Think Regional/Act Local

July 30, 2010 

I have written several times about the needs of the highway system that are not being met. Well, if you think the road system is in bad shape, the transit system is just as bad if not worse. What is their situation? More riders are taxing the system. Aging buses and inadequate funds to maintain and upgrade the service contribute to the existing problem. The more people use public transit, the fewer gallons of gas they buy, which leads to fewer dollars going to improve transit – get the picture?

At the national level, a report released by the Federal Transit Administration last week indicated it would take $77.7 billion just to get the country’s public transit systems into decent shape. By comparison, the report stated, the entire amount spent on rehabilitating and reinvesting in public transit nationwide in 2008 was $12-$13 billion – not nearly enough to run a quality system.

In Southeast Michigan, SEMCOG has estimated we need at least a doubling of existing funds going to public transit if we are to build and maintain a robust system. But, where will these dollars come from? The federal government is unlikely to step in to help strapped city, state, and local transit agencies. No luck at the state level either.

You do have a chance to play a large role in at least maintaining a quality, if not underfunded service, at the polls next week. You can vote to continue the SMART millage.  A yes vote will not mean that light rail is coming any time soon, or that more and more buses will be driving all over our roads. Unfortunately, a yes vote simply continues the existing tax and service – and actually it means SMART will receive fewer dollars due to the decrease in property values at this time.

We need to do better – we need to invest more if we hope to have a quality system. That part of the dream will have to wait for another day. Please go out and vote on Tuesday, August 3.

July 24, 2010 

You know, it has been my feeling that we in Michigan feel we are the only ones going through tough times, or feel we are the only ones having problems funding much needed transportation improvements. Not true – many other, if not all, states are experiencing the same problems we are. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal points out some of the problems we share with the rest of the country. Many communities no longer have the resources to resurface and reconstruct roads that need to be repaired. Instead of laying new asphalt on bad roads, they are grinding the remaining asphalt into bits, taking the road back to its gravel origins.

In Spiritwood, North Dakota, Old Highway 10 was said to be in such bad shape that residents reported seeing ducks floating in potholes. Today, a giant Caterpillar chugging along at a speed of 2.4 feet per minute is pulverizing Old Highway 10 into a black dust with chunks of rock and pavement. A piece of equipment following behind rolls the surface flat.

Paved roads are being torn up across America and replaced with gravel or other rough surfaces as counties struggle with tight budgets and dwindling state and federal revenue. State money for local roads has been cut in many places amid budget shortfalls.

In Michigan, at least 38 of the 83 counties have converted some asphalt roads to gravel in recent years. Last year, South Dakota turned at least 100 miles of asphalt road surfaces to gravel. Counties in Alabama and Pennsylvania have begun downgrading asphalt roads to cheaper chip-and-seal road, also known as "poor man's pavement." Some counties in Ohio are simply letting roads erode to gravel.

So, it isn’t just us in this situation. I am not sure it makes me feel any better. I am concerned that many states are ahead of us in looking for solutions while we sit around and do nothing. Contrary to popular belief, doing nothing isn’t free – there is a cost to doing nothing and it is the most expensive, long-term solution to improving our road system that there is.

July 16, 2010

USA Today had an interesting article in its July 2 edition. It indicated that we are paying less than half of what drivers paid in gas taxes in 1975. In the article, Dennis Cauchon writes the following:

“Holiday (4^th of July) drivers will pay less than ever at the pump for upkeep of the nation's roads – just $19 in gas taxes for every 1,000 miles driven….That's a new low in inflation-adjusted dollars, half what drivers paid in 1975.

“Another measure of the trend: Americans spent just 46 cents on gas taxes for every $100 of income in the first quarter of 2010. That's the lowest rate since the government began keeping track in 1929. By comparison, Americans spent $1.18 in 1970 on gas taxes out of every $100 earned.

“Although the federal gas tax – 18.4 cents per gallon – hasn't changed since 1993, tax collections are down because today's vehicles go farther on a gallon of gas, cutting tax collections while increasing wear and tear on highways. Inflation since 1993 has eroded the value of the tax to maintain roads.

“Drivers are on track to spend $55.7 billion on federal, state, and local gas taxes in 2010's first quarter, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reports. That's down from $68.5 billion in 2000 after adjusting for inflation – even though Americans drive seven percent more miles annually.”

Want to know why our roads look the way they do? Want to know why there isn’t more money for transit? I bet your parents told you the same thing that mine told me – “You get what you pay for” – and we certainly are! We are getting bad roads, inconsistent transit, dirty right of ways and congested roads – but aren’t we happy with the fact that we are spending less in taxes!

July 12, 2010

If you go to the Federal Highway Administration Web site, you will see that they take great pride in explaining the American Recovery and Restoration Act (ARRA) program and the many benefits it has provided.  In fact, Vice President Joe Biden is quoted as saying:

“Today, we see clearly how Recovery Act funds and the Department of Transportation are building the platform for a brighter economic future – they’re creating jobs and making life better for communities everywhere.”

He is making the point that investing in our public infrastructure puts people to work, improves the condition of the transportation system, makes our neighborhoods more attractive, and increases the overall economic activity of a community and the country in general. I get it – I even believe it. But I am once again confused by our decision makers. If investing in our transportation system is a good thing, as described above, then is not investing, or investing less, going to have negative impacts on our economy, on job creation?

The reason I bring this up is that last week the House approved its version of the FY 2010 War and Emergency Supplemental appropriations bill that included an amendment to rescind $2.2 billion in highway contract authority. This means that we will spend $2.2 billion less in highway funding this year. The bills include other rescissions, but why transportation? Is the economy doing that much better that we don’t need transportation jobs anymore? Is it just the special ARRA dollars that create jobs and improve our neighborhoods? Do we have any idea what we are doing? Answers follow (1.NO! 2. NO! 3.NO!).

There is still time to fix this. Call Senators Stabenow and Levin and tell them to restore the rescissions to the transportation program in their version of this bill. If investing in transportation infrastructure creates jobs and improves our economy, why stop now? If it doesn’t, what was the purpose in the first place?

July 1, 2010

This week, the state House of Representatives passed HB615, requiring the State Transportation Commission to adopt a Complete Streets policy for MDOT and a model Complete Streets policy for municipalities and counties, not later than two years from the effective date of the bill.

Complete Streets is a design or planning principle. According to the National Complete Streets Coalition, Complete Streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. The coalition's Web site indicates that, "Instituting a complete streets policy ensures that transportation agencies routinely design and operate the entire right-of-way to enable safe access for all users. Places with complete streets policies are making sure that their streets and roads work for drivers, transit users, pedestrians, and bicyclists, as well as for older people, children, and people with disabilities."

The bill would also establish a Complete Streets Advisory Council within MDOT to provide education and advice to the State Transportation Commission, county road commissions, municipalities, interest groups, and the public on the development and implementation of Complete Streets policies.

This is a good idea, one that SEMCOG supports and worked with the bill sponsors, MDOT, the County Road Association (CRAM), the Michigan Municipal League (MML), and others to help craft. We are finally coming to the conclusion that the public right-of-way should be used safely and efficiently by more than just cars. Buses, bikes, and pedestrians need and should have safe access as well. However, the tricky part is that you can’t safely provide for safe movements by all sectors of the public on every roadway – nor does it make sense to do so. This means that you need to develop a plan on where people most likely want to travel to and by what mode. Where are the transit routes? Can I safely walk to them? Are there sidewalks and shelters in the right of way? If I am in a wheelchair, can I get to the stop? Can I bike to the parks and/or school? Can I safely cross busy streets to get there?

These are only some of the issues we have to a better job of addressing if we are going to develop more attractive communities and provide more options for people to travel and recreate.

The bill goes on to the state senate for action. Please read it and let’s be prepared to work together to make it happen. A copy of the bill and analysis is available at www.legislature.mi.gov, then enter 6151,6152 (no spaces) into the Search by Bill Number search box.