, political posturing and inaction by our legislature is going to result in our federal gas tax dollars going to other states for their road construction.

The federal surface transportation act known as SAFETEA-LU (Safe Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users) requires that states provide a 20 percent match on all federally funded projects. In the next fiscal year, Michigan will not have adequate revenue to provide the match.

As the budget currently stands, Michigan will fall $84 million short of our required matching funds, resulting in $475 million sent back to Washington for redistribution to other states. This number climbs to $2 billion over the next four years. These dollars that Michigan will be sending back to Washington are generated through the federal gas tax that Michigan residents pay each time they fill their gas tanks.

It's a well-known fact that quality transportation system is a key factor in attracting and maintaining business in any state. Businesses do not want to locate in a state that has failing infrastructure and no funding to maintain roads. If we fail to adequately fund our road and bridge projects in Michigan, it will become all the more difficult to attract business to Michigan.

In addition, transportation supports thousands of jobs within Michigan. Without a small revenue increase, more than 17,000 jobs are projected to be lost. Lack of adequate road funding will further Michigan's economic crisis. An increase in transportation funding is supported by not only the transportation industry, but also the American Manufacturing Association, the trucking industry and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.

Solutions have been introduced in both the Michigan Senate and House in the form of two bills -- SB862 and HB5768-5770. Each of these bills calls for increasing the state gasoline tax by 4 cents a gallon in 2010 and again in 2013, the first increase since 1997. The average motorist would pay an additional 50 cents per week under these bills.

Although introduced, legislation sits stalled in both the Senate and the House. Leadership in Michigan's Senate and House of Representatives doesn't want to take on a revenue increase during an election year. So while the politicians continue to posture and position for their jobs in our government, Michigan taxpayers will be funding transportation projects in other states. This should be unimaginable and unacceptable to every Michigan resident.

The answer is simple: Generate enough revenue to capture our fair share of the federal funds to fix Michigan's deteriorating infrastructure.

Andrew McCune

Saline

Transportation Planning Meets Mobile Phone Technology

2010-03-12T06:27:00.000-08:00

The San Francisco County Transportation Authority has released a new application for the iPhone and Android mobile phone operating systems. The app will prompt the user to enter the trip purpose at the beginning of one's bicycle trip. After that, information on trip route, travel time and time of day and week the trip takes place is uploaded in real time to the Transportation Authority. This information is used to help transportation planners and travel modelers better understand the needs of cyclists.

WATS is excited to see this new integration of mobile phone technology and transportation planning and will continue to track the progress and success of the San Francisco program.

Here is a link to an article on the San Fransisco based application.

What do you think? If it becomes available would you be interested in participating with WATS to use mobile phone technology to help us better understand trip making behavior in the County?

Lane Closures on Miller coming this week

2010-03-01T07:20:00.000-08:00

Notice of Temporary Traffic Control Plan
MILLER AVENUE – MAIN TO CHAPIN
March 4 – March 12, 2010

Location and Limits of Affected Area:
Miller Avenue from North First Street to Chapin Street.

Description of Work:
Storm and sanitary sewers are being cleaned and videotaped.

Temporary Construction Traffic Control Plan:
Beginning March 4, Miller Avenue between Main Street and First Street will be reduced to one lane, with eastbound traffic being maintained. Westbound traffic at First Street will be detoured south to Huron Street, west on Huron Street, and north on Seventh Street, back to Miller Avenue.

During this work the traffic may experience brief delays within the areas influenced by this work. Detour signs will be posted for this construction; however the motorists are advised to seek alternate routes. To maintain the safety of all, please reduce speeds and drive cautiously through work zones. We thank you in advance for your patience as these necessary public infrastructure improvements are completed.

Project Contacts:
City of Ann Arbor
Nick Hutchinson, P.E., Project Engineer (734) 845-0698
Adam Ajam, Civil Engineering Specialist, (734) 323-6565

DownUnder Construction
Danny Butterfield, Construction Contractor, (269) 377-1944

Improved Access for Ann Arbor CIL

2010-02-01T05:39:00.001-08:00

The following press release is from the Center for Independent Living regarding increased access to the new CIL offices on Research Park Drive. Feel free to share and post your thoughts.

For immediate release:
January 29, 2010

The bus stops here!

The Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living (Ann Arbor CIL) has worked closely with Ann Arbor Transit Authority (AATA), and now the community has a safe and secure bus stop at the Ann Arbor CIL, located at 3941 Research Park Drive. AATA’s inbound bus route #6 from Ypsilanti to Ann Arbor has added stops along Research Park Drive at both the Social Security Administration and the Ann Arbor CIL. The Ann Arbor CIL is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the success of children, youth, and adults with disabilities. Ann Arbor CIL has been in the community for 34 years. Two years ago they needed to move with the closing of Georgetown Mall. The building, where the Ann Arbor CIL, is now is more accessible and twice the size of their old facility. When they moved, they knew they would benefit from increased transit options.

The new bus stop now allows individuals with disabilities and the general public to make a safe and independent trip to and from the Ann Arbor CIL. “Before the bus stop, getting to or from here by bus was difficult, especially for many individuals with disabilities. Members of our community had to get off the bus in heavy traffic and travel long distances to receive our services and participate in events. We now have 50% more access via public transportation than we had before,” states Carolyn Grawi, Ann Arbor CIL Director of Advocacy and Education.

The benefits of the efforts to create this bus stop are already being realized by the community. Jim Briggs, an Ann Arbor resident and frequent visitor and volunteer at the Ann Arbor CIL states, “having access is key. Before I couldn’t get from the Ann Arbor CIL easily on my own, and now I can ride the bus directly from their building. Going to the Ann Arbor CIL is important to me, and having the bus has a big impact for me.” For Jim, because of costs, budgeting A-Ride Paratransit Service is difficult, and he has had to choose only the activities he really wanted to participate in. Having the bus so close to the Ann Arbor CIL allows Jim to use his manual chair rather than his motorized scooter. The new bus stop now makes it possible for him to attend more activities and events at the Center. Likewise, Mary Dolinsky says, “this stop is great for me.” Mary is very active at the Ann Arbor CIL, and she can now safely plan her trip to and from her home to the Center without walking long distances in dangerous traffic. Mary also shares, “I am excited that more people will be able to come to the Ann Arbor CIL and be active in their events and services.”

The Ann Arbor CIL, Social Security Administration, and community members are advocating to have the city install a traffic light at Ellsworth and S. Research Park Drive so that the out-bound route #6 can serve the new bus stops. Right now riders traveling outbound from Ann Arbor to the Ann Arbor CIL or Social Security Administration building must either ride farther and transfer to other vehicles or use the bus stops located in heavy traffic areas that are inaccessible and further away from their destinations. Crossing Ellsworth is a problem for the bus and for cars, let alone individuals.

The Ann Arbor CIL continues to advocate and work with AATA to improve and advance county-wide service options for transit-dependent individuals. One program area needing to be resumed for all travelers is travel training, so that people can make the most use of the transit services available. The Ann Arbor CIL supports county-wide expansion of transit options and sees increased access throughout Washtenaw County as a plus for individuals, the economy, and the environment.

The AATA in-bound route #6 bus arrives at Ann Arbor CIL at :12 and :42 after the hour M-F days, and at :12 after the hour M-F evenings and on weekends. For more information about the Ann Arbor CIL please visit www.aacil.org. For more information on how to travel to the Ann Arbor CIL using the bus, visit the AATA website at www.theride.org or call 996-0400. You may also call or email the Ann Arbor CIL at 971-0277 ext 16 or cgrawi@aacil.org .

MDOT Considers List of Improvements from WATS Committees

2009-12-21T11:07:00.000-08:00

The WATS Technical and Policy Committees have developed a list of needed improvements to MDOT facilities within Washtenaw County. Representatives from the Michigan Department of Transportation’s University Region and Brighton Transportation Service Center participated in discussions with both Committees in December as the list was assembled. The recommended improvements are included below. If you have any other improvements you would like to see MDOT complete feel free to post a comment here and WATS will forward the comment to MDOT.

MDOT Requested Improvements--Washtenaw County
December 2009

BL-94/Jackson/Huron/Washtenaw
Further study and consideration of 4 to 3 conversion (Limits Maple to Dexter), with bike lanes
Further study and consideration of 4 to 3 conversion (Limits Dexter to Third), with bike lanes
Further study and consideration of 4 to 3 conversion (Limits S. University to Stadium), with bike lanes
Installation of HAWK Signal at 3rd and Chapin
Installation of Pedestrian Crossing Improvements for Jackson/Huron (Refuge Islands) between Thayer and Ingalls, Stadium and US-23, and further west of Stadium
Conversion of Washtenaw/Cross to 2-way traffic with Washtenaw designated as M-17
Bus pullout bays along Washtenaw
Study/implement Queue Jump lanes at Maple, US-23, Yost, Pittsfield, Huron Parkway, Stadium per AA 2009 Transportation Plan Update
SCOOT implementation or interconnection along the entire corridor
Implement Access Management recommendations
Study/implement double left turn lanes onto SB Maple
Study feasibility of intersection redesign at Maple (roundabout)
Traffic calming or cues for drivers to slow down via landscaping, pedestrian walk at Maple

BR-12/Michigan Ave
Construct and fill in gaps in Sidewalks
Install Lighting (at local expense)
Midblock Pedestrian Crossings location TBD by residents (consider HAWK, Pedestrian Refuge Islands)
Create additional pedestrian crossing between West Willow and neighborhood to Northwest

BR-US-12/Hamilton/Huron
Implement 3 to 2 conversion with bike lanes/parking

BR-23/Main St
Complete non-motorized facilities from Huron River Drive, connect existing pathways
Construct drainage improvements
Signal improvement: right turn overlap phase at Main and Depot
Conduct feasibility for other improvements at Main and Depot
Study/implement Queue Jump lanes at Depot and Summit per City of Ann Arbor 2009 Transportation Plan Update
Construct a bus turnaround south of M-14

M-17/Washtenaw/Michigan/Ecorse/Cross
Complete sidewalks on both side of road
Convert T-in US-23 interchange ramps to enable safer non-motorized crossings
Streetscape improvement per Re-imagine Washtenaw
Install Transit Bypass lanes (Queue Jump lanes)
Initiate feasibility/analysis—Corridor Study for Public Transit
Construct Intercept Transit Parking Deck (Park and Ride) near Arborland at US-23
Install Lighting (at local expense)
Implement Access Management recommendations
Midblock pedestrian refuge islands on Washtenaw (US-23 to Mansfield), at Huron Parkway, and at Golfside
Install pedestrian facilities at Oakwood and Washtenaw
Work with locals to align cross section of Oakwood and Washtenaw

M-153/Ford Rd
Install advance street signs, particularly for Prospect

M-52/Main
Install signal at Werkner Road per Tappan Datta analysis
Install wide shoulders along entire route
Install center rumble strips in rural sections
Implement recommendations from safety study from Old US-12 to I-94 , complete Access Management plan
Relocate signal from Brown Dr to Commerce Park Dr

M-14
Resurface from east tri-level to east county line
Non-motorized improvements at interchange and bridge at Miller/Maple
Implement ITS and Courtesy Patrol

US-12/Michigan
Implement improvements included in the approved EIS
Install non-motorized improvements (sidewalks, bike lanes), from the western boundary of Saline to I-94
Provide pedestrian refuge islands near Walmart
Use CMAQ funds to improve US-23/US-12 interchange
Reconstruct US-12 from Mills Road to Maple Road
Streetscape improvements in downtown Saline area (in US-12 R.O.W. in limits of the above reconstruction) according to City of Saline Enhancement Plan
Installation of left turn signals at US-12 & Maple, at US-12 and Industrial, US-12 and Platt, and US-12 and Moon/State

US-23
Non-motorized improvements at interchanges and bridges at Barker, Jennings, 6 Mile, 8 Mile/Whitmore Lake, Warren, Plymouth, Washtenaw, US-12, Carpenter
Study installation of signal at Barker
Implement ITS and Courtesy Patrol
Install ramp extensions and upgrade interchanges, particularly at North Territorial
Implement Feasibility Study

I-94
Non-motorized improvements at interchanges and bridges at Zeeb, Baker, M-52, Ann Arbor-Saline, State, Michigan, Huron, and Rawsonville
Landscape enhancements on bridge and entrance into city at interchange with State
Repave/reconstruct approaches, bridge, and off-ramps at Ann Arbor-Saline, particularly EB off-ramp
Convert interchange ramps to T-in ramps to enable safer non-motorized crossings
Eliminate slip ramps at Ann Arbor-Saline interchange
Implement ITS and Courtesy Patrol
Realign curves at Kalmbach and at Jackson (BL-94)
Add right turn lane on EB-ramp at State St
Upgrade Fletcher Rd interchange
Upgrade Jackson Rd interchange
Study Zeeb Road interchange from Jackson to Pratt for non-motorized improvements

Other
Implement ITS and Courtesy Patrol
Adequate funding for Local Bridge Program

Carpool Lots
Look at potential for Transit service at existing MDOT carpool lots at I-94 and State, Ann Arbor-Saline, Zeeb (or Baker) and US-23 and Territorial

WATS Celebrates 35 years of Cooperation

2009-12-17T06:24:00.000-08:00

Following the December 16th WATS Policy Committee meeting the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study celebrated its 35th anniversary. The celebration included many previous Committee members and employees as well as a presentation on the evolution and accomplishments of the Agency since its establishment in 1974.

Former Executive Directors Bob Polens and Bob Tetens as well as former Policy Chairs, Gretchen Driskell, Ruth Ann Jamnick, Meri Lou Murray and Nathalie Edmunds were among those in attendance.

We still have a number of 35th anniversary pens at our office on 705 N. Zeeb Road. Feel free to stop by and pick up a free pen and brochure that covers the Agency’s past and present while supplies last!

Included below are a few pictures from the event.

Cable Guardrails Save Lives

2009-12-08T06:01:00.000-08:00

There have been many questions regarding the cable guardrails that have been popping up all over Michigan. Yesterday MDOT issued a press release that describes the effectiveness of cable guardrails at saving lives. That press release is included below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2009

CONTACT: Bob Felt, MDOT Office of Communications, 989-619-7963

Cable guardrail works –
MDOT's You Tube channel shows why

December 7, 2009 -- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is using social media to tell motorists about the benefits of its 280-mile cable guardrail program. The message is now playing on the MDOT You Tube channel at www.youtube.com/MichiganDOT.

"Cable guardrail is already doing exactly what it is designed to do - save lives," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "By preventing vehicles from crossing over the median into oncoming traffic, innocent people are being protected from serious injuries and even death. We expect to save about 13 lives every year and prevent numerous serious injuries."

Cross-median crashes are three times more deadly than other freeway crashes. Cable guardrail is designed to prevent vehicles from crossing the median and is expected to reduce cross-median crashes by an estimated 90 percent. In addition to reducing the severity of crashes, cable guardrail is a very cost-effective safety measure when compared to other barriers. Cable guardrail only costs $12-15 per foot, while steel "W-beam" guardrail costs $28-33 per foot and concrete barrier has a cost of $80 or more per foot.

According to state and federal regulations, funding for MDOT's three-year, $40 million program cannot be spent on other transportation projects.

For more information about cable guardrail, visit the MDOT Web site at: www.michigan.gov/cableguardrail. Follow MDOT at www.twitter.com/MichiganDOT or visit the "Michigan Department of Transportation" page on Facebook and become a fan.

###

2010 Traffic Summit Map

2009-11-17T12:21:00.000-08:00

Staff from MDOT, WATS and other ACT 51 agencies in Washtenaw County will attend the 2010 Washtenaw County Traffic Summit on November 18th, 2009. The purpose of the Summit is for transportation agencies to discuss the 2010 construction schedule and possibly coordinate projects or detours.

WATS helps to facilitate this process by collecting upcoming project information from local transportation agencies. This information is provided below as a google map. If you have any questions email us at wats@miwats.org.

View 2010 Summit Projects in a larger map

Video of Pedestrian Crossings in Ann Arbor

2009-11-13T13:53:00.000-08:00

At the Washtenaw Biking and Walking Coalition's Pedestrian Forum in October, a video was presented highlighting some of the issues pedestrians and people with disabilities face as they cross some of the roads in the area.

Take a look at the short video to see what was captured in just one afternoon by Matt Grocoff!

WATS Technical Committee Looks to Expand

2009-11-02T13:48:00.001-08:00

WATS recently updated its bylaws to add five special interest positions to the Technical Committee.

WATS is seeking applications to fill each of the new positions:

Non-motorized
Environmental
Senior Community
Disabled Community
Freight

The responsibilities of the Technical Advisory Subcommittee are to:

Advise the Agency staff and recommend technical methods, procedures, and standards necessary for the transportation work of the Committee.

Help coordinate the work of agencies and governmental units participating in the work of the Committee.

Recommend alternative plans and proposals to the Committee.

Respond to the Committee’s requests for technical information and assistance.

Make recommendation to the Policy Committee for multi-year federal and state funding programs.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming more involved in the transportation planning process and are interested in representing one of the special interests, please take a look at the application.

2035 Long Range Transportation Plan Approved

2009-09-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

On September 16th, the WATS Policy Committee approved the 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan for Washtenaw County. With the Plan now approved, staff is now working to make the document more user friendly by adding additional graphics, quotes and other aesthetic items. Once complete, final copies will be bound and delivered to the locations that currently have the draft version of the plan including local government offices, libraries and the WATS office.

The plan can still be found on the WATS website here.

The WATS plan will be fully incorporated by reference into the SEMCOG Plan and then go on for final approval by MDOT and the Federal Highway Administration.

SEMCOG to host Long Range Plan Meeting in Washtenaw County

2009-08-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

SEMCOG will be holding a public meeting on the Regional Transportation Plan on Thursday September 10th. I've included information from their press release below. If you have any questions about the meeting you can also call WATS at 734-994-3127.

Presentation of Direction2035

Public is Invited

SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, is inviting citizens to learn about the region’s next long-range transportation plan, Direction2035, by attending presentation on Thursday, September 10, 2009 from 2 to 4 pm. The meeting will be held at Washtenaw Community College’s Liberal Arts Building, Room 375, located at 4800 E Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor.

Direction2035 represents the region’s blueprint for transportation through 2035 and includes policies, initiatives, and projects designed to maximize regional goals.
You have the right and responsibility to review Direction2035 and offer comments. All comments will be reviewed and considered before Direction2035 is adopted. Public comment ends on October 22, 2009.

Direction2035 can be found online at www.semcog.org/Long-RangeTransportationPlan.aspx. You may also contact SEMCOG at (313) 324-3362 to request a printed copy.

You can offer comments by: E-mailing Direction2035@semcog.org Phoning 313-324-3362 Faxing 313-961-4869 Mailing SEMCOG, Attn: Information Center, 535 Griswold, Suite 300, Detroit, MI 48226 Commenting in person:
o September 10, 2009; 2 pm; Public Presentation, Washtenaw Community College, Liberal Arts Building, Room 375, 4800 E Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor, MI
o September 23, 2009; 9:30 am; Transportation Advisory Council, SEMCOG offices, 535 Griswold, Suite 300, Detroit, MI
o September 25, 2009; 1:00 pm; SEMCOG Executive Committee, SEMCOG offices, 535 Griswold, Suite 300, Detroit, MI
o October 22, 2009; 4:30 pm; SEMCOG General Assembly, Concord Inn, 44315 Gratiot, Clinton Township, MI

SEMCOG is a regional planning partnership of governmental units serving 4.9 million people in the seven-county region of Southeast Michigan striving to enhance the region's quality of life.

2035 Long Range Plan Draft Available

2009-08-05T13:27:00.000-07:00

Staff has completed the Final DRAFT 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan. You can view the plan by clicking here. You can view the appendices here.

WATS will continue to accept comments until September 20th, 2009. Any comments, including those received on the blog, will be considered by staff and discussed with transportation agencies. The comments will also be included in a plan appendix.

Be sure to forward the plan to your friends, family and co-workers. More public participation means a better plan and a better transportation system.

LRP Presentation Video

2009-07-21T06:59:00.000-07:00

The 2035 Long Range Plan is coming together. If you weren't able to make it out to one of our public meetings, check out this video.

It's not too late to participate in Long Range Plan development

2009-06-30T05:41:00.000-07:00

As the WATS staff continue to make the 2035 Long Range Plan presentation to interested residents all over the county, you can participate from the comfort of your home.

We are still looking for deficiencies that aren't specified in the draft listings. If your deficiency is not listed, please contact us or leave a comment to this post. Also, if there is a project or improvement you would like to see added to the Plan, leave us a comment on the blog and it will be sent to the transportation agency with jurisdiction over the improvement. The improvement will also be added to the list of unfunded improvements which is growing every day. Having your transportation needs addressed in the unfunded list is an important step to help ensure transportation decision makers are aware of your concerns.

LRP Meetings Continue

2009-06-22T05:45:00.000-07:00

Over the last two weeks, WATS staff has been toting around map boards and informational brochures across the county, answering questions and taking comments on the Draft 2035 LRP. So far WATS has presented the information to more than 40 people. We've included below a few pictures from some of our meetings.

There is still time to make it out to one of our meetings if you haven't had the chance. Click here for a complete list of meetings.

We are currently working on uploading a video of the presentation given at the beginning of each meeting. Stay tuned to the blog for access to the video presentation when it becomes available.

Comments continue to come in to the WATS office. Feel free to post your thoughts as a comment on the WATS blog. Once the Plan is completed, staff plans to expand the focus of the blog to all transportation issues and news. Help the discussion get started now by posting a comment.

LRP Meetings Begin Today

2009-06-02T07:29:00.000-07:00

The first in a series of 17 meetings across Washtenaw County to discuss the Long Range Transportation Plan for Washtenaw County is today at Palmer Commons, 100 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor on the University of Michigan Campus from 2-4pm.

The Long Range Plan Meetings will include a presentation on the anticipated funding levels as well as proposed improvements. Maps of the six deficiencies discussed on the blog as well as a map of both funded and unfunded improvements will be available for public review.

Staff will be on hand to answer questions and record comments. Comment forms on the Draft Plan will also be available.

A calendar with all of the Long Range Plan meetings is available to the right as well as on the WATS website here

Thank you for your interest in the transportation planning process. As always, feel free to leave a comment on the blog which will be included with comments recieved at the public meetings and distributed to local transportation agencies.

Town Hall Meeting - Your Roads, Your Dollars

2009-05-07T08:09:00.000-07:00

State Representative Pam Byrnes invites you to a Public Town Hall Meeting

Your Roads, Your Dollars

Special Invited Guests: Congressman John Dingell & Congressman Mark Schauer
Monday, May 11 • 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Washtenaw Community College
Morris Lawrence Building
For more information please contact State Representative
Pam Byrnes
(800) 645-1581 • byrnes.housedems.com

Long Range Plan Meetings Available for your Community Group

2009-04-20T05:58:00.000-07:00

The Washtenaw Area Transportation Study is working to prepare the Draft 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan for Washtenaw County.

Public Participation is of critical importance to the transportation planning process. WATS is currently scheduling public meetings to discuss the Draft 2035 Long Range Transportation plan at local community centers and libraries. Meetings will be held in June.

WATS is willing to hold a public meeting for your community, agency, or group. If you have a preferred location, please provide WATS with the details and a contact to secure the space. Participants will have an opportunity to review six modal deficiencies identified and comment on proposed improvements to address those deficiencies. WATS will synthesize and present the comments received at the meetings to the agencies responsible for implementation and incorporation in to the 2035 Plan if feasible.

There is no charge for a meeting and WATS will attempt to meet your scheduling and location needs.

WATS will be posting information on LRP meetings when it becomes available on the blog and website.

Deficiencies available for review

2009-03-19T08:29:00.000-07:00

WATS has posted lists and maps of the six types of deficiencies for the Long Range Plan on the updated website. You can access the information by clicking here.

Please feel free to leave WATS a comment or recommend additional deficiencies.

WATS Website Redesign

2009-03-10T06:12:00.000-07:00

The WATS website at http://www.miwats.org/ has undergone a major redesign. We hope the update will make it easier for you to find even more information about Transportation in Washtenaw County. If you have any comments or suggestions on the redesign, feel free to leave them here.

Public Comment Summary from Long Range Plan kick-off meeting

2009-02-09T10:44:00.000-08:00

Public comments were collected at the January 14th WATS Long Range Plan Meeting. WATS solicited comments on each of the six types of deficiencies for which maps were displayed at the meeting. This blog has also provided an opportuinity for comment on each of the six types of deficiencies. The comments received at the meeting have been summarized and are included below.

CONGESTION SUMMARY
Congestion is bad and continues to get worse, which will require a change in people’s behaviors. However, it is possible that the model congestion data could be off (despite people actually experiencing congestion). US-23 and North Territorial represents a multifaceted deficiency (congestion, safety and bridge). Paving unpaved roads will provide alternatives to congested routes. Some very congested areas, such as Arborland, have too many traffic lights. Many of the congestion deficiencies are concentrated only at rush hour.

CONGESTION SUGGESTIONS
1) Recommend staggered start times
2) Add vectors/factors to map so folks can add their own data
3) US-23 and North Territorial
4) North Territorial and Dexter-Pinckney: Traffic actuated lights, left turn lights. An interchange at Dancer Rd and I-94 would improve traffic flow in and around Dexter.
5) Pave Sutton Rd. north of North Territorial to provide a paved alternative to US-23 between Ann Arbor and Whitmore Lake – Bemis to Rawsonville
6) Geddes over US-23 has significant issues, east from US-23
7) Washtenaw Ave has issues various times of day

SAFETY SUMMARY
Safety, congestion and bridges are more interactive than other categories. An example is issues at US-23 and North Territorial. Some roads are unsafe due to a lack of maintenance on pavement, ditches and right-of-ways, as well as the increasing deer population. Stripe bike lanes on routes used for bike travel. Improvements in all of the other deficiencies will help improve safety. A lack of street lights is a hazard for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists in urban areas.

SAFETY SUGGESTIONS
1) Scale confusing, label fields from highest to lowest
2) Clear ditches for drainage, maintain scrub free right of ways and traffic calming devices
3) Stripe bike lanes on Plymouth between Upland and Moore
4) Publish safety tips in Ann Arbor News
5) Add more street lights, especially in urban areas

BRIDGE SUMMARY
Structurally Deficient bridges should be fixed first, if the meet a pre-set threshold of usage. Another view would is that environmental impacts should be the primary consideration in prioritizing bridgework (and other “interactions”). Pedestrian crossings on bridges, particularly at expressways should be considered. Bridges work should be done before they develop holes in the pavement.

BRIDGE SUGGESTIONS
1) Prioritize based on Structurally Deficient, then set usage criteria
2) Look at US-23 and North Territorial.
3) Bridge from Island Lake Rd into Dexter Village should be looked at
4) Encourage funds for bridge replacement

TRANSIT SUMMARY
Transit should aim to provide “fare equity for residents”. Baby boomers will be major transit issue over next 30 years, and will need to consider base access to/from major nodes. Smaller providers such as WWAVE will be important in getting people from their homes to bus stops. Planning should include specific proposals to support transit-oriented-development, which will “drive the kind of change Michigan needs” (see golden spike). Maintain and improve bus service, as well as keep rail projects moving forward with Ypsilanti stop. Transit service should connect entire County. UM paying for staff/faculty/student rides has been very successful.

TRANSIT SUGGESTIONS
1) Remember Toyota in York Twp
2) Expand parking at Ann Arbor Amtrak station
3) Light rail along south side of Plymouth Rd between US-23 and Murfin/Upland, then thru north campus, medical center, central campus and downtown
4) Concentrate transit planning to connect Ann Arbor with Metro Airport and Detroit
5) Bus loop around city, without going downtown
6) Consider expanding routes on Huron, Washtenaw and Plymouth

PAVEMENT SUMMARY
Bike lanes should be priority as those not using a car or bus are more vulnerable. Don’t forget gravel roads. Improve rural roads in a way that preserved beauty and rural character, as well as utilizing construction and maintenance standards in connection with rural roads that respect existing topography and natural features. Repair and maintenance will also help preserve vehicles. So many roads in the county are bad, a warranty from contractor should be considered.

PAVEMENT SUGGESTIONS
1) Bike lanes first
2) Complete 7 Mile Rd
3) Oppose WCRS’s “excessive and unnecessary” Right of Way Plan
4) Do a better job cleaning on-street bike lanes
5) Pave bike and ped paths in Barton Park (currently wood chips)
6) Division, Packard near Madison, Geddes of US-23

NON-MOTORIZED SUMMARY
Build a network with B2B as spine. Good for environment, good for healthy, double value at one tenth of cost. Consider wider shoulders along major paved roads, and keep focus on the border-to-border trail. Increase amount of bike paths and improve existing paths, as well as focusing on connecting bike paths through the county. Pedestrians need encouragement via: signs, maps, easy access and adequate parking.

NON-MOTORIZED SUGGESTIONS
1) Pave shoulder on Werkner in Lyndon Twp
2) Need more freeway crossings
3) Add bike and ped paths around Whitmore Lake
4) Grade separated rail crossings in Ann Arbor at Arb, UM medical center, north Main St and Huron River Dr needed
5) Ped and bike route using unbuilt part of Huron Pkwy from Traver Rd to Whitmore Lake Rd
6) Ford Blvd bridge over Michigan Ave

Estimated Stimulus Numbers for Washtenaw County

2009-02-02T08:34:00.000-08:00

WATS has recieved preliminary instructions from the Federal Highway Administration as well as the Michigan Department of Transportation on how to plan for a possible economic stimulus package.

A letter from the Director of the Michigan Department of Transportation, Kirk Steudle stated that Washtenaw County should plan on $6,916,632 in urban and $687,260 in rural funding from the stimulus pacakage in addition to the annual allocation of federal funds.

In order to be eligible for the stimulus funds, transportation improvements will need to be "shovel ready". This means that work, in general, must be ready to go within 180 days of the stimulus funds being available.

In order to coordinate appropriate expenditure of the funds, WATS has been working with local communities and transportation agencies to make sure that projects are included in the necessary documents and have gone through an appropriate public process. The stimulus funds will likely need to be treated under the same guidelines as the existing Surface Transportation Program. As such, the projects will need to be included in the WATS and SEMCOG Transportation Improvement Programs as well as the State Transportation Improvement Program.

The Federal Highway Administration has placed a list of FAQ's on their website. Questions and answers can be found by clicking here.

If you have any questions about the economic recovery package feel free to leave a comment with your question or email WATS at wats@miwats.org

Check the WATS blog and website often for up to date information about this topic.

Stimulus Package Possiblities

2009-01-09T05:49:00.000-08:00

The following was taken from an article on Mlive.com regarding the possible upcoming stimulus plan and the potential for infrastructure improvements to be funded as part of the plan. The permalink to the article is included at the bottom. Please comment and let WATS and others know your opinion.

LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan officials, like those in many states across the nation, are crafting a multibillion dollar wish list for road improvements and other projects in anticipation of an expected federal stimulus package.

The challenge: No one knows for sure exactly when a stimulus package for the states is coming or what it will include. The plan first must be debated and agreed upon by Congress and President-elect Barack Obama.

State officials know their entire list, or possibly even much of it, won't be funded. But the uncertainty of what will be included in the final stimulus package leaves officials putting together a broad inventory so they are prepared to respond to whatever is approved.

Michigan -- with the nation's highest unemployment rate, beat-up roads and needs related to the Great Lakes -- has plenty of possible projects to pitch.

"The goal is to build as wide and broad a list as possible because we don't know exactly what will be available," Leslee Fritz, a spokeswoman in Michigan's state government budget office, said Thursday. "It's an ongoing process."

Michigan officials started working on the list several weeks ago.

Obama again pushed for his proposal Thursday during a speech in Fairfax, Va. He wants Congress to pass a revival plan soon enough for it to be ready for his signature shortly after he takes office on Jan. 20.

Obama has not shared many details of the plan, which could cost as much as $1 trillion including government spending and tax cuts. It's not clear what Michigan's share of the cash would be or how it would be allocated.

But Obama does have some broad goals that could be folded into a stimulus package aiding states. For example, Obama wants to boost alternative energy production, expand broadband networks and update schools and universities.

Michigan's two Democratic U.S. senators, Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, held teleconferences on the developing economic recovery plan early Thursday evening. Stabenow said she hoped the economic recovery plan would be passed by the end of February.

"There is a lot of work to do on details, but we are moving very, very fast," Stabenow said. "We know this has got to happen fast."

Levin focused on two areas of concern about the developing plan. He wants more help to go to states with the highest unemployment rates, such as Michigan, and he wants more done to address the loss of manufacturing jobs.

Michigan officials say they haven't released a list of specific projects they want funded because they don't want to raise potentially false hope in specific communities, particularly when it's not clear how the federal program will be implemented or what it will cover. But Michigan has some general, high priority areas that might be addressed through a stimulus package.

Road and bridge repair is a priority. A transportation funding task force created by Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the state Legislature has said spending must be doubled to maintain a "good" level of investment in roads, bridges, airports and public transit.

Michigan officials have shelved proposals such as raising the gas tax to pay for road improvements in hopes that a federal government package will finance improvements instead.

U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, wants improvements to shipping transportation in the Great Lakes. Stupak has called for improvements in the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie and an additional Great Lakes icebreaker to clear shipping lanes.

Environmental groups want money to clean up toxic wastes in the Great Lakes and update sewers to cut down on water pollution.

The projects most likely to be included are those that could start construction within a few months of the stimulus package rollout. The benefit to Michigan's economy, at least in the short term, would start with thousands of construction and related jobs.

Other investments, including those in alternative energy development, could have broader and longer-lasting benefits to Michigan's economy.

"Investment in job creation, that's No. 1," Granholm said Thursday when asked what she wants included in the stimulus package.

Other targeted relief also is possible to help people deal with the recession. A federal aid package could include the extension of unemployment benefits, money to retrain laid-off workers for high demand jobs, increased food assistance options and cash to keep people covered by Medicaid.
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Howell, said the package should include tax relief -- particularly for small businesses -- to help spark job creation.

"Tax cuts are going to be crucial," Rogers said.

http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/01/michigan_crafts_wish_list_for.html

2035 LRP Public Meeting - You're Invited

2008-12-23T10:40:00.000-08:00

2035 Long Range Plan Meeting
To: Washtenaw County Stakeholders
Date: January 14th, 2009
Where: WCC Morris Lawrence Building

WATS is initiating the public meeting process in support of the development of Washtenaw County’s 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRP). Two meetings will be held January 14th, from 2pm to 4pm and from 6pm to 8pm. The Washtenaw Community College Morris Lawrence Building is located at 4700 East Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor, MI‎. WCC Campus can be accessed using THE RIDE routes 3 and 7.

This first set of public meetings will focus on the Goals and Objectives and plan Development Schedule. WATS will take public comment in the following goals and objectives.

· Promoting a safe and secure transportation system
· Reducing the number and severity of traffic crashes.
· Increasing the safety and security of the transportation system and its users.

· Providing accessibility and mobility for all people and goods.
· Reducing the distance or time spent traveling
· Increasing the occupancy rate for all motorized modes.

· Investing strategically in transportation infrastructure to enhance the vitality of the community.
· Giving priority to preservation and maintenance of the existing transportation system.
· Developing a financially responsible plan that allocates available resources.

· Protecting and enhancing the environment.
· Reducing air, water and noise pollution and emissions and concentrations.
· Reduce energy consumption

Urgent Funding Message from MITA

2008-12-16T10:27:00.000-08:00

This information was passed along to WATS by the Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association.

URGENT CALL TO ACTION: MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

A three-year effort to increase transportation investment in Michigan all comes down to a single day— this Thursday, the final day of debate for the lame duck session.

Policymakers are considering a transportation investment plan that would provide an additional investment of $1.5 billion per year. In short, the legislation would get rid of the state’s per gallon gas and diesel tax and replace them with a percentage tax based on the wholesale price of fuel. The funding package would also adjust vehicle registration fees and close various loopholes. (The bill numbers are House Bills 4577, 6749, 6750 and 6752.)

Your help is needed!

Legislators often tell us that they never hear from constituents regarding this issue. This is your chance. We strongly urge you and all your employees to call your legislators beginning today through Thursday and ask for their support for the transportation investment plan. Go to: http://mi-ita.com/legislative_contact.asp to find your representative and senator.) Tell them how important jobs and the economy are to our state. Ask to speak to your elected official directly. If they are not available or you get a voicemail, leave them a message encouraging their support. Feel free to make a follow up call again on Thursday to ask how your legislator is going to vote.

The Legislature must not put off action until next year—they MUST act on Thursday.Please contact Mike Nystrom at mikenystrom@mi-ita.com or Keith Ledbetter at keithledbetter@mi-ita.com or call the MITA office at 517-347-8336 with any questions or comments.

Transit Deficiencies

2008-12-04T13:45:00.000-08:00

WATS has already collected comments on pavement, bridge, congestion, non-motorized and safety deficiencies throughout the County. This post will focus on transit deficiencies including the need for new service, extended service hours, more frequent service or any capital improvements such as bus shelters, new vehicles, or technology improvements such as next bus signs or cell phone alerts on service.

Several types of transit deficiencies are measured in the long range plan including quality of existing service, span of service (which refers to hours in service), frequency of service (which refers to how often a bus comes) as well as an overall lack of transit service. In addition to corridors that are not served by transit destinations such as schools, parks, libraries, hospitals, etc., that are not served by transit could also be provided.

One example of a transit deficient location could be “I can’t ride the bus from my house in a Township to the library in Saline.” A different example of a transit deficiency would be “I don’t get off work until 2am but the bus stops running at 11:00 pm.” This would be an example of a span of service deficiency.

When providing a comment please include your name, the community you live in, and if you feel comfortable, your email address. If you do not feel comfortable including your email address, you may still provide comments, however, to allow WATS to document and keep track of your comment, please include your email address with your comments in an email to us at wats@miwats.org.

Safety Deficiencies

2008-11-13T08:13:00.000-08:00

WATS has already begun to collect comments on pavement, bridge, congestion and non-motorized deficiencies throughout the County. This post will focus on safety deficiencies including both intersection and segment deficiencies.

If there is a segment of road or intersection where you think a large number of crashes occur, please make a comment and let us know where. If your comment is regarding a safety concern along a segment of road, include not only the road name but the ending intersections of the segment such as Arkona Road between Maple and Goodrich. If your concern is at an intersection please indicate so by providing both cross streets in your comments such as the intersection of Arkona Road and Sanford Road.

When providing a comment please include your name, the community you live in, and if you feel comfortable, your email address so that we can contact you with any questions. If you do not feel comfortable including your email address, you may still provide comments, however, to allow WATS to document and keep track of your comment, please include your email address with your comments in an email to us at wats@miwats.org.

For more information on crashes in Washtenaw County check out the crash data section on the WATS website.

Michigan Transportation Funding Task Force Report Released

2008-11-10T08:03:00.000-08:00

A report recently released by the Transportation Funding Task Force, appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm, recommends significant changes to the way funds for transportation are collected.

The full report of the Transportation Funding Task Force can be accessed by clicking here.

Associated Press writer, David Eggert wrote an article which discusses some of the recommendations of the Task Force. That article can be viewed by clicking here.

Leave a comment to let WATS know what you think of the information presented in the article as well as your opinions on the report of the Task Force.

Travel Time Analysis Video

2008-11-07T11:44:00.000-08:00

At the November Technical Committee meeting a presentation was given that provided some examples of functions the WATS Travel Demand Model can perform. WATS uses the Travel Demand Model as a base for identifying congestion deficiencies in the Long Range Plan.

The embedded video is an example of a function called network time band analysis. This example uses estimated congested travel time to show the distance a vehicle could travel in two minute intervals, up to 20 minutes, from a user selected point. While this example may not be used directly in the Long Range Plan it is an example of how congested travel time information can be useful.

The Technical Committee requested this video be placed on the blog for everyone to see.
In the video, a point in the City of Chelsea is selected at W. Middle Street. Animated bands representing 2 minute travel intervals are drawn where light blue is 2 minutes from the selected point up to red which is 20 minutes away.

Please feel free to post a question about what is being displayed.

Non-motorized Deficiencies

2008-11-05T09:07:00.000-08:00

WATS has already collected comments on pavement, bridge and congestion deficiencies throughout the County. This post will focus on non-motorized deficiencies including both sidewalk and bike deficiencies. A non-motorized deficiency can exist if an area does not have non-motorized facilities such as a sidewalk or bike lane or an area whose non-motorized facilities are inadequate or in disrepair. WATS is also interested in locations where pedestrian crossings are difficult and the addition of crossing islands may be needed. Until recently an example would be, “There is no sidewalk along Washtenaw in front of Glencoe Hills Apartments or it is difficult to cross Stadium between Maple and Pauline. Examples of bike comments previously could have included the need for bike lanes along Platt between Packard and Ellsworth.

When providing a comment please include your name, the community you live in, and if you feel comfortable, your emial address. If you do not feel comfortable including your email address, you may still provide comments, however, to allow WATS to document and keep track of your comment, please include your email address with your comments in an email to us at wats@miwats.org.

Congestion Deficiencies

2008-10-30T05:59:00.000-07:00

WATS has already begun to collect comments on pavement and bridge deficiencies throughout the County. This post will focus on congestion deficiencies. Congestion causes extended travel times and reduced fuel efficiency.

Please provide comments of instances of recurring congestion only. That is, examples of congestion that occur on a regular basis. Please include the segment of road you feel is congested, and a beginning and ending identifier such as intersections or a freeway interchange. Also, please include in your comment when the congestion often occurs such as AM or PM peak periods or if it is fairly constant throughout the day. Please also provide the direction of the congestion if it is not congested in both directions. For example, Carpenter Road between Michigan Ave and Ellsworth during the PM peak is congested in the southbound direction.

Bridge Deficiencies

2008-10-24T11:20:00.000-07:00

WATS has already begun to collect comments on pavement deficiencies throughout the County. This second post in a series of six asks for your input on bridge deficiencies and needs. Bridges are critical components of the transportation network. Impassable or closed bridges can add significantly to travel times as users travel considerably longer distances between the same two points.

If there is a bridge that you know of in need of repair or replacement or does not meet the needs of all potential users please leave a comment and let WATS know about the deficiency.

When providing a comment please include the location of the bridge you feel is in need of improvement. Please include the road it is on, along with what the bridge runs over and what community it is in. For example, Dixboro Road Bridge over the Huron River in Ann Arbor Township.

Please include your name, the community you live in, and if you feel comfortable, your email address in your comment. If you do not feel comfortable including your email address, you may still provide comments, however, to allow WATS to document and keep track of your comment, please send a copy of your comment in an email to us at wats@miwats.org.

Be sure to check this blog often as WATS continues to ask you where you feel the deficiencies and needs are in Washtenaw County.

Pavement Deficiencies

2008-10-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

An important early step in developing the County’s long range transportation plan is the identification of the specific problems affecting the system. This helps planners identify projects and strategies to address the deficiencies and needs in the system. In the plan, deficiencies and needs are examined in the following six categories: safety, non-motorized, transit, bridges, congestion and pavement. Over the next three weeks, WATS will be asking for your help to locate specific deficiencies or needs in your communities.

This first, in a series of six posts, examines pavement deficiencies and needs. It is important that you provide enough details about the pavement deficiencies or needs you comment on in order for WATS to compile the comment for inclusion in the plan. Please include the road name where you feel the pavement is deficient, as well as the two streets at the ends of the segment and describe the actual pavement deficiency. For example, up until recently, one might have described a pavement deficiency as follows “The pavement is very poor on Ann Arbor-Saline road between the intersections of Wagner Road and Pleasant Lake Road.”

When providing a comment please include your name, the community you live in, and if you feel comfortable, your email address. If you do not feel comfortable including your email address, you may still provide comments, however, to allow WATS to document and keep track of your comment, please include your email address along with your comments in an email to us at wats@miwats.org.

Please visit the blog often over the next three weeks in order to provide comments for the other five deficiencies. Please share this blog site with others in an effort to provide additional opportunities for others to comment on deficiencies on our transportation system.

More HOV lanes in Michigan?

2008-09-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

Click here to view an article from the Ann Arbor news that discusses the possibility of more High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes in Michigan.

One of the options considered as part of the US-23 feasibility study are HOV lanes.

Let us know what you think about the possibility of more HOV lanes in Michigan and Washtenaw County by leaving a comment.

Paying for Roads - An Article from the Washington Post

2008-09-19T06:31:00.000-07:00

We came across an interesting article in the Washington Post regarding funding shortfalls in the Highway Trust Fund and the recent 8 billion dollar infusion which helps to keep the Fund solvent.

You can read the article by clicking here.

Feel free to provide input on the discussion in the article by leaving a comment.

Please note that WATS does not endorse any of the candidates or their positions referenced in this article.

Welcome

2008-08-12T07:41:00.000-07:00

Hello and thank you for your interst in the 2035 WATS Long Range Plan Blog. This blog will keep you updated on the development of the Long Range Plan and provide you with an opportunity to participate in developing the Plan.

Meeting times and locations along with other transportation related information will be posted. We'll also work to keep content updated frequently. Click the subscribe button on the right to add our feed or enter your email address in the space provided to receive email updates when we post new information.

Thanks for your participation. Please send questions to wats@miwats.org