Tri-City Cyclist Group Plans Rides for 2022

According to Mike Colucci, Saginaw Director at Large for the Tri-City Cyclists, at the March TCC Ride planning meeting a plan was put together to have multiple scheduled weekly rides that club members can plan around.  These scheduled rides would be in addition to the weekday ROMEO rides and any impromptu rides that get scheduled.

The proposed schedule that was developed at the ride planning meeting includes the following rides:

Tuesday Evening: Slaughter Fest

Meets at the Senior Center in Midland

This is a paceline ride intended for race training.

We hope to regularly have two groups

Race Group averaging 23+ mph

Fast Group averaging 20-22 mph

Ride Contact:  Matt Ohl

Wednesday Evening TCC Group Ride - Tentatively starting next week Wed. April 20 (depending on weather)

Meets at the Freeland Sports Zone at 6 PM

This is a group ride meaning that the intent is to generally to stay together in groups, not leave riders behind.

We also hope to regularly have at least two groups

Main group averaging 14-16mph

Faster group riding averaging 17-18 mph (Ken Kearns is planning to lead this group)

Ride Contacts:  Mike Colucci, Dave Hawn

Thursday Evening Gravel Ride

Meets at varying locations - more details TBD

Ride contact: Matt Ohl 

Saturday Morning TCC Group Ride - Tenatively starting with the Tore de Sore Buns on May 7

The hope for this ride is to have multiple groups of different speeds and lengths starting from the same location. Details are still being worked out.

Monthly Friday TCC Introductory Ride

We also discussed a slower paced monthly ride intended to introduce club members and non-members to riding safely and comfortably on local roads.   More details TBD

Ride Contact: Thor Brecht

Says the group, “We look forward to having you join us on rides this year.  Feel free to respond to this message with questions or if you are willing to help out as a part time ride leader for any of these rides please respond to this email to let us know what ride you can help with.  Also feel free to respond if there are other types of rides you would like to add to help make happen.”

For more information, see the Tri-City Cyclists website at www.tricitycyclists.org or their contact page here.

View and comment on DRAFT MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SCREENING TOOL (MIEJSCREEN)

MiEJScreen is an interactive mapping tool that identifies Michigan communities that may be disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards. The map allows users to explore the environmental, health, and socioeconomic conditions within a specific community, region, or across the entire state.

These data sets can be viewed individually or combined into a final MiEJScreen score that allows users to understand how communities experience environmental justice impacts relative to others. These results are depicted in the form of maps so that different communities can be compared to one another.

A census tract with a high score is one that experiences higher pollution burden and vulnerability than census tracts with low scores. MiEJScreen ranks census tracts based on data that are available from state and federal government sources.

View the home page here:

Environmental Justice - MiEJscreen (michigan.gov)

City of Midland's "Word on the Street" podcast begins Season Two

The City of Midland’s video podcast “Word on the Street” begins season two with a discussion of another set of one-way street pairs in Midland: Ashman and Rodd streets. Hosts Katie and Grant discuss the characteristics of these corridors and why their future as one-way or two-way streets is critical to the pending reconstruction projects on Buttles and Indian streets. Word on the Street(s) is a podcast from the City of Midland that explores the future of the Buttles and Indian Corridor Improvement Project. It is produced by the MCTV Network and is also available as an audio-only production on most preferred podcast platforms. Episodes are released on the third Thursday of every month - or sooner if new information becomes available. For more info on the podcast or to view elements referenced in this episode, visit www.cityofmidlandmi.gov/corridors.

Asset Management Council Kicks Off 2022 with a New Strategic Work Program, Policy Updates and Training Opportunities Announced

GRETCHEN WHITMER GOVERNOR

STATE OF MICHIGAN

JOANNA I. JOHNSON CHAIR

Joanna Johnson, Chair – William McEntee, Vice Chair – Derek Bradshaw – Ryan Buck – Kelly Jones

Gary Mekjian – Bob Slattery– Rob Surber – Jennifer Tubbs – Todd White – Brad Wieferich

Roger Belknap – Transportation Asset Management Coordinator

MURRAY D. VAN WAGONER BUILDING • P.O. BOX 30050 • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909

www.michigan.gov/tamc • (517) 230-8192

January 21, 2022

Public Act 51 Agencies, Regional and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (RPA/MPOs) and the Michigan

Department of Transportation (MDOT)

RE: TAMC Kicks Off 2022 with a New Strategic Work Program, Policy Updates and

Training Opportunities Announced

Dear Transportation Agency Partners,

This letter is an update from the Transportation Asset Management Council (TAMC) to announce the new three-year strategic work program as well as assist with pavement surface evaluation and rating (PASER) data collection for the 2022 data collection season.

TAMC Adopts 3-Year Strategic Work Program

On January 5, the Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council (TAMC) held its first meeting of 2022 and wasted no time in setting directives for the program. The first order of action was the adoption of the 2022-2024 TAMC Strategic Work Program. This program guides the goals, objectives and strategic priorities of the TAMC for the next three years and is foundational to TAMC’s trainings, policies and activities. This three-year work program is an outcome of the 2021 TAMC Strategic Planning meeting held on August 4, 2021 as well as the ongoing engagement of TAMC committees that administer the TAMC program.

TAMC Updates Data Collection and Asset Management Plan Submittal and Review Policies

Last year (2021) TAMC modified the Policy for Roadway Condition Data Collection by reducing the required PASER data collection team from three (3) members to two (2) members and amended the training requirements for PASER participation. This has been called a “pilot” policy as TAMC continues to monitor the performance of the rating teams data against the Quality Review data set. In 2021 TAMC also set a target for collecting data on 100% of Michigan’s Federal Aid eligible network. For 2022, TAMC adopted an updated roadway data collection policy on January 5 that maintains the minimum 2-member rating team for Federal Aid ratings, however the policy returns to the previous goal of collecting no less than 50% of Michigan’s Federal Aid eligible network.

TAMC also responded to legislative changes to Public Act 51 as it relates to the submission of local agency Transportation Asset Management Plans (TAMP). The main changes to the Policy for Submittal and Review of Asset Management Plans for Roads, Bridges and Transportation Infrastructure is the identification of procedures for managing the submittal and review processes for agencies with less than 100 miles, as well as incorporating directives from Public Act 164 of 2020.

January 21, 2022

TAMC Update Letter

Bridges & Culverts

TAMC also approved a few changes to the Policy for Collection of Bridge Condition Data for 2022. Under the guidance of the TAMC Bridge Committee, TAMC approved changes to elements of the Asset Management program for bridges. These changes were the result of further evaluation of critical bridge infrastructure impacts upon the safety and welfare of roadway travel which recommended adding non-roadway bridges that are located within public roadway rights-of-way (such as trail or pedestrian bridge structures) and tunnels. Additional changes include partnering with RPA/MPOs to utilize the Asset Management program resource for assisting with expenses of bridge inspections as well as reference to the recently created TAMC Non-National Bridge Inventory Culvert Inspection Guide for use on structures less than 20 feet in length. As it relates to culverts, a reminder that TAMC has also launched Asset Management program for culverts, continuing the effort from previous years including adoption of a Policy for Collection of Culvert Inventory and Condition Data and ongoing training.

2022 Training Schedules

PASERPavement Surface Evaluation & Rating (PASER) / Inventory-based Rating (IBR) Training Schedule

TAMC Investment Reporting Tool (IRT) Training Schedule

Culvert Asset Management Training Schedule

TAMP Training Schedule in process

The TAMC is updating the 2022 TAMP training and you can find those dates and other TAMC sponsored training events at the Center for Technology and Training.

TAMC will be announcing the date of our 20 years of TAMC Conference in the very near future, please stay tuned for these updates. Also, TAMC individual or organization award nominations information will be provided soon. We look forward to celebrating our commitment to asset management together!

We appreciate all of your patience and on-going commitments to asset management.

Questions can be directed to Roger Belknap, TAMC Coordinator by calling (517) 230-8192 or by email belknapr@michigan.gov. To learn more about TAMC and to access road and bridge condition data and maps, visit www.Michigan.gov/TAMC.

Sincerely,

Joanna I. Johnson, Chair

CC: TAMC Members

MATS Presents the FY 2021 Annual Obligation Report to the Public

      Contact:                                                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     Maja Bolanowska or Bryan Gillett                                                 

     (989) 832-6333                                                               

     info@midlandmpo.com

Overall Transportation Investment in MATS Area at $12.7 Million in FY 2021; Federal $$ supported by CARES Act.

MIDLAND, Mi., December 27th, 2021- The Midland Area Transportation Study (MATS) has released its Annual Report, showing Federal funding obligated in the MATS area for Fiscal Year 2021 for roads and transit.  State and Local funds are included in the report for reference where possible.  

The 2021 MATS Annual Report:

  • Shows that overall transportation investment in the MATS area is down somewhat from FY 2020, but was still aided by funding from the CARES Act of 2021.

  • Federal funding was down regardless, at 6.4 million dollars, with roads and bridges still being the largest beneficiary, and nearly 1.7 million dollars in Federal transit funding.

  • Overall transportation funding totaling $12.7 million was invested into the MATS area transportation network through Federal, State and Local sources.

  • State of Michigan investment in the area is up slightly due to a number of traffic safety projects.

According to MATS Director Maja Bolanowska, these Federal obligations "reflect highway, urban, rural roads, safety, bridge, transit operating and transit capital funds.  They allow many projects to be completed each year. All these categories of funding represent federal gas tax revenues coming back to the local community”. 

About the Midland Area Transportation Study: MATS is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Midland Area, established in January 2013. MATS focuses on regional transportation planning services and helps to create intergovernmental cooperation. MATS is a policy-making agency, developing transportation plans and programming Federal-aid projects while providing public outreach regarding transportation issues. The MATS metropolitan planning region is defined as the entire geographic County of Midland, the geographic area of City of Auburn and Williams Township within Bay County and Tittabawassee Township in Saginaw County. For additional information, please visit www.midlandmpo.org or call (989) 832-6333.

 

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MATS Releases Draft Long Range Transportation Plan for Public Review

MATS has released the public review draft of its long range transportation plan Towards 2045. The draft can be found here.

This update to the long range transportation plan (LRTP) outlines regional goals and objectives that will guide the investment of nearly $1 Billion into transportation projects proposed through 2045 in Midland County as well as Williams Township in Bay County and Tittabawassee Township in Saginaw County.

Every five years, the LRTP is updated. The first LRTP for MATS, which was established in 2013, was completed in 2017. The new LRTP will include a 23-year planning horizon and will take into account demographic and economic developments as they relate to transportation demands, as well as climate change, resilience, and environmental justice policies. In addition, the LRTP will be the first version of the plan to fulfill Federal Performance Management standards.

The LRTP must be fiscally limited, and transportation investments are based on regional budget predictions throughout the Plan's horizon. The plan is based on regional goals and objectives, and it aims to extend the life of existing infrastructure by employing asset management principles. The LRTP incorporates a range of transportation modes to efficiently serve the region in a way that promotes environmental sustainability, accessibility, economic growth, and improved quality of life for residents.

The public is encouraged to review the document, and provide comments here, via email at info@midlandmpo.com, by phone at 989-832-6333 or by mail at 220 W. Ellsworth St., Ste 326, Midland Michigan 48640.

TAMC Launches Culvert Asset Management Program

October 4, 2021

Public Act 51 Agencies, Regional and Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Michigan Department of Transportation

Dear Transportation Agency Partners,

TAMC Launches Culvert Asset Management Program

This letter is an update on the Transportation Asset Management Council’s (TAMC) Strategic Work Program to assist with the deployment of your agency’s culvert asset management and data collection programs. First, TAMC has established a Policy for Collection of Culvert Inventory and Condition Data, approved on June 2, 2021. This provides guidance to the elements and procedures by which culvert inventory and condition data collection will be administered. Secondly, on October 21, the Center for Technology and Training will host Culvert Asset Management Training. This training features the new TAMC Culvert Structure Inspection Guide. You can learn more about the training and register here:

http://ctt.nonprofitsoapbox.com/upcoming-events/event/1112

Lastly, as we enter the month of October, the State of Michigan 2022 fiscal year begins. The FY22 TAMC program budget has been approved and provides funding resources under our Asset Management Unified Work Program with our Regional and Metropolitan Planning Agency partners to administer training resources, data collection resources and equipment purchasing resources for Public Act 51 Agencies. TAMC is grateful for the assistance and collaboration with all our Public Act 51 Agencies, Regional and Metropolitan Planning Organizations and our program partners at the Center for Technology and Training and the Center for Shared Solutions to further advance the culvert asset management program.

Questions can be directed to Roger Belknap, TAMC Coordinator by calling (517) 230-8192 or by email BelknapR@michigan.gov. To learn more about TAMC and to access road and bridge condition data and maps, visit www.Michigan.gov/tamc.

Sincerely,

Joanna I. Johnson, Chair

Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council