2025 MATS MPO Annual Obligation Report

Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) are regional bodies responsible for coordinating transportation planning in urbanized areas with populations of 50,000 or more. They bring together local government officials, transportation agencies, and other stakeholders to plan and prioritize transportation projects and investments for the region. They also play a key role in the distribution of federal transportation funds for projects like road improvements, transit systems, and bike/pedestrian infrastructure.

After the conclusion of each programming year, in this case October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025, MPOs must disclose to local governments, stakeholders and the public "an annual listing of obligated projects” for projects that are to receive federal funding. When a project is "obligated," it means that the federal government has made a formal commitment to fund the project. The funds are allocated and set aside for that specific project, but they are not necessarily available for use immediately.

MATS is an MPO for the Midland Urbanized area that includes all of Midland County, the City of Auburn and Williams Charter Township in Bay County, and Tittabawassee Township in Saginaw County. There are three public transit agencies operate within the MATS planning area; they are Dial-A-Ride Transportation (DART), County Connection of Midland and Bay Metro Transportation Authority (BMTA).

The document linked below illustrates projects that have been obligated in the MATS area.

2025 MATS Finial Acecptance Report

An MPO Final Acceptance Report is a formal document that serves to confirm the completion and final approval of a transportation planning project or initiative within an MPO region. MPOs are responsible for overseeing and coordinating transportation planning efforts in metropolitan areas, ensuring that transportation systems are safe, efficient, and aligned with regional goals.

MDOT - FY 2027 Federal Aid Buyout Program Call for Exchanges

MDOT has released the FY 2027 Call for exchanges will open on January 6, 2026. All materials related to the FY 2027 Federal Aid Buyout Program will be posted to the Federal Aid Buyout Program website soon.

The FY 2027 program call for exchanges will follow this schedule.

Exchange Selection Action FY 2027 Call

Call information letter and materials distributed - December 2, 2025

Call for Exchanges Opens -January 6, 2026

Exchange Requests Due - January 23, 2026

Draft Awarded Exchange list posted for review - February 3, 2026

Final Awarded Exchanges posted - March 3, 2026

The timeline for award selection for FY 2027 was developed in consideration of the MDOT Local Agency Program (LAP) timeline for project submittals. This will allow a local agency that is not successful in obtaining a federal aid buyout exchange time to take their project through the LAP process or to participate in the Local Federal Fund Exchange Program. Key milestones considered were that a local agency should get National Environmental Policy Act documents to LAP by March 2026 for a December 2026 (FY 2027) Letting and June is when grade inspection packages should be submitted to LAP for the following FY obligations.

If you have questions, please contact Don Mayle at mayled@michigan.gov or (517) 243-8589.

Non-Motorized Pathway Open House

Ingersoll Township, in partnership with the Midland Area Transportation Study (MATS) and the Midland County Road Commission (MCRC), invites community members to an open house to learn more about the proposed non-motorized pathway project in the township.

The proposed route would connect the Bailey Bridge at Smiths Crossing to Midland Charter Township, traveling along properties on N River Road to Gordonville Road, then continuing north to E Stewart Road using Consumers Energy property.

An open house will take place on Thursday, December 4th from 4 – 6 p.m. in the Ingersoll Township Hall, 3026 S Sasse Rd, Freeland, MI.

Attendees will be able to review conceptual designs for the proposed pathway and share feedback on the project.

This project concept was developed through a multi-agency pilot effort led by MATS, aimed at expanding the use of the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), a federal funding source that supports non-motorized transportation infrastructure. The pilot study will help local agencies apply for construction funding, which could cover 50–80% of the total project cost.

For more information or questions about the proposed pathway, please contact:

Maja Bolanowska, MATS Director – majab@midlandmpo.org

Alicia Williams, Transportation Planner – aliciaw@midlandmpo.org

Saginaw County Roads: See the Season Unfold!

Curious what’s buzzing across Saginaw County’s road network? The Saginaw County Road Commission Project Map turns construction season into an interactive adventure. Zoom in, pan around, and discover which roads are getting a facelift, where crews are making progress, and which projects have already crossed the finish line.

Think of it as your behind-the-scenes pass to the county’s biggest makeover—colorful, clickable, and constantly updated. Whether you’re dodging detours or just love watching fresh pavement roll out, tap into the map and see how Saginaw County is building better roads, one project at a time!

Dial-A-Ride Transportation (DART) will remove bike racks from its vehicles on November 1

SERVICE ALERT: Dial-A-Ride Transportation (DART) will remove bike racks from its vehicles on November 1 as the fleet prepares for winter. Bike racks will be reinstalled and available for use in spring 2026.

For more information on DART, please visit www.cityofmidlandmi.gov/dart.

City of Midland is partnering with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) on the reconstruction of the US-10 Business Route

The City of Midland is partnering with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) on the reconstruction of the US-10 Business Route commonly known as the Indian and Buttles Corridor Improvement Project. This project presents a transformative opportunity to enhance one of our community’s most prominent gateways.

Tune in to the latest episode of the Word on the Streets podcast for an in-depth conversation with MDOT Project & Contracts Engineer John Kelley and Construction Engineer Shaun Bates about what’s coming and how it will impact travel in Midland. Here’s a quick look at what to expect over the next few years:

2025: Buttles Street Utility Burial

• In August 2025, MDOT began burying overhead utilities along the south side of Buttles Street from Jerome to State Street.

• This work will prepare the corridor for future street improvements planned in 2027.

• Sidewalk access: South side sidewalks will be temporarily removed during this phase, but the north side sidewalks will remain open.

• The south side 10-foot pathway will be built in 2027.

2026: Indian & Jerome Street Improvements

During this phase, Indian Street traffic will temporarily shift to Buttles/Lyons, which will operate as a two-way street with a center left-turn lane between Jerome and Washington.

• Indian Street (Jerome → Mill): Mill and resurface while keeping the current three-lane format. Add new street lighting, mast-arm traffic signals, and street trees.

• Indian/Patrick (Mill → Washington): Full reconstruction with new utility upgrades (water main and storm sewer), existing lighting relocated to inside of the curve, new mast-arm traffic signals, and new/more street trees.

• Jerome Street (Main → Indian): Street reconstruction, mast arm traffic signals, new street lighting, and crosswalk upgrades.

2027: Buttles Street Improvements

Once Indian is complete, traffic will shift to Indian/Patrick, which will operate as a two-way street with a center turn lane from Jerome to Washington.

• Buttles (Jerome → State): Mill and resurface, modified from current three lanes to two lanes with right-turn lanes at Ashman and Cronkright. Addition of a 10-foot-wide pathway along the south side, new lighting, new mast-arm traffic signals, and new/additional street trees.

• Buttles/Lyons (State → Washington): Maintain three-lane format but undergo a full reconstruction with new mast-arm traffic signals, and new/additional street trees. Utility upgrades will include new water main and storm sewer installations.

Receive the latest information on these projects by:

• Sign up for MDOT Bay Region News Release Emails for ongoing project updates here: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/midot/subscriber/new.

• Watch for a spring 2026 MDOT open house before major construction begins.

• For timeline, background and history on the project, visit cityofmidlandmi.gov/corridors.

Daily Progress at Your Fingertips: City of Midland Construction Updates!

Want to stay in the loop on what’s happening on city streets each day? The City of Midland’s Construction Daily Updates offer a quick, easy way to see what crews are working on, what’s wrapping up, and what’s next on the schedule. From street repairs and utility work to major improvement projects, you’ll get a fresh snapshot of progress, updated daily.

These updates make it simple to follow along as Midland keeps building, fixing, and improving. Check in often to see how today’s work is shaping tomorrow’s smoother travels!