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Executive Committee meets July 23 SEMCOG's Executive Committee will meet at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 23, 2004, in SEMCOG's downtown Detroit office. The agenda includes a presentation from the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) on their budget. Dan Dirks, SMART General Manager, will discuss the proposed operating and capital budgets and respond to questions. Carmine Palombo, Director of Transportation Programs at SEMCOG, will summarize the recent SEMCOG University workshop on U.S.-Canada Border Improvement Strategies. There will also be an update on the Town Hall meetings currently underway for the public to learn about and comment on the draft 2030 Regional Transportation Plan for Southeast Michigan. Action items under consideration include:
Contact: Amy Malmer, SEMCOG Legislative Affairs Coordinator.
SEMCOG seeks applications for CMAQ funds SEMCOG is now accepting applications for the federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds. Approximately $11 million is available for Southeast Michigan in Fiscal Year 2005. The CMAQ program funds projects that improve the flow of traffic on the existing roadway system, various transit services, and projects and programs that reduce the demand for travel on the roadway system. For the necessary application materials, contact Luke Hennings, SEMCOG Transportation Finance Analyst.
SEMCOG conducts regional water quality survey A survey to gauge the public's perceptions of water quality, their current activities, and their willingness to adjust daily habits was mailed last week to 4,000 Southeast Michigan households. SEMCOG has partnered with many of its member communities to make the survey statistically significant at the regional level as well as smaller areas within the region. SEMCOG and the Southeast Michigan Partners for Clean Water will use the survey as part of its "Our Water. Our Future. Ours to Protect." public education campaign. The survey will also serve as a benchmark for the over 170 Phase II communities in Southeast Michigan as part of their public education efforts. Results will be available in August. Contact: Amy Mangus, SEMCOG Senior Environmental Planner.
Town Hall meetings on 2030 Regional Transportation Plan underway The comment period for the 2030 Regional Transportation Plan for Southeast Michigan is now underway, as are the Town Hall meetings where the public can learn about and comment on the plan. Four Town Hall meetings remain:
Comments can also be made via mail (mailing address is in box at the right), e-mail (infoservices@semcog.org), phone (800-961-3334), or fax (313-961-4869). Contact: SEMCOG Information Services.
State reaches traffic safety milestones Traveling by vehicle in Michigan continues to get safer, as evidenced by a new record-high safety belt use rate and a decrease in the number of traffic fatalities over the July 4 holiday weekend. The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) reports that safety belt use in Michigan has climbed to nearly 87 percent, according to information compiled and analyzed by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. The new 86.8 percent safety belt use is an all-time high for the state, besting last year's 84.8 percent record following the 2003 Labor Day holiday. OHSP estimates the state will prevent 10 traffic deaths for every one percent increase in safety belt use over the course of a year. Michigan's goal is to have 90 percent safety belt usage in the state. SEMCOG has long been an advocate of safety issues in Southeast Michigan and has supported the state's efforts to educate the public about the benefits of safety belt usage. Contact: Tom Bruff, SEMCOG Transportation Coordinator.
SEMCOG Web hits hit high mark SEMCOG's Web site experienced a milestone number of visits during the fiscal year just completed. There were 1.2 million hits at www.semcog.org, up from 900,000 in the previous fiscal year. SEMCOG continues to refine its site and add information of interest to member governments and residents of Southeast Michigan. Contact: Sue Stetler, SEMCOG Manager of Communications and Creative Services.
Auto theft prevention authority grants available The Automobile Theft Prevention Authority (ATPA) awards grants to programs that focus on various aspects of Michigan's auto theft problem. Due to the limited amount of funds available, a 25 percent hard match will be required for all applicants except nonprofit, neighborhood, or community organizations. Programs to reduce auto theft administered by law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, judicial agencies, and community, neighborhood, and business organizations may quality for grants. Enforcement, prosecution, community awareness, and prevention programs are eligible for funding. The grants must be used to enhance auto theft prevention efforts, not to supplant current programs. The deadline for submitting applications is August 27, 2004. Applications are available at www.miatpa.org. Click on ATPA Forms on the left side of the site, then Grant Application EX-31. Contact: Automobile Theft Prevention Authority, (517) 336-6197.
Blood donors needed in Southeast Michigan The American Red Cross in Southeast Michigan has issued a critical appeal for blood donors in the region. A healthy blood inventory is a five-to-seven day supply, but frequently Southeast Michigan operates on less than a two-day supply. Summer is challenging for blood collections as people are traveling, businesses close for production change-over, and schools, which account for nearly 12 percent of the blood collected in this area, are on summer break. Any adult, age 17 or older, in good general health, and weighing at least 110 pounds is eligible to donate. Contact: 1-800-GIVE LIFE to schedule an appointment.
SEMPeople SEMCOG received the Safety Conscious Planning "Planning it Safe Award" from the Federal Highway Administration at the National Association of Regional Councils Annual Conference last month. Southfield was recently honored for its livability by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Mayor Brenda Lawrence was recognized for her "Mayor's Walks" program, a summer initiative where residents can exercise and talk with city officials in Inglenook Park. Lee Edie and William Smiley, longtime public servants in Fort Gratiot Township, were recently honored for their service by Supervisor Madelyn McCarthy when County Drain No. 205 was renamed the Edie-Smiley Drain. Smiley has been involved in Fort Gratiot government for 45 years and was also very involved in SEMCOG.
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