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General Assembly meets on June 17 The General Assembly (GA) of SEMCOG will meet on Thursday, June 17, 2004, in the Windsor Room at Cobo Center in Downtown Detroit, beginning at 4:30 p.m. The General Assembly will be requested to approve the release of the draft 2030 Regional Transportation Plan for Southeast Michigan for public comment. This plan is the "blueprint" for transportation planning in the seven-county Southeast Michigan region. It serves as a guide for developing a transportation system that is accessible, safe, and reliable and contributes to a higher quality of life for the region's citizens. It also fulfills requirements allowing federal transportation dollars to flow to the region and, specifically, enables about $1 billion to be spent annually in the region on transportation improvements. In addition, a new water quality "step" on practicing good car care will be introduced. SEMCOG will present its Regional Ambassador Awards, elect officers and delegates-at-large for 2004-2005, and review 2003-2004 accomplishments. Bloc Caucuses will meet prior to the GA, beginning at 3:45 p.m. to elect the important positions of Bloc Chairs and Vice Chairs, Regional Clearinghouse Review Committee, and the Transportation Improvement Program Development Committee.Contact: Amy Malmer, SEMCOG Legislative Affairs Coordinator.
Executive Committee meeting results The Executive Committee of SEMCOG met Friday, May 21, 2004. All action items passed, including,
Contact: Amy Malmer, SEMCOG Legislative Affairs Coordinator.
Freeway Courtesy Patrol statistics released Southeast Michigan roads were a little safer in 2003, thanks to the Michigan Department of Transportation's Freeway Courtesy Patrol. With 34 vehicles patrolling 12 Metro Detroit freeways, Freeway Courtesy Patrol drivers helped 26,541 stranded motorists in 2003. Fifty-nine percent of the Freeway Courtesy Patrol's 45,275 stops on Metro Detroit freeways were to assist stranded motorists. Of the 26,541 stops to assist stranded motorists; 8,911 were to change flat tires; 8,968 stops were to assist in mechanical failure; 3,535 were for no gas; and 2,272 were to assist in accidents. In addition, 17,474 stops were made to attend to unoccupied vehicles and 1,260 were to move debris off the roadway. On average, it took Freeway Courtesy Patrol drivers less than 15 minutes to clear an incident. In 2003, the Freeway Courtesy Patrol saved an estimated 10.3 million hours of delay on freeways in the coverage area. Based on the hours of delay, there were also significant reductions in air pollution, benefiting everyone in Southeast Michigan. Based on travel-time savings for motorists, a cost-benefit analysis of the Freeway Courtesy Patrol in 2003 indicated that for every dollar spent on the program, a $14.40 benefit was realized (up from $9.20 in 2002). Copies of the report released by SEMCOG, MDOT Freeway Courtesy Patrol in Southeast Michigan: 2003 Evaluation Report, are available from SEMCOG Information Services or can be downloaded from SEMCOG's Web site — www.semcog.org. Contact: SEMCOG Information Services.
SEMCOG promotes RideShare as solution to high gas prices for workday commute With the continued rise in gas prices, SEMCOG suggests sharing a ride to work. Not only would that save money, but it would also help ease congestion during the summer construction season. SEMCOG's free RideShare program matches commuters who live and work near each other. RideSharing can be very flexible and need not be done on a daily basis. Carpoolers may choose to participate only one or days per week, on days their schedules permit. Details are available on SEMCOG's Web site at www.semcog.org. Click on the RideShare logo from the home page. There, a Cost Savings Calculator will help commuters compute their savings. Even on a short commute, commuters can save more than $200 per month by sharing a ride to work. Contact: Donna Norfleet, SEMCOG Public Outreach Specialist.
Recreation grants available In an effort to further enhance opportunities for local government participation in the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) program, development and acquisition deadlines have both been extended to August 1, 2004. Grants are available to local units of government for developing public outdoor recreation facilities and for acquiring land for outdoor recreation and/or resource protection. All applicants must have a current Department of Natural Resources (DNR)-approved community recreation plan on file with the DNR that clearly demonstrates the need for the proposed project (or must have a locally adopted plan by July 1, 2004 that is submitted to DNR by July 31, 2004). Contact: Department of Natural Resources, Grants, Contracts, and Customer Systems, (517) 373-9125.
Are YOU Playing By the Environmental, Health, and Safety Rules? seminar on June 25 and 29 SEMCOG is a co-sponsor, along with the Michigan Departments of Environmental Quality and Labor and Economic Growth, of a workshop that will help organizations withstand and excel during a site inspection. The workshop, titled above, will be held in Southeast Michigan on June 25, 2004 at St. John's Conference Center (Plymouth, MI) and on June 29, 2004 at the Hotel Baronette (Novi, MI) from 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Cost is $75. Contact: James Ostrowski, (517) 241-8057 or register online at www.michigan.gov/ deqworkshops.
New SEMCOG members SEMCOG welcomes two new members æ Sumpter Township (population 11,951; SEMCOG estimate) and Milan Township (population 1,648; SEMCOG estimate). This brings SEMCOG membership to 146. Contact: Durene Brown, SEMCOG Membership Manager.
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