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Executive Committee meets July 22 SEMCOG's Executive Committee will meet on Friday, July 22, 2005, at 1 p.m. in SEMCOG's downtown Detroit office. Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Director Gloria Jeff will present the Southeast Michigan portion of MDOT's proposed five-year plan. Invited guests include members of the Michigan House and Senate Transportation Committees and Appropriations Subcommittees on Transportation. Executive Committee members are encouraged to come prepared to discuss MDOT projects proposed or needed in their communities. Action items under consideration include:
In addition, SMART, the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation will submit its budget to SEMCOG for review. The proposed operating budget contains $110.6 million in revenue and $109.9 million in expenses. The five-year capital budget totals $146.5 million. Representatives from SMART will present the budget and answer questions. Contact: Amy Malmer, SEMCOG Legislative Affairs Coordinator.
Comment period for TIP amendments and new TIP announced Prior to Executive Committee approval, the public is invited to comment on projects being considered for amendment to the FY 2004-2006 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and for the new FY 2006-2008 Transportation Improvement Program. The TIP is a short-range planning tool used to implement the goals, objectives, and projects found in the long-range 2030 Regional Transportation Plan. Like the long-range plan, the TIP must be constrained to reasonably available funding, conform to air quality conformity regulations, and be reviewed for impact on environmental justice populations. The amendment to the 2004-2006 TIP adds 21 projects and removes seven projects for a net increase of $1.3 million. A complete list of all projects in the FY 2004-2006 TIP, including amendment, is available from SEMCOG Information Services or on SEMCOG's Web site. The FY 2006-2008 TIP contains over 560 projects with an estimated expenditure of $2.16 billion. A complete list of all projects in the new FY 2006-2008 TIP is also available from SEMCOG Information Services or on SEMCOG's Web site. Comments on projects should be mailed, phoned, or faxed to SEMCOG Information Services; contact information is available in the box on the reverse side. Address e-mail comments to infoservices@semcog.org. Comments can be made in person at the following meetings, all held in SEMCOG offices.
Contact: SEMCOG Information Services.
SEMCOG releases transit impediments report Lack of coordinated leadership, lack of regional consensus, lack of momentum, and no adequate source of funding are the key impediments to improving transit in Southeast Michigan, according to a report released by SEMCOG. The findings are the result of a six-month study by a SEMCOG committee chaired by Detroit City Council President Maryann Mahaffey and made up of local officials who are members of SEMCOG. SEMCOG will continue to provide technical support, like completing the Ann Arbor to Downtown Detroit Study; advocacy, like working for a dedicated source of operating revenue for DARTA, the Detroit Area Regional Transportation Authority; and education on the need for improved transit in the region. "SEMCOG is but one player and not an implementer of transit, noted SEMCOG Executive Director, Paul Tait. "We can't move unilaterally on transit improvements." At least four activities were identified in which all stakeholders can participate:
The full report of SEMCOG's Transit Impediments Committee is available from SEMCOG Information Services or on SEMCOG's Web site. Contact: SEMCOG Information Services.
HUD announces training on performance measures The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will hold one of five national performance measurement training sessions on Tuesday, July 26, 2005, at the Omni Detroit River Place Hotel in Detroit. The one-day training is designed for representatives of state and local government agencies that participate in HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs. The training is free, but space is limited and registration is required. The regional training and feedback sessions are your opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed HUD outcome measures framework, which was developed in partnership with public interest groups. This is an important opportunity for communities in Southeast Michigan to provide input into federal performance measurement standards before they are officially implemented. For more information, visit www.hud.gov/offices/cpd. Contact: Naheed Huq, Senior Planner SEMCOG Community and Economic Development.
Seat belt usage rises again Michigan motorists continue to buckle up in large numbers. A recent statewide observation survey found nearly 93 percent of motorists were buckled up. The safety belt mobilization ran from May 23-June 5. Michigan set a record last year when safety belt use reached 90.5 percent following the Labor Day holiday, making it one of only six states with safety belt usage at or above 90 percent. Contact: Tom Bruff, SEMCOG Transportation Programs Coordinator.
SEMNotes The City of Port Huron was named a 2005 All America City at the 56th annual National Civic League meeting held recently in Atlanta. Port Huron is the only city in Michigan so honored and only one of 10 cities nationwide.
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