Think Regional/Act Local

September 24, 2010

There has been much speculation on whether or not there will be a lame-duck session in the legislature this year. If so, I think there will be another attempt to increase funding for transportation – road and transit – infrastructure. With so many legislators leaving, the theory is that they will be less worried about losing their jobs and possibly consider raising revenues to make necessary improvements. Well, that is the theory. I have some information for the legislators to consider in this regard. In a previous blog, I indicated that in the primary election, an overwhelming majority of tax increase ballot questions were approved by vote of the people. Now, there are results of a new survey that sheds some additional information on how people feel about improving our transportation system for legislators to consider.

A poll of 1,005 randomly selected adults from around the country conducted the last week of June 2010, indicated that most supported tolls on roads and bridges as the preferred method of generating revenues to improve our transportation systems. They also would rather see the dollars spent on fixing the existing infrastructure as opposed to building new. Of those polled, 41% would rather pay tolls, while only 18% would rather pay increased gas taxes to fund needed improvements; another 41% would rather not build any new roads and pay no increase at all. The poll was conducted by HNTB, a transportation consulting firm.

Tolls have always been thought of as a four-letter word here in Michigan. However, public opinion may be turning, as suggested by the HNTB poll. As more and more people drive through other states where tolling is in place, they can start to see some of the benefits. It also makes sense to more people that those who drive the roads are the ones paying for their upkeep. Tolls need to be considered as part of the solution. Let’s just hope we get a chance to have public discussion about tolls and any other funding source that makes sense sooner rather than later. Our road and transit systems are not going to get better any time soon by not spending additional dollars.

SEMCOG and the region’s transit providers will conduct an on-board transit survey beginning September 22 aboard Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) buses.

The purpose of the TravelCount’10 survey is to gather current ridership data for transportation planning efforts aimed at helping transit planners improve the existing transit system.  The information will also be helpful in projecting future transit ridership and planning for future expansion of the service.

Survey/data collection will begin on September 22 on DDOT buses and continue on the People Mover in early/mid-October; SMART in late October; the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority and University of Michigan bus system in late October; and Blue Water Area Transportation Commission and Lake Erie Transit in Port Huron and Monroe respectively on dates yet to be determined. The survey should take riders only a few minutes to complete.

Southeast Michigan’s last on-board transit survey was conducted in 2001. In the past nine years, the region has changed considerably – gas prices are higher, the transit system and operations have been modified, and the economy is transitioning. As a result, people have changed where, when, and how they travel the region, including their use of transit. Current data is extremely important for the future of transportation in Southeast Michigan. SEMCOG and all of its transit partners encourage everyone who’s asked to take the survey to take it.

Follow the progress of TravelCount’10 online at www.semcog.org/On-boardTransitSurvey.aspx. A list of Frequently Asked Questions can also be found there.

The Michigan Department of Transportation recently completed a report. “Economic and Community Benefits of Local Bus Transit Service”.  It found that transit agencies accounted for over 9,000 jobs in 2008 and contributed over $1.3 billion to the states’ economy.  That is a significant contribution from a sector of our transportation program that is often an after- thought to many people.

Transit provides other benefits to our state according to the report.  These include:

• A savings of almost $350 million in fuel and other transportation expenses
• $1.50 of economic benefit for every $1 spent
• A fully loaded bus can take up to 30 cars off the road resulting in less congestion, improving air quality and lowering the number of traffic crashes
• More than 100 million trips are made on public transit each year – bet you didn’t think it was nearly that much, did you?
• About 25% of those trips were for school – public transit helps over 16,000 students get to school each day
• Transit dependent people generate about $67 million a year in economic activity – activity that might be lost without the bus

Finally, even in these difficult economic times, people seem to understand the importance of public transit.  In August, 15 of the 16 public transit millage requests were approved by the voters.

Starting to get the picture?

And all of this has been achieved with about $200 million a year – that is what the annual state funding for transit has been for about the last 10 years now.  Think what it could achieve if transit were better funded, more accessible to more people and if there was a rail component to all of this.

Transit is a good investment.

You would think that today, with all of the increased emphasis on healthy eating, exercising, the banning of smoking in public places, that the same agenda would extend towards drinking – especially drinking and driving – well you would be wrong!

A recent survey released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association reported that over 17 million drivers admitted to driving drunk last year – 17 million! This represents almost eight percent of all drivers. Wait – the news gets worse, if that is possible. The youngest drivers – those between 16 and 20 – reported that they had as many as six drinks before getting behind the wheel. Yes, males are more likely to drive drunk than females – but they are also more likely to look for a ride home than women are.

More people died in alcohol-involved crashes in July and August than in any other months in 2009. While the number of alcohol-involved fatalities has continued to decline in Michigan, crashes involving alcohol are eight times more likely to be fatal than those not involving alcohol. During last year's Labor Day holiday period, four people died in alcohol-related traffic crashes.

It is no surprise then, that you see a nationwide crackdown on drunk driving – and you can bet they will be out this Labor Day holiday weekend, too. The extended patrols are part of the Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest program.

Be smart – don’t drink and drive. If you do – I hope you get caught because I don’t want you driving next to me putting me and my family at risk.