Southeast Michigan’s Transportation Planning Process Meets All Federal Planning Requirements

Southeast Michigan’s regional planning process was most recently certified as meeting all federal planning requirements.

Every four years, federal law requires the Federal Highway (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administrations (FTA) to jointly certify Southeast Michigan’s transportation planning process. The review focused on compliance with federal regulations and was an opportunity to discuss our region’s challenges, showcase successes, and share experiences of the process in our region. SEMCOG staff, elected officials, and our transportation planning partners – the Michigan Department of Transportation, St. Clair County and Washtenaw County Transportation Studies (SCCOTS and WATS, respectively), major transit operators, Federal-Aid Committees (FACs), and other key planning and implementation agencies – participated in the review.

As a team we demonstrated not only how we are meeting federal requirements but also how we are working together to both plan and implement transportation projects that address the needs of the region’s residents, businesses, and visitors. SEMCOG Chairperson Don Hubler attended and shared with the Executive Committee that it is clear that the Federal Review Team was impressed with our work.

The Federal Review Team commended SEMCOG staff for their positive attitude and exemplary professionalism in working with them to conduct this review. It is clear that SEMCOG is a high-performing organization that will continue to improve its administration of the transportation planning process in the years to come.

The Review Team commended:

• SEMCOG’s quick transition to provide relevant online content (during COVID-19) to members and the public.
• SEMCOG and the region’s planning partners for the variety of resources and initiatives which go beyond the federal requirements. Examples included:
  • Work on resiliency (SEMCOG);
  • Trail rating (SCCOTS);
  • Emphasis on equity (WATS);
  • Performance-based planning measures work (SEMCOG and WATS);
  • Collaboration with private-sector partners on planning for autonomous vehicles (SEMCOG);
  • Modeling support for project development, such as evaluation of the relevant environmental effects of the I-375 project in Detroit (SEMCOG);
  • Guide to Transportation Planning in Southeast Michigan (SEMCOG report); and
  • Working relationships and ongoing regular meetings among SEMCOG, the Regional Transit Authority (RTA), transit providers, and the general public, which has strengthened the lines of communication and is a significant benefit for collaboration.

The Review Team recommended that we:

• Continue efforts to raise awareness of the region’s Federal-Aid Committees (FACs).
• Continue to work with MDOT and Michigan’s other regional planning agencies to enhance the statewide project management software (JobNet) and create a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) projects list report.

Click here to view the complete report.