Phase 1 of Center City Redevelopment Plan Starts with Saginaw Road Streetscape Construction

What is happening on the stretch of South Saginaw Road in Midland from Patrick Road to the Circle? In this August 2022 Midland Minute, City of Midland Communications Coordinator Katie Guyer breaks down the exciting changes that visitors to the Center City corridor can expect to see as the S. Saginaw Road Streetscape Renovation kicks off with a completion date in November 2022. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/6jnO77fD5bs

For more information on the S. Saginaw Road Streetscape Renovation project, please visit www.cityofmidlandmi.gov/saginawrd.

Comment on MDOT Draft 2023-2027 5-year Transportation Program before August 31

A reminder that the comment period for the MDOT Draft 2023-2027 Five-Year Transportation Program (5YTP) is open until Aug. 31.  A summary of highlights and contents is included below, and the document is available at www.Michigan.gov/MDOT5YearProgram. Comments can be sent directly to this email, through the interactive map of projects, or other options as outlined below.

 

There are four ways to participate in the 5YTP comment period:

1.       Visit the 5YTP interactive map and leave a project-specific comment,

2.       Leave a non-project-specific comment with our general comment form.

3.       Send a comment by e-mail to MDOT-Five-Year-Program@Michigan.gov, or

4.       Mail a comment to:

Michigan Department of Transportation
Systems Evaluation and Program Development Unit
Five Year Transportation Program
425 W. Ottawa St.
P.O. Box 30050
A reminder that the comment period for the MDOT Draft 2023-2027 Five-Year Transportation Program (5YTP) is open until Aug. 31.  A summary of highlights and contents is included below, and the document is available at www.Michigan.gov/MDOT5YearProgram. Comments can be sent directly to this email, through the interactive map of projects, or other options as outlined below.

MDOT Releases REMI 2050 Economic/Demographic Forecasts

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) recently released new REMI 2050 economic/demographic forecasts for our region, as developed by the U-M’s Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics (RSQE), in partnership with MDOT.   The forecast includes data on population, households, employment, gross domestic product (GDP) and labor participation rates, all by county.

The household (HH) forecast tables include several HH-based variables such as HH size, income, and vehicles.  The other REMI forecast tables include separate tabs for employment, population, employment sector output, population change, and labor force/income/GDP. Founded in 1980, Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI) is based on the idea that government decision-makers should test the economic effects of their policies before they are implemented.

The forecast is the product of:

·         The REMI TranSight® economic and demographic forecasting and simulation model

·         RSQE’s U.S. and Michigan forecasts and forecasting judgment

·         Comments and insights from a number of local Metropolitan Planning Organizations and regional planning organizations

MATS is presenting and summarizing the tables herein for Midland, Bay and Saginaw counties, covering the entire MATS area that includes Williams Township in Bay County and Tittabawassee Township in Saginaw County. 

As can be seen in the summary tables below, the three geographically adjacent counties have somewhat different outlooks in the three key indicators.  A reminder however, that these are only projections, and as such can only be as good as the data and assumptions that went into them. 

In terms of population levels, 2020 starts the tables off with a slightly reduced total, with subsequent decades showing at least some growth from there.  For Bay and Saginaw counties, however, the 2050 population totals are either only slightly above, or even below, the 2020 numbers.  Both counties show declines from 2040-2050. 

This pattern generally holds true throughout the various measures presented here, with the effects of the pandemic being felt across all areas and in multiple ways. 

All data, in Excel tables, can be found here:

MATS FY 2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program is Posted for Public Comment

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Comment and Open House Regarding MATS’

 2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program

 

The Midland Area Transportation Study (MATS) is seeking public comment on the proposed 2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program. The TIP outlines future programmed improvements to the area’s transportation system. It is available for review on the MATS website at www.midlandmpo.org. The public can submit comments to MATS through website, by mail, e-mail, or phone - 989-832-6812 by May 31, 2022.  

An “Open House” to discuss the TIP list and draft TIP Report will be held on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Atrium of Midland County Services Building, 220 W. Ellsworth Street. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, aids/services may be requested to participate in the meeting.

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