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Executive Committee meets January 19 SEMCOG's Executive Committee will meet at 1 p.m. on Friday, January 19, 2007, in SEMCOG's downtown Detroit office. Action items to be considered by the committee are as follows:
Michael Brennan, President and CEO of United Way for Southeast Michigan, will discuss the 2-1-1 call system (Human Services Referral Network) and other efforts by United Way in Southeast Michigan. Also, Jody Vanderveen and Nancy Barber of Dykema, SEMCOG’s lobbyist, will provide insight into what to expect from the state and federal legislature in the upcoming year. Contact: Amy Malmer, SEMCOG Membership Manager.
SEMCOG invites public comment on update and amendment of the 2030 Regional Transportation Plan for Southeast Michigan SEMCOG announces the public comment period for update and projects being considered for amendment to the region's long-range transportation plan. According to federal regulations, the 2030 Regional Transportation Plan for Southeast Michigan (RTP) must be reviewed and updated at least every four years to confirm its validity and consistency with current and forecast trends. At this time, it is also necessary to document compliance with the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) — the federal transportation legislation passed in August 2005. SEMCOG has completed this review and found the 2030 RTP to remain valid and consistent with current and forecast trends, and in keeping with all new federal requirements. SEMCOG has conducted a new analysis of potential impacts of planned transportation projects on environmentally sensitive resources and developed a series of mitigation guidelines to be considered by road and transit implementing agencies, as outlined in the document, Integrating Environmental Issues in the Transportation Planning Process: Guidelines for Road and Transit Agencies. Also as part of the update, eight projects are proposed for amendment:
The 2030 RTP was adopted by SEMCOG's General Assembly in 2004. It serves as a guide for developing a transportation system that is accessible, safe, and reliable. The 2030 RTP enables about $1.5 billion to be spent annually in the Southeast Michigan region to improve roads, bridges, nonmotorized systems, and to maintain transit services. The amendment process requires all proposed projects to undergo the same evaluation as the original RTP — identification of financial resources, analysis of air quality conformity, an environmental justice analysis, and a public comment process. With the addition of these eight projects, the plan continues to be fiscally constrained, meets air quality standards, and results in balanced project impacts. Results of these analyses are available at www.semcog.org. Public comment is being sought on the proposed update and amendment in accordance with the revised SEMCOG Public Participation Plan, which is included in the 2030 RTP update. Comments on projects should be mailed, phoned, or faxed to SEMCOG Information Services. Address e-mail comments to infoservices@semcog.org. Comments can also be made in person at the following meetings:
Contact: SEMCOG Information Services.
SEMCOG announces the 2007 member outreach workshop SEMCOG's 2007 member outreach workshops begin next month. Please save the date below and attend the program in your county. Elections to the Executive Committee will be conducted.
You can register online now for these meetings. Look for the link to the workshops under Planning Issues on SEMCOG's home page at www.semcog.org and watch your mail for additional information. Contact: Amy Malmer, SEMCOG Membership Manager.
Taubman Fellowship applications availible Local elected officials and appointed staff from SEMCOG's member communities are eligible to apply for a fellowship to the prestigious program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Sponsored by the Taubman Company since 1991, the fellowships cover the costs of tuition, room, and board; travel is not included. Taubman Fellowships offer local government officials opportunities to improve their leadership skills and broaden their awareness of effective approaches to public sector problems during the three-week program in June or July. Completed applications are due to SEMCOG by 3 p.m. on Monday, February 26, 2007. Contact: Amy Malmer, SEMCOG Membership Manager.
MDOT and Library of Michigan team up to answer MI Transportation Plan questions The Michigan Department of Transportation is seeking the broadest possible public participation in order to provide the highest quality integrated transportation services for economic benefit and improved quality of life. Residents are encouraged to complete questionnaires available on the MI Transportation Plan Web site at www.michigan.gov/slrp and on the Web sites of participating libraries around the state now through January 31, 2007.
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