Talking Michigan Transportation

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, how COVID-19 is affecting mobility, how MDOT is supporting relief efforts, and the 2020 construction season.First, Scott Greene, manager of MDOT’s Utility Coordination and Permits Services section, talks about the decision to exempt from seasonal weight restrictions trucks hauling food and vital supplies for relief efforts. https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9620_11057-521703--,00.htmlFollowing MDOT’s decision to waive the restrictions for specific vehicles, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order ordering those same exemptions for local road agencies as well as MDOT. The order also requires all road agencies to expedite the permitting process for non-seasonal load restrictions. https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_90705-521893--,00.htmlThe governor’s order also requires road agencies to suspend restrictions on the noise and timing of deliveries that meet immediate needs related to relief efforts.Next, Jean Ruestman, director of the MDOT Office of Passenger Transportation, talks about the effect on public transit services and how agencies are adjusting. The largest operators of public buses in Metro Detroit are waiving fares for riders in response to the crisis as are some other agencies around the state. https://detroit.curbed.com/2020/3/12/21176549/coronavirus-covid-detroit-ddot-bus-cancelWhile the health crisis is thinning crowds on public transit across the country, Ruestman talks about the vital role these services play in getting people to and from work, doctor’s appointments, and retail outlets for food and medicine.http://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-biz-cta-metra-coronavirus-public-transit-20200317-fdf67yu7y5h5rea2zoyytmrqrm-story.htmlTo see what’s going on at various transit agencies across the state, access their home pages.https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9625_21607-31837--,00.htmlIn related news, Amtrak has made several service changes. In Michigan, these include suspending passenger rail service on the Pere Marquette between Grand Rapids and Chicago and reduced service on the Wolverine line, connecting several Michigan cities with Chicago.https://www.amtrak.com/nec-modified-schedule Finally, Gregg Brunner, director of MDOT’s Bureau of Field Services, joins the podcast to talk about whether the health crisis will have any effect on the coming construction season.

A decade of higher-than-average rainfall and the devastating effects on state infrastructure is the topic on this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation. The conversation begins with Andy Dixon, a National Weather Service hydrologist who detailed the facts at a High Water Summit convened by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Feb. 10. https://www.michigan.gov/som/0,4669,7-192-47796-519367--,00.htmlFollowing the conversation with Dixon, Brad Wieferich, director of MDOT’s Bureau of Development, talks about the impact of sustained high water on roads and bridges. An extended period of higher-than-average rainfall, record-high levels of the Great Lakes, inland lakes and swollen rivers and streams has eroded shorelines and made some roads impassable.Daily Great Lakes levels, as tracked by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, remain well above their long-term average and continue to break records. In July 2019, the monthly mean level broke the record high July level, and it is the lake’s highest recorded July monthly level mean since 1918, the beginning of its period of record.http://lre-wm.usace.army.mil/ForecastData/GLBasinConditions/daily-GLWL-Graph.pdfKey facts illustrated by Dixon in his presentation at the High Water Summit:- Overall, the last 10 years have been much wetter than normal across the Great Lakes states.- As a whole, the state of Michigan is in the middle of the wettest one-year, three-year, and five-year periods since records began more than 120 years ago.- Storms occur with more frequency. The previous average would have been 12-20 events in Michigan with waves of 10 feet or higher in fall/winter. Just through Jan. 21, we had 16-plus. https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/Spring_Flooding_Risks_EGLE_683531_7.pdfThe phrase is over-used, but is this the new normal? Whether it is or not, U.S. climate policy is unlikely to change dramatically anytime soon, says Amy Harder, energy and climate change reporter at Axios. As Harder wrote earlier this month, “Congress is likely to remain gridlocked on the matter.”https://www.axios.com/climate-policy-changes-unlikely-7ecf6cc3-c42c-4d7c-b492-41d73433a015.htmlMDOT’s Brad Wieferich talks about the impact the high water is already having on state roads and bridges and what the long-term impact could be. As he told the Detroit Free Press: Absent some interjection of federal disaster relief funds (which could only come if Michigan and then the federal government declared portions of the state as disaster zones, something that has not occurred), the regular state road budget, used to fix roads and bridges crumbling from age and wear, would have to bear those huge additional costs.https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/02/10/road-fixes-record-high-water-levels-could-top-100-million/4718140002/Also discussed: the impact of rushing water on bridges and monitoring techniques for what is termed “scour.”https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9622_11045_24249-487016--,00.html

This week, on the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Jeff talks with Dennis Kolar, managing director of the Road Commission of Oakland County, about his op/ed challenging the notion that a long-term fix for Michigan’s roads lies in changing the distribution of funds to the state’s 600-plus road agencies.https://www.rcocweb.org/directory.aspx?EID=7In the commentary, published in Crain’s Detroit Business Feb. 16, Kolar observed that the legislation outlining the allocation of road funds has been revised a number of times since the act was adopted in 1951 and none of the changes grow overall revenue. https://www.crainsdetroit.com/other-voices/commentary-fixing-formula-road-funding-wont-fix-real-problem https://www.michigan.gov/documents/act51simple_28749_7.pdfAn excerpt:"In other words, our Legislature has always done a good job of updating the act when needed to address the ever-changing transportation world. This process has occurred through careful deliberation and a recognition of the many and varying transportation funding needs facing Michigan.Unfortunately, most recently, there has been a knee-jerk reaction to our current funding crisis. Rather than providing truly adequate funding to address our transportation needs, some have instead proposed to change the Act 51 funding distribution formula so that population is the dominant factor."Now lawmakers again are proposing changes in the distribution formula without any plan to increase revenues overall. This is despite the Transportation Asset Management Council forecast that nearly 50 percent of pavement in Michigan will be in poor condition by the year 2030.https://www.whmi.com/news/article/mueller-bill-change-road-funding-formulahttp://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mitrp/tamcDashboards/reports/pavement/forecast

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Brad Williams, director of government affairs for the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, expands on his legislative testimony in support of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan plan.https://www.michigan.gov/MDOT5YearPlanWilliams testified before the House Standing Committee on Transportation Tuesday and explained why the $3.5 billion bonding component of the Rebuilding Michigan plan is an important part of the solution now. View Williams' testimony (9:50-32:35): http://www.house.mi.gov/SharedVideo/PlayVideoArchive.html?video=TRAN-021120.mp4 Also discussed was testimony from Craig Thiel of the Citizens Research Council, who talked about the need for a long-term funding solution and a preference for bonding only against new revenues. The Council has previously testified on the degradation of Michigan’s transportation infrastructure and need to invest at all levels. A 2019 CRC report explored the benefits of offering local communities more options to raise road revenues. https://crcmich.org/publications/evaluating-michigans-options-to-increase-road-fundingHouse bills 4963 and 4964, as analyzed in this Michigan Municipal League blog, would allow local communities to seek fuel taxes and registration fees. http://blogs.mml.org/wp/inside208/2019/09/13/legislature-proposes-road-reforms-that-include-allowing-local-gas-taxes-and-registration-fees/Williams also talks about a bill voted out of the Senate that instructs the Michigan Department of Transportation to hire an outside consultant to study the feasibility of tolling some Michigan roads.http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2019-2020/billanalysis/Senate/pdf/2019-SFA-0517-F.pdf

This week on Talking Michigan Transportation, a conversation about Gov. Whitmer’s $3.5 billion Rebuilding Michigan plan to restore some of the state’s most vital freeways and bridges with two people who have been deeply involved in the planning: Laura Mester, MDOT chief administrative officer, and Patrick McCarthy, who heads MDOT’s Bureau of Finance.https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9621_14807_14810_59639---,00.htmlThey explain how the bond program capitalizes on low interest rates to allow for major investment in state-owned roads and bridges. Mester presented the overview of the plan to the State Transportation Commission on Jan. 30.https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/MDOT_Rebulding_Michigan_-_STC_-_final_679815_7.pdfThis House Fiscal Agency analysis provides important context on MDOT bonding over the past several years across multiple administrations. https://www.house.mi.gov/hfa/PDF/Alpha/Fiscal_Brief_State_Transportation_Bonds_Feb19.pdfBonds will be issued for 49 projects, which will rebuild major freeways and bridges in the state’s most heavily traveled corridors. The plan also allows another 73 projects to be expedited or broadened in scope.View the complete list: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/Bonding_and_Accelerated_Program_013020_679842_7.xlsxThis map shows vehicle miles traveled broken down by MDOT regions of the state: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/Vehicle_Miles_Traveled_Region_680448_7.pdf

On this week’s edition of Talking Michigan Transportation, a conversation with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer about her Rebuilding Michigan plan, announced in her State of the State address Wednesday.http://michigan.gov/RebuildingMIhttps://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_91277---,00.html The State Transportation Commission (STC) voted Thursday to authorize $3.5 billion in State Trunkline Fund bonds to rebuild some key roads and bridges on the state’s most heavily traveled corridors. View the STC discussion and vote.https://livestream.com/MDOT/JANUARY2020STCMEETINGGov. Whitmer explains her decision to employ the bonding tool, used several times by the past several governors, after the Legislature did not act on her far-reaching 2019 proposal to invest in roads at all levels. This analysis from the House Fiscal Agency explains the process and offers details on previous MDOT bond sales.https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9620_91685---,00.html http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa/PDF/Alpha/Fiscal_Brief_State_Transportation_Bonds_Feb19.pdf And will transportation funding be mentioned when she delivers the Democratic response to the State of the Union address next week?https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/24/gretchen-whitmer-democratic-response-state-of-the-union-103526

This week’s guest: Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist talks about his tours of Michigan’s crumbling roads and what he’s learning. Tuesday, he toured state trunklines and focused on the decades-long challenge to find sustainable funding for Michigan roads and bridges. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is also showing reporters roads in need of investment across the state.https://www.woodtv.com/news/michigan/discussion-ramps-up-with-legislature-on-mi-roads/https://www.wilx.com/content/news/Gov-Whitmer-sits-down-with-News-10-for-exclusive-interview-567013721.htmlGilchrist also talks about Michigan’s leading asset management council and the innovative efforts to assess pavement condition and determine why a lack of investment means finding ways to extend the life of poor roads that should otherwise be rebuilt. Gilchrist explains why the same roads seem to be under frequent repair, slowing the flow of commuters and commerce, and why appropriate investment allows for rebuilding roads for the long term.https://www.michigan.gov/tamc/The governor’s fiscal year 2020 budget proposal would have dramatically improved state trunklines over the next nine years. The graph shows the projected decline in state trunklines with status quo spending. (Trunklines are I, US, and M-routes.)https://www.michigan.gov/images/mdot/MDOTTrunklinePavementConditionForecasts_679268_7.pngGilchrist also discusses his passion for public transit and how it has been important to his mobility and that of his family in Detroit. In November, he joined federal officials to announce grants for new public buses in Flint and Detroit.https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/michigan-gets-12-8m-in-grants-to-improve-busingDescribing himself as an eternal optimist, he expresses faith in burgeoning mobility technologies and the promise they hold to enhance quality of life and to provide access to transportation for all. Earlier this month, he represented Michigan at the Consumer Electronics Show. In this video, he talks about Michigan companies showing off their technology there. And he makes the case for more automotive investment because of the human capital Michigan provides, especially with Michigan’s concentration of engineering talent.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3mBsErvWcA&feature=youtu.behttps://www.moodyonthemarket.com/mi-lt-gov-gilchrist-makes-case-for-automotive-investment-in-mi-at-ces/https://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/study-michigan-tops-u-s-with-number-of-engineers-per-capita/

On Talking Michigan Transportation this week, Jeff talks with Elise Feldpausch, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) connected vehicle specialist and project manager for the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) 2020 Mobility Challenge. The challenge is Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s initiative to showcase automated vehicles that will help people attending the auto show get around downtown Detroit.https://www.crainsdetroit.com/mobility/governor-unveils-mobility-challenge-aimed-helping-people-get-around-detroit-auto-show-2020On Monday, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist joined MDOT Director Paul Ajegba and Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) CEO Jeff Mason to announce the companies selected to demonstrate their automated technology with shuttles that will transport people from Metro Airport to the TCF Center for the auto show. Gilchrist put a special emphasis on the promise the technology offers to broaden mobility options for vulnerable users.https://www.planetm.com/press-releases/2020/01/lt.-governor-gilchrist-announces-naias-2020-michigan-mobility-challenge-airport-to-downtown-technology-demonstrations/“Today’s announcement underscores that in Michigan, we believe the true power and value in the technologies on display at NAIAS 2020 will be in how they make access to reliable, affordable transportation available to all of our state’s citizens,” Gilchrist said.Director Ajegba emphasized the importance of Michigan's groundbreaking connected and automated vehicle legislation.https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2016/12/09/autonomous-car-law/95199544/“Michigan is the past, present and future center of mobility revolution, and today’s announcement further solidifies our position,” Ajegba said. “Thanks to bipartisan support for groundbreaking legislation and our unique private-sector partnerships, including the North American International Auto Show, MDOT can continue to innovate and adapt our infrastructure to meet the needs of connected and automated transportation.”Elise talks about MDOT’s Intelligent Transportation Systems and why the programs work to connect vehicles to each other and the infrastructure. https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9615_44489---,00.htmlShe also talks about her own experiences as a driver and the technology’s ongoing evolution and potential to save lives. Polling by Michigan-based Epic MRA shows people becoming gradually more accepting of the technology.https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/2019_MDOT_Self-drivingCars_EpicPoll_669727_7.pdf

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Jeff speaks with Andy Doctoroff, the Michigan Governor’s Office point person on construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge.https://www.gordiehoweinternationalbridge.com/enThursday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined MDOT Director Paul Ajegba and Canadian officials in southwest Detroit to unveil the design for modern pedestrian crossings over I-75, enhancing connectivity in the neighborhood.https://www.crainsdetroit.com/construction/design-revealed-gordie-howe-bridge-pedestrian-spans-over-i-75Thursday’s unveiling follows an announcement last year about myriad other benefits the bridge will provide on both sides of the border.https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/john-gallagher/2019/06/14/gordie-howe-bridge-detroit-windsor/1456743001/This also comes on the heels of announcement of a $15 million commitment from the U.S. federal government to help with the customs plaza in Detroit.https://www.crainsdetroit.com/government/gordie-howe-bridge-project-gets-first-us-fundingDoctoroff also talks about his transition from a career as a litigator at a major Detroit law firm to his role helping to plan construction of a vital international trade crossing. The Gordie Howe International Bridge will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America and a symbol of the long friendship and partnership between Canada and Michigan. Approximately 7,000 trucks cross the corridor each day, and about 2.5 million trucks each year. This represents one quarter of all Canada-U.S. trade. https://www.acppubs.com/articles/8394-construction-of-gordie-howe-international-bridge-a-top-priority-for-canada-and-michiganIn a joint statement issued in May, Gov. Whitmer and Canada’s top infrastructure official reaffirmed their support of the project. Also discussed: How Complete Streets legislation and modern infrastructure affords opportunities to rethink urban planning in the spirit of Jane Jacobs and her battles. https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499-496375--,00.htmlhttp://www.altimeterfilms.com/citizen-jane-battle-for-the-city

The guest: Dr. Timothy Gates, professor of highway design and traffic engineering at Michigan State University. https://www.egr.msu.edu/people/profile/gatestimTopics include: — Why we have speed limits and the history behind them in America. https://blog.americansafetycouncil.com/the-history-of-speed-limits-in-america/— Some argue we could go without speed limits and drivers would self-regulate. Those people always cite the autobahn, including a lawmaker in California earlier this year. https://blog.americansafetycouncil.com/the-history-of-speed-limits-in-america/— Speed limits on some Michigan freeways increased to 75 mph in 2017 based on requirements adopted by the Legislature. But some critics cite data that shows that the trend toward hiking speed limits has resulted in 37,000 additional deaths since 1993. Charles Farmer, vice president for research and statistical services for the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), says too many people think about the few minutes they're saving by speeding but not about the risk. https://www.michiganradio.org/post/speed-limit-increases-1993-have-killed-37000-additional-people— Why officials in Oregon decided to roll back speed limits after some severe crashes in eastern Oregon. https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/crime/2016/06/08/state-roll-back-speed-limit-increases-eastern-oregon/85592384/— What research tells us about roundabouts, and why they make sense. Dr. Gates was part of a team studying how to educate the public on safely navigating roundabouts.https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/MDOT_Research_Report_RC1542_Part1_354968_7.pdf