Talking Michigan Transportation

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a discussion about the long-term challenges for transportation infrastructure presented by a volatile climate. First, Hugh McDiarmid Jr., director of communications at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, joins to talk about the High Water Action Team convened earlier this year by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Wednesday, Gov. Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-182 and Executive Directive 2020-10 to create the MI Healthy Climate Plan. The governor’s comprehensive plan will protect Michiganders’ public health and the environment and help develop new clean energy jobs by putting Michigan on a path toward becoming fully carbon-neutral by 2050. "The science is clear, and message urgent: the earth’s climate is now changing faster than at any point in the history of modern civilization, and human activities are largely responsible for this change,” says the executive directive.McDiarmid explains that Michigan’s water levels are at their highest in more than two decades, causing millions of dollars in damage to private property and public infrastructure, like roads and bridges. Traffic has been disrupted across the state as flooding and high water flowed over roads and bridges. The problem is particularly acute on the Lake Michigan shore, where roads have been under water in Benton Harbor, Montague, Whitehall, Pentwater, and Elberta in Benzie County. Inland areas have also suffered damage as well as roads near Lake Huron.Erosion severely damaged the popular Little Traverse Wheelway between Charlevoix and Petoskey and a study indicated restoration could cost millions.Matt Chynoweth, MDOT’s chief bridge engineer and director of the department’s Bureau of Bridges and Structures, joins the podcast to talk about the perils high water presents for bridge supports, and MDOT’s intensive inspection procedures. Chynoweth explains that the issue is not so much the annual precipitation totals but more about the increased frequency of extreme events. Given the median age of bridges in the state, he details how MDOT inspectors monitor bridges and structures around the state during these more frequent and higher intensity flooding events. He also explains the concept of bridge scour and why the sustained high water is of particular concern.

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, MDOT Finance Director Patrick McCarthy talks about the process and work leading up to the sale of $800 million in bonds to finance rebuilding several freeways with the state’s heaviest traffic volumes.Later, the discussion focuses on the first high-profile project made possible through the bond sales, rebuilding I-496 west of Lansing, with MDOT Lansing Transportation Service Center Manager Greg Losch and Jason Early, MDOT construction engineer on the project.The bonds closed today will cover the cost of rebuilding some of Michigan’s most highly traveled freeways, including the $60 million I-496 project. When all of the $3.5 billion bonds are sold over the next few years, they will finance or help accelerate rebuilding or major improvements of 122 major highways across the state. “For too long, our freeways have been held together with patches and emergency repairs,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a news release. “The Rebuilding Michigan program assures Michiganders across the state that they can drive to work and drop their kids at school on safe and reliable roads for many decades to come. It has also allowed us to start moving dirt this year, without an increase at the gas pump.”In a unanimous vote on Jan. 30, the Michigan State Transportation Commission (STC) authorized the department to issue and sell $3.5 billion in bonds backed by state trunkline revenues. Gov. Whitmer spoke on the podcast at the time about her Rebuilding Michigan plan, rolled out in her 2020 State of the State address, and the STC vote. Bond Buyer reported on the bond sale in August, observing that while the COVID-19 pandemic has hurt recent collections of pledged revenues, sturdy coverage ratios provide a cushion that the state is banking on to see the credit through the current fiscal storm. "Michigan's state trunkline bonds are not susceptible to immediate material credit risks related to coronavirus because of strong coverage of debt service and limits on additional leverage," Moody's said. "The longer-term impact will depend on both the severity and duration of the crisis." Moody’s concluded that the lack of investment has taken a severe toll on the state’s transportation assets.

On this week's Talking Michigan Transportation, a conversation with state Rep. Leslie Love on the passion and commitment she brought to honoring Aretha Franklin with a memorial highway designation on M-10 (Lodge Freeway) in Detroit.https://housedems.com/leslie-love/about/https://mdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=e4838c1a08b64979b5e08f33909f5575On Monday, Rep. Love joined MDOT Director Paul Ajegba, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, and Franklin family members and friends to unveil the Aretha L. Franklin Memorial Highway signs.Rep. Love recounts the challenges moving the legislation to formalize the memorial designation for the highway and why this was personal for her. "That's not just a sign, it is a symbol. And it's a reminder of the struggle and the victory," Love said.https://housedems.com/queen-of-soul-memorial-highway-moves-forward/Lt. Gov. Gilchrist: "She enabled movements that changed people's lives."Gov. Whitmer paid tribute to Ms. Franklin's work to empower women, invoking a signature lyric: "She taught generations of women to demand R E S P E C T."Ms. Franklin's granddaughters Victorie and Grace Franklin offered a stirring a cappella rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing.The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 38 made their facilities available for the event and provided audio and logistics support.View a video news release: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-DiNr2I1Z8&feature=youtu.be.

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a recap of Thursday’s connected corridor announcement. https://www.michiganbusiness.org/press-releases/2020/08/michigan-cavnue-creating-road-of-future-between-ann-arbor-and-detroit/Guests: Trevor Pawl, State of Michigan chief mobility officer, and Collin Castle, manager of the Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT) Intelligent Transportation Systems program.https://www.michiganbusiness.org/press-releases/2020/07/michigans-office-of-future-mobility-and-electrification-formally-launches-sets-course-for-economic-growth-job-creation/https://www.automotive-iq.com/events-automotivecybersecurity/speakers/collin-castleThursday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that the State of Michigan has entered into a contract with Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners (SIP), the urban innovation business of Alphabet (Google’s parent company), to build a first-of-its-kind automated vehicle-only corridor that stretches from downtown Detroit to Ann Arbor. SIP has established a new entity, Cavnue, to work with MDOT, Ford and the University of Michigan to develop the corridor.https://cavnue.com/ Joining the governor for the announcement were Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist; MDOT Director Paul Ajegba; Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) Director Jeff Donofrio; Bill Ford, executive chairman of Ford Motor Co.; U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow; U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell, Brenda Lawrence and Rashida Tlaib; and Khalil Rahal, assistant Wayne County executive.Speakers focused on the economic opportunities and why it makes sense to continue mobility pioneering where the auto industry was born.As Bloomberg NEF analyst Alejandro Zamorano-Cadavid said in a Bloomberg story, "Given the auto-tech cluster already in Michigan, it makes sense for the state to provide a corridor that will help its biggest industry adapt to a world with less cars and increasingly more shared autonomous vehicles."https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-13/michigan-cavnue-are-developing-40-mile-driverless-car-corridor

Why does a foundation promoting libertarian ideas support tolling for transportation infrastructure funding? Feigenbaum expands on his commentary supporting Michigan’s tolling study and also talks about:https://reason.org/commentary/michigan-moves-to-study-interstate-tolling-as-way-to-improve-highways/- The value of being able to travel freely on a road whenever you choose, not just the use but options created by perpetual availability. Who is benefitting and should pay for it - just the person on the road or also the person or business at the destination?- The enthusiasm for tolling in Texas and other states 10 to 15 years ago has waned. Should we expect renewed interest?- Feigenbaum’s belief that tolling is less regressive than fuel or sales taxes and models that design for social equity.- How we arrived at this point. The challenge of raising revenue even for something as essential to our economy as roads in a climate where lawmakers take anti-tax pledges.- Feigenbaum’s observations about modern technology and how it has reduced the cost of tolling infrastructure. The cost of toll collection, once as high as 25 percent of revenue in the 20th century, is now less than 10 percent on tolled facilities. Most experts believe that as tolling and technology continue to improve, the overall cost of collection will decline to less than 5 percent, roughly equivalent to the gas tax.Other relevant links:A 2019 Epic-MRA poll of Michigan voter views on tolling.https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/MDOT_Fees_EpicPoll_669728_7.pdf Some things the study will cover, including managed lanes and how they work. https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/managelanes_primer/ Why Michigan doesn’t have tolling. Some history.https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/MDOT_Toll_Roads_Brochure_548788_7.pdf

Last week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the creation of the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification and named Trevor Pawl as the state’s chief mobility officer. Pawl has extensive experience in business development for the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) and has been a leader for PlanetM, a mobility initiative representing mobility efforts across the state.https://www.michiganbusiness.org/press-releases/2020/07/michigans-office-of-future-mobility-and-electrification-formally-launches-sets-course-for-economic-growth-job-creation/Pawl talks about his plans for the new office and the intention to take advantage of ongoing collaborative efforts between the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), MEDC, and other government agencies, as well as academia and private industry.Also discussed: the life-saving benefits of technologies automakers are developing on the road to further automation of vehicles. As the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) observes: Driver assistance technologies in today’s motor vehicles are already helping to save lives and prevent injuries. A number of today’s new motor vehicles have technology that helps drivers avoid drifting into adjacent lanes or making unsafe lane changes, warns drivers of other vehicles behind them when they are backing up, or brakes automatically if a vehicle ahead of them stops or slows suddenly, among other things. These and other safety technologies use a combination of hardware (sensors, cameras, and radar) and software to help vehicles identify certain safety risks so they can warn the driver to act to avoid a crash.Here are some other links and references from this week’s edition:PlanetM initiative: https://www.planetm.com/A December 2019 conversation on the podcast with John Peracchio, who chaired the Michigan Council on Future Mobility: https://soundcloud.com/talkingmitransportation/talking-michigan-transportation-the-michigan-council-on-future-mobility-driverless-cars-toll-roads-and-electric-vehicle-chargingNHTSA focus on automated vehicles and safety: https://www.nhtsa.gov/technology-innovation/automated-vehicles-safetyThe Economist on investments in electric vehicles: https://www.economist.com/business/2019/04/17/big-carmakers-are-placing-vast-bets-on-electric-vehicles

On this week’s edition of Talking Michigan Transportation, Jeff talks with Andy Doctoroff, the governor’s point person on the Gordie Howe International Bridge, about a significant Michigan Court of Appeals ruling related to the project. Later, Mark Butler, director of communications for the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA), talks about last week’s Community Organization Investment (COI) announcement.First, in a unanimous decision published June 18, the Michigan Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling in rejecting the Detroit International Bridge Co.’s challenges to the agreement that allows MDOT to work with the Canadian government to build the bridge.Gov. Whitmer praised the ruling."We are very pleased that yet another court, this time the Michigan Court of Appeals, has affirmed the agreement between Canada and Michigan to build this vital bridge,” the governor said in a statement. “This emphatic ruling means progress will continue on a project that is spurring growth and creating good-paying jobs in Detroit, Windsor and across the region.”Community benefitsLast week, the WDBA announced recipients for July 2020 COI funding. Butler explains why community benefits are an important part of the work to build the bridge and the WDBA’s ongoing commitment to the residents, businesses and community organizations on both sides of the border. He also affirms the commitment to opening the bridge in late 2024.This year’s COI recipients will receive funding in July 2020. The projects include:• Sandwich First Baptist Church: Sandwich Underground Railroad Freedom Museum• Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Windsor Essex Central Council: Helping Hands Friendship Centre• Friends of the Court: Spreading Our Roots• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Windsor Essex: Big Neighbourhood – Sandwich• Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA): Binational Detroit River Cleanup• Les Amis Duff-Bâby: Grand Opening Event - Duff-Bâby Mansion• West Vernor & Springwells Business Improvement District (BID): The Bid Is Open for Business!• Bridging Communities, Inc.: Southwest Expanded Seniors Services• Ste. Anne de Detroit Catholic Church (Food Pantry): Food Pantry Equipment and Replacement Expansion Program

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation, a conversation about mid-Michigan flooding and MDOT efforts to restore roads and bridges. Guests include Jocelyn Hall, MDOT’s Bay Region media relations representative, and Matt Chynoweth, MDOT’s chief bridge engineer who oversees the MDOT Bureau of Bridges and Structures. After days of heavy rains that began May 17 and breached dams near Midland, several roads and bridges were heavily damaged from what is considered a 500-year event. The flooding and rapid currents were especially catastrophic in the Tittabawassee River. MDOT engineers moved quickly to put an emergency contract in place, which allows for restoring the US-10 bridges over Sanford Lake. Of the routes damaged in the region, that route is the busiest for commercial and commuter traffic. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer toured the site Wednesday with MDOT Director Paul Ajegba. MDOT’s Bay Region associate engineer for construction, Jason Garza, answered the governor’s questions and explained the emergency process to repair the bridges.https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-bay-city/2020/05/how-a-spring-rainstorm-became-a-500-year-flood-event-in-mid-michigan.htmlhttps://www.wnem.com/news/mdot-awards-contract-to-repair-us-10-bridges-over-sanford-lake-following-floods/article_ba735ac4-9d38-11ea-9b4e-db3c86aaaad0.htmlWhile many of the most devastating images came from Midland, several other counties in the region sustained flooding damage, prompting the governor to add those to the State of Emergency declaration.https://www.michiganradio.org/post/governor-expands-state-emergency-declaration-include-arenac-gladwin-and-saginaw-countiesChynoweth talks about the specifics of inspecting, repairing and rebuilding the many bridges damaged by the rushing waters. He explains the concept of scour and how floods and rapid currents erode soil surrounding bridge foundations. The issue was especially acute during these historic flooding events.https://www.ayresassociates.com/bridge-scour-care/With climate change and sustained high water creating headaches for shoreline communities across the state and officials from several state agencies planning for more, Chynoweth discusses the challenges of planning and building more resilient transportation infrastructure, especially during an ongoing period of underinvestment.https://www.mlive.com/news/2020/03/great-lakes-high-water-is-going-to-affect-everyone-in-michigan.htmlYou can see more photos and find out other information about the routes affected by the flooding at this story map tour.https://mdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=b67dbc1fa24d4a0f9478381dc41c1677

This week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast includes conversations about whether the federal government will provide any relief for transportation agencies in the wake of declining fuel tax revenues because of the pandemic. First, Lloyd Brown, director of communications at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, offers his analysis of the ongoing Congressional discussions.Later, MDOT Finance Director Patrick McCarthy talks about Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program and plans to sell some of the bonds this year.Will there be help from Washington?Many scholars and analysts have argued that this is an opportune time to raise the federal gas tax, last increased in 1993, not indexed to inflation, which has increased 77 percent since then. Writing in The Hill, Bernard L. Weinstein, associate director of the Maguire Energy Institute and adjunct professor of business economics in the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University, makes the case for doing something now.https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/492748-this-is-prime-time-to-increase-the-federal-gasoline-taxThe inflation-adjusted cost of gasoline today is about where it was 50 years ago. Weinstein questions whether Congress will squander a unique opportunity to hike the federal gasoline tax, replenish the Highway Trust Fund, and rebuild America’s critical road and bridge infrastructure.His thinking is in line with that of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has advocated for a 25-cent increase in the federal gas tax.“Our nation’s infrastructure is deteriorating and only getting worse. By 2025, our crumbling infrastructure will cost American businesses $7 trillion,” said Chamber CEO Tom Donohue. “Today’s announcement … is an important step forward on the path to rebuilding America’s infrastructure.”Says House Transportation Chairman Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon: “And just like the New Deal of the 1930s, the best way to re-start our economy and put workers first is with a massive investment in the kind of infrastructure that will help future generations succeed - from better bridges and roads to robust transit and passenger rail service, to fully functioning ports and harbors, to modernized waste and drinking water systems, and widely available broadband internet.”U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, after initially balking at aid to states in another round of stimulus and suggesting they could default, amended his stance and suggested there could be some relief. But his and administration proposals come with what Democrats consider some poison pills, calling for a pandemic liability shield and payroll tax cuts.https://www.usnews.com/news/economy/articles/2020-05-05/liability-protection-looms-over-next-coronavirus-stimulus-packageRebuilding MichiganMDOT’s McCarthy explains the bond sale process and how it will support the Rebuilding Michigan plan. Earlier this year, Gov. Whitmer asked the State Transportation Commission (STC) to authorize bonds to rebuild some of the state’s busiest freeways. The STC voted to authorize up to $3.5 billion in bonds.https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9621_14807_14810_59639---,00.htmlThe first project in the plan, the rebuild of I-496 west of Lansing, began April 1. McCarthy explains that the project is being funded with existing revenue that will be reimbursed when the bonds are sold.https://www.m

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Jeff talks with:Ron Jackson, MDOT maintenance coordinator in the Taylor Transportation Service Center, about what it’s like maintaining some of the state’s busiest freeways during the COVID-19 outbreak. Ron and Jeff also talk about how his workers stay safe.Also, this week is National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week. Courtney Bates, who coordinates safety messaging in the MDOT Office of Communications, talks about the challenges in this year’s campaign because of the pandemic and creative efforts to share the message.First, Ron talks about the importance of maintenance work and his compelling video to launch MDOT’s new Selfies From the Field series, an occasional feature highlighting transportation workers who clear debris from roads, mitigate washouts from flooding, patch potholes, and inspect repairs during this time of crisis. They support thousands of healthcare workers traveling to their double shifts at hospitals, truck drivers who haul our bread, milk, meat, and vegetables to the grocery store, and the people who stock the shelves and those who ring us out. Transportation workers do their jobs so all the other essential workers are able to do theirs. #MDOTSelfiesFromTheFieldhttps://www.facebook.com/69882284926/posts/10157815481104927/Ron is also the MDOT’s Metro Region safety officer, and he talks about methods he employs to emphasize to maintenance crews the dangers inherent in working near traffic.Staying safe in work zones takes on special significance this week with the annual national campaign to make drivers aware of the men and women working on the roads and bridges we rely on everyday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqnaZsvGMtg&feature=youtu.beAn MDOT video pays tribute to critical infrastructure workers and the importance to stay alert in work zones.https://youtu.be/07_a57Ma27wCourtney talks about her work with MDOT’s work zone safety team to prepare to host this year’s national event, which was canceled because of COVID-19. The event had been planned for the American Center for Mobility, dovetailing this year’s “We Can Do It” theme with the center’s former life as the Willow Run assembly plant and “Arsenal of Democracy,” converted from auto manufacturing during World War II to famously crank out more than one B-24 bomber per hour. The folk hero Rosie the Riveter is also part of the plant’s lore. View more photos of the era in this Detroit News gallery.https://www.assemblymag.com/articles/94614-how-fords-willow-run-assembly-plant-helped-win-world-war-iihttps://www.detroitnews.com/picture-gallery/news/local/michigan-history/2020/04/05/home-front-detroit-arsenal-democracy-during-world-war-ii/5118374002/Also discussed: creation of the poster that honors the men and women working on the roads in the spirit of Michigan’s labor legacy.https://www.michigan.gov/workzonesafety/0,9411,7-390-97919---,00.html