Think Regional/Act Local

October 30, 2009

I have written several blogs about the need for additional funding to improve our region’s transportation system. But, what do we do while we continue to make the case for additional funds – just wait around and measure how bad things are getting – NO! We do the best we can with the dollars we have to make our transportation system as safe and functional as possible. One of the tools for doing just that is supporting, promoting, and implementing the results of Access Management studies in various corridors throughout the region.

Access management involves maximizing the existing road capacity and reducing the potential for crashes by limiting the number of access points and making sure that existing driveways and median crossovers are located in the best possible locations. SEMCOG, working with Macomb County officials, recently completed such a study on the Gratiot Avenue corridor. The vision for access management along the Gratiot corridor is to restore and preserve road capacity, improve safety conditions, and support the long-term vision for expanded regional transit, walking and biking systems, and community sustainability. The report is being finalized and, when completed, will serve as a blueprint for making improvements along Gratiot. What kinds of improvements? Things like relatively small intersection improvements, consolidating driveways, more and better signage, increased transit service, etc. These types of improvements can smooth out traffic flow, reduce delays, keep traffic moving, and enhance safety of the roadway by reducing the number of potential conflicts – all for relatively small capital costs.

We can’t afford to sit around and do nothing while we make the case for additional funding. Access management is one thing we can do to improve traffic conditions on some of the more crowded roadways in our region. Shortly, a study will begin on Ford Road in Canton Township and Westland to see what can be done to improve the flow of traffic on this stretch of roadway.

If you would like to see a study done on a particular roadway in your community, drop me a line at palombo@semcog.org and let’s discuss it.

October 23, 2009

Several weeks ago, I presented the results of the 2008 pavement survey of the federal aid eligible roads – the major roads – in Southeast Michigan. For the fifth straight year, the survey showed the overall condition of pavement is declining. When we started rating pavements in 2004, about 10 percent of the pavements on major roads were in poor condition; the survey results in 2008 indicate that almost 30 percent of the pavement on our major roads is now poor! We are currently almost finished collecting 2009 data. Want to bet that the results of the 2009 rating will be even worse? There is no doubt that without additional funding, pavement conditions will continue to deteriorate.

There is also a cost associated with delaying the investment in fixing our roads. It is the old pay-me-now or pay-me-a-lot-more-later argument. If we would have fixed all the pavement that needed fixing in 2004, we would have needed another $1 billion. To do the same in 2008 now would cost us an additional $2.4 billion – two-and-half-times more in just 5 years - the equivalent of an additional $0.50 increase in the gas tax! How likely is that to happen anytime soon?

It is clear that something has to be done. But what?  It appears that additional revenues are not going to come anytime soon. Meanwhile, the condition of our roads is deteriorating – that is also painfully obvious. Some elected officials believe the solution lies not in finding additional dollars, but in decreasing the size of the public road system or spending the existing dollars only on the most important roads. This is definitely an option in my opinion - an option that should be fully discussed and debated. It brings up several questions that need to be asked and answered. Who decides what are the most important roads? What happens to the roads deemed not important and to the businesses and homes located on these roads? How about the other utilities that service these homes and businesses – if we are no longer funding the roads, should the other utilities still be in place? Are the issues associated with trying to resolve these questions any easier to address than the issues associated with looking for increased funding for needed highway and transit improvements?

I believe everything should be on the table and public discussion should ensue, but I think that increasing funding is still the best way to go. One thing is for sure – without additional funding, don’t look for pavements to get better any time soon!

October 16, 2009

There has been a great deal of discussion in the past few days on the subject of distracted driving. I want to put my two cents into this discussion. Driving is a privilege – not a right – as we all should know. When I am driving, I believe I have an obligation to all the other road users to operate my vehicle in a safe manner – and I expect the same from everyone else. Obviously, sometimes things happen – sometimes outside of our control – and the result is a crash. But sometimes, the crash – or even a near miss – is the result of what I consider a blatant disregard for my or your safety and I find this behavior unacceptable.

I have been in several minor incidents and lots of near misses in my life and I thank God that no one has ever been injured. I travel to Lansing once a week, on average, and am often shocked by the behavior of some drivers that I see. I have seen people drive while reading the newspaper, getting dressed, shaving, combing their hair, putting on make-up, or having their pets run wild in the car. I am particularly concerned with these types of behavior because it tells me that these individuals do not consider either their – or my – safety very important. In my mind, they have broken the bond that all road users should have with each other. Driving requires our undivided attention to safely fulfill this unspoken bond. I do not like people treating their driving so casually and showing so little regard for my safety!

Much of the discussion this past week has been regarding cell phone use and texting. I have to say that I have not seen a lot of people texting, but have seen many people on their cell phones. Now, I also have to confess to answering my cell phone and occasionally texting a quick response while driving on business. However, several months ago, I made a change in my own personal conduct. I vowed only to take a cell call if it’s an emergency – telling people that I will call them back once I get back to the office or am safely off the freeway. No more grabbing a burger and eating on the way to or from the next meeting either – better to take an extra 15 minutes and be safe.

Let me know what you are doing to respect the safety of others on the road and if you have done anything to enhance your chances of sitting down to dinner with your family each night.

October 9, 2009 

SEMCOG and other transportation groups have been advocating for additional transportation dollars at both the state and federal levels for some time now.  We have advocated for additional funding based on the impact it would have on improving pavements and bridges, decreasing congestion, putting people to work, improving the safety of our system, etc.  I don’t think any of these arguments is working – in fact I know they are not.

Last week, both the federal and state governments had the chance to increase transportation funding to address needed deficiencies in our road and transit systems.  Not only did they not increase funding – they actually decreased transportation funding!

At the federal level, Congress did not reauthorize SAFETEA-LU, the federal transportation legislation.  Instead, they chose to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) which funds all government agencies for one month, from October 1 through October 31, at pro-rated fiscal year 2009 levels until the fiscal year 2010 appropriations bills can be completed. They also did not agree on the appropriate mechanism to address the rescission, which I have previously written about.  As a result, the rescission went into effect and Michigan lost approximately $260 million in federal funds.

At the state level, the legislature cut over $9 million out of the Comprehensive Transportation Fund (CTF) and $12 million from the Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF).  The dollars went into the general fund.

We have been asking for more – and getting less.  This tells me that we need to seriously consider reviewing and revising our approach.  It tells me that we are a long way from seeing increased funding for needed transportation improvements.  So what do we do now?

Well, we keep making the case for additional funding – that doesn’t change.  Direction2035 indicates that we are only going to have half the funding we need to fix all our deficiencies.   We also need to continue to prioritize the dollars we have so they are spent on the most important projects and continue to do all the small things that we can to keep the system safe and operational.  But at the same time, we can’t sugarcoat the outcomes any more. We have to manage expectations – expectations that keep some people believing that things will get better with no additional dollars – they won’t.  Roads won’t get fixed, busses will come later and later, grass won’t get cut and snow may not get plowed until it gets higher and higher.  Get used to it – it’s going to happen!