On behalf of the SEMCOG staff, I want to wish everyone in our regional community a peaceful, healthy, and joy-filled holiday season. We take pride in supporting smart decisions, but nothing SEMCOG does would be possible or have the same impact without your support and participation. We thank you for showing up for our region!
In some ways, the interconnected communities of Southeast Michigan are like the vast neural networks in each of our brains. Synapses are the gaps between our nerve cells that need to be connected for complex thought processes to happen. Whether you serve as a committee or task force member, attend quarterly implementation and peer groups, attend SEMCOG University trainings, share SEMCOG content on social media, or simply follow Regional Update and pass along information when it’s worthwhile, you are the electrified neurons that cross our regional gaps and transform plans into meaningful action.
With just a couple weeks remaining in 2025, I am reminded of some of the key connections we’ve made in the past calendar year:
- Launching a regional Flooding Task Force, which is helping to position our region to maximize its resilience and responsiveness to significant flooding events.
- Facilitating a $3.1 billion transportation program and ensuring data driven, transparent, and wise use of federal funds.
- With an eye on road to the 2026 reauthorization of our country’s most significant transportation bill, sharing our value at a national and local levels by spearheading the Regions Lead initiative and highlighting safety-driven, well-planned, and regionally impactful federally funded project applications with “big check presentations.”
- Producing a Main Street Handbook and Main Street Checklist, each of which were featured at a recent webinar.
- Conducting a region-wide, randomly sampled household travel survey to better understand travel behaviors and needs.
- Supporting Materials Management Planning in each of our seven counties, setting the stage for a more sustainable Southeast Michigan.
- Producing new data analysis and tools on transportation access to jobs, schools, healthcare, and other key destinations which shape the strength of our communities and quality of life for residents.
- Continuing to collaborate with the Michigan Infrastructure Council to grow a Culture of Asset Management in Southeast Michigan.
- Launching a Civic Advisory Committee (CAC) to enhance public engagement opportunities and support the Transportation Coordinating Council.
In the coming months, we will ask for your support in adopting a Healthy Climate Plan, Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, and Freight Plan. After an unprecedented year, we are more grateful than ever for your leadership and commitment to the civil and constructive attitude and that lift us up and crosses the gaps of division.
Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday new year!
Amy O’Leary
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