Think Regional/Act Local

January 28, 2010

In December 2009, the U.S. House passed a “Jobs for Main Street,” bill that would provide additional funding for infrastructure and jobs investment similar to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Indications are that the Senate could pick this up for consideration in February, with full passage in March 2010. President Obama discussed this and urged swift action by the Senate in his recent State of the Union address.

Total funding is proposed at the same level as last years’ program. For Michigan, this means about $847 million for road and transit improvements and for us in Southeast Michigan, it means about an additional $460 million above and beyond our normal formula allocation. A significant change in the legislation states that 50 percent of the dollars must be under contract within 90 days of Congress saying “GO!” Getting projects under contract in this time frame will present a significant challenge.

We will need to move fast to meet the requirements. Although “Jobs for Main Street” is not yet law, and there is no guarantee it will be, what I can guarantee is we will never meet these requirements should they survive in the Senate version of this bill if we don’t start now. So we have.

We have great need for additional transportation funding in our region and an additional $460 million is nothing to sneeze at. But I have a number of concerns as well. In Stimulus I, MDOT and the local agencies did a great job and spent every dime of the money, but can we do it again with even tighter time constraints? The emphasis of the program is to create jobs – and do it fast – not necessarily to pick the most important projects! I bet this program could be done in a way to get Congress the jobs they were looking for while at the same time allowing transportation agencies the time they need to develop more priority projects and spend these dollars in a more thoughtful manner! Wish someone had asked. What do you think?

January 21, 2010 

Last week, the Farmington Hills City Council voted 6-1 to continue to be part of the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation or SMART.  This is a huge win for both SMART and regional transit in general, but I don’t think SMART is out of danger just yet.  Transit is facing some important challenges in 2010, the results of which may go a long way in determining how effective transit is and how attractive it will be to local governments. A number of transit initiatives and events are scheduled for 2010. These include:

• Start of construction of the M-1 rapid transit project on Woodward
• Beginning of commuter rail service in the Ann Arbor-Detroit Corridor
• Extension of rapid transit planning north of the current project on Woodward into Oakland County
• Pursuit of federal funding for rapid transit on Gratiot from Detroit to M-59 in Macomb County
• Formation of a Regional Transit Authority (RTA)
• Renewal of the existing 0.59 mill to continue SMART service.

The last two bullets are particularly important for the future of transit in Southeast Michigan. The formation of an RTA is essential if transit is to grow and prosper. It puts someone in charge and gives the authority the necessary tools, including the ability to ask the citizens for additional funding to build and operate the adopted transit plan. It can work with both DDOT and SMART to improve existing bus service. It can also oversee the construction and operation of all forms of transit including light rail, bus rapid transit, and commuter rail.

This is especially important because if all we do is renew the SMART millage later this year at the existing level, transit service will decrease – not increase or improve. Funding transit at the existing levels will not be enough to keep existing service in place, let alone pay for higher levels of transit service that are currently being planned.

Finally, this region must decide together if transit is part of our future. If it is, then there should be no opt -out communities. This is the only way to run an efficient and effective transit system. So, it’s going to be a big year for transit. Let’s hope we have lots of dialogue in the coming months and make the right decisions. The future of our region depends on it! Do you agree?

January 14, 2010

The recent failed Christmas Day airline bombing has reopened the discussion about heightened security to improve public safety versus the increased invasion of personal privacy. Technology has the ability to improve public safety – but at what cost? It is a discussion that I think will not go away and, in fact, needs to be developed and debated from all sides.

The use of full body scanners can provide increased safety for the flying public. As it relates to ground transportation, technology can also improve our safety on the roads. Technology such as red-light running cameras allow us to identify vehicles that go through intersections when the light is red and ticket them. Alcohol ignition interlock devices are also currently in use, making it impossible to start the car if the driver’s breath registers a certain amount of alcohol. Certain vehicles also have autonomous cruise control that will automatically slow down your vehicle if you are following too close. There are many other examples of technology helping to improve our traveling safety at the expense of losing some amount of privacy.

Some people will argue that the potential loss of our personal privacy outweighs the potential benefits that could be had and should not be used. Others will see the opportunity to use these techniques to make the roads safer for all of us and think the resulting safety is worth the potential loss of privacy. After all, driving is a privilege – not a right. What really matters is saving lives and changing dangerous driver behavior.

For me, I have some concerns over the potential loss of privacy, but I think the benefits of a safer system and even some of the other efficiencies that technology can provide offset the potential loss of privacy. How do you see it?

January 8, 2010

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later – we got our first significant snowfall of 2010! I left work about 4:30 yesterday and didn’t get to my home in Livonia until 6:18 p.m. Along the way, I did not come across one traffic crash – just everyone driving very slowly. Several horns blew as some impatient drivers grew frustrated waiting for drivers to clear the intersections, but my experience was that for the most part everyone slowed down and took their time. The first thing you need to pack for a ride like that is a lot of patience. You are not going anywhere fast, so just slow down, put on a good CD or listen to the road condition report on the radio. You will eventually get to wherever it is you are going – the trick is to get there safely! SEMCOG suggests several driving tips for winter driving. They are available on our Web site at www.semcog.org under the Members tab. The most important tip is to stay home and don’t go out in bad weather unless you absolutely have to. Other tips include:

• Know the current road conditions. Check latest weather information.
• Clear snow and ice from all windows and lights –including the hood and roof – before driving.
• Remember the posted speed limits are for dry pavement.
• Leave plenty of room for stopping. Drive carefully and defensively.
• Leave room for maintenance vehicles and plows.
• Avoid making an abrupt lane change. The passing lane may be in worse shape than the driving lane.
• If approaching a snowplow, stay back at least 200 feet (it's the law!), and don't pass on the right.
• Use brakes carefully. Brake early. Brake correctly. It takes more time and distance to stop in adverse conditions.
• Watch for slippery bridge decks, even when the rest of the pavement is in good condition. Bridge decks will ice up sooner than adjacent pavement.
• Look farther ahead in traffic than you normally do. Actions by cars and trucks will alert you quicker to problems and give you a split-second extra time to react safely.
• Go slow! Don’t worry about arriving on time.

How was your drive?