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Local governments help track region's transportation progress Cities, villages, transit agencies, county road commissions, and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will participate in SEMCOG's annual survey of projects in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Fiscal Year 2006, as well as ongoing projects from previous years. Surveys are used to monitor project progress, gather cost information, and provide data to SEMCOG to assess transportation improvements in Southeast Michigan. Survey results also assist in determining long-term transportation needs in our region. Communities or agencies with projects in the survey have been notified by letter. The deadline for completing surveys is Friday, December 29, 2006. Contact: Steve Brudzinski, SEMCOG Transportation Policy Analyst.
SEMCOG announces the public comment period for its Public Participation Plan. SEMCOG is committed to providing opportunities for the public to be involved in developing and implementing its planning work. This plan outlines those activities, which revolve around five goals:
The document provides examples of how SEMCOG meets each of these public participation goals with brief explanations of each. It is a living document that will be revised as new and better ways to engage the public in SEMCOG's planning process are explored. Any suggestions to increase or enhance public participation are always welcome. SEMCOG's Public Participation Task Force, chaired by Detroit City Councilwoman JoAnn Watson, has met and recommends Executive Committee approval of the document. If approved, the Public Participation Plan will be incorporated into the update of the 2030 Regional Transportation Plan for Southeast Michigan in March 2007. The document is available to review from SEMCOG Information Services. It is also available electronically on SEMCOG’s Web site. For those wishing to comment on the Public Participation Plan, please address letters to Information Services, SEMCOG, 535 Griswold, Suite 300, Detroit, MI 48226; call 1-800-961-3334; send faxes to (313) 961-4869; or e-mail infoservices@semcog.org. Comments can be made in person at the following meeting:
Contact: SEMCOG Information Services.
Highlights of SEMCOG's December 1 Executive Committee can now be viewed on www.semcog.org. From the home page, link to News & Notices in the upper bar, then look for the link in the right column. Highlights include a presentation on the progress the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy has made on the reclamation and improvement of the public spaces along the riverfront by President and CEO, Faye Alexander Nelson; and remarks by MDOT Director Kirk Steudle on efforts to work with local governments in Southeast Michigan and the importance of using asset management. Contact: Sue Stetler, SEMCOG Communications Director.
With more people expected to travel on America's highways during the holiday season, SEMCOG urges everyone to enjoy the holidays, but know the facts — alcohol is a significant factor in holiday deaths. Fact: Impaired driving is the most frequently committed violent crime, randomly killing someone in America every 31 minutes. Fact: Crashes involving drinking tend to be more serious than nondrinking crashes. A fatality in a crash is 10 times more likely when alcohol is involved. Fact: In Southeast Michigan, alcohol was involved in 34 percent of all traffic deaths in 2005. Alcohol was a factor in 131 deaths and nearly 2,900 injuries in 2005. Fact: In Michigan, seat belt usage has reached an all-time high of 94.3 percent. Fact: In the United States, safety belts saved more than 15,400 lives in 2004. Annually, safety belts save society approximately $50 billion in medical care, lost productivity, and other injury-related costs. Individuals are encouraged to visit the Web sites of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (www.nhtsa.dot.gov) or Mothers Against Drunk Driving (www.madd.org) for holiday safety tips and additional "sobering drunk driving facts. MADD's 2006 Tie One On For Safety message calls for a commitment to buckle up because a seat belt is the best defense against a drunk driver. MADD has recently launched a campaign to stop drunk driving and believes that the tools are now in hand to eliminate drunk driving in the United States. Contact: Tom Bruff, SEMCOG Transportation Coordinator.
SEMCOG is happy to report that local agencies in the region (road commissions, cities, villages, and transit agencies) recorded excellent performance during Fiscal Year 2006, with 104 percent of available federal funds obligated for road, bridge, and safety improvements; congestion mitigation; and air quality improvements. An overall obligation rate of more than 100 percent is great news. It means that Southeast Michigan used the entire amount of federal dollars projected to be regionally available and then used funds available, but unused by the rest of the state. This year, local agencies recorded net obligations of nearly $128.5 million in federal funds, an increase of 17.7 percent from 2005’s total of $109.2 million. Contact: Christopher Mann, SEMCOG Transportation Coordinator.
Dearborn Mayor Michael Guido used to say that he had the best job in the world — mayor of his hometown. He served Dearborn citizens and the rest of the region for more than 20 years before losing his battle with cancer on December 5, 2006. SEMCOG lost a great friend and regional champion. Despite his always-busy schedule, he was there for us when we asked — to speak at a SEMCOG University on neighborhood revitalization and to welcome our General Assembly to his city, among others. SEMCOG Executive Director, Paul Tait, was a proud guest on his cable TV show, "Mayor's Forum." He liked to describe himself as "your friendly mayor." He was. We'll miss his warm smile and his spirit. Our sympathies to the City of Dearborn and all who knew him.
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