October 2020

Welcome to the October 2020 edition of WATS Up, the monthly newsletter for Washtenaw Area Transportation Study! October has been designated by the U.S. DOT National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as Pedestrian Safety Month. Click here for pedestrian safety resources.

WATS Agency Updates

Public comments are being accepted for the proposed changes to the 2020-2023 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) until Wednesday, October 21, 2020. A list of project amendments and modifications can be found at miwats.org/tip/.
 

WATS is pleased to release the 2019 Annual Report. This detailed report provides an overview of achievements for the 2019 calendar year and showcases the 2019 fiscal year listing of federally funded projects. Click here to view the report.

 

WATS is collecting public input for the Chelsea POP project until Oct. 23. Feedback gained through this final survey will be used to inform potential long-term solutions for the corridor. Click here to take the survey or share with others.

Is your community interested in demonstrating short-term street improvements? Contact Suzann Flowers at flowerss@miwats.org or Ryan Buck at buckr@miwats.org if you would like to partner with WATS on a tactical urbanism project.
 

Local Project Spotlight: Construction is in progress along First St. in Downtown Ann Arbor. This one-way street is being converted to two-way traffic and includes a new protected bikeway. Notice the light posts, banner brackets, and chicane curve in the pathway to approach the RR crossing at almost a 90° angle.

Up On The Blog

Thu, Oct 01

Making Changes to the Transportation Improvement Program

By: Ryan Buck

The TIP is a roadmap for investing for four years. However, just like on a trip in real life, things change and sometimes the way forward needs to be “rerouted”. This roadmap needs your input to be as

Read More

What We’re Reading

Continuing Resolution Secures Federal Funding, Extends FAST Act for One Year. Read More

Creative Impact: Paint in the (Ann Arbor) Streets. Read More

Despite Traffic Decreases More People are Dying on Michigan Roads. Read More

Report: Better Data Can Drive Equity in Suburban Transit. Read More

Partner Agency Updates

TheRide has Launched Contactless Ticketing Service. Read More

A presentation from Bryan Smith, Deputy CEO of Operations for TheRide, with a summary of revised routes is available here.

Registration is open for the TAMC 2020 Virtual Fall Transportation Asset Management Conference Oct. 28-29. There is no cost to attend! Read More

SEMCOG has recently completed their Flood Risk Tool for transportation planning. Join SEMU for a webinar on Oct. 22 to learn about this new tool. Read More

Julia Roberts Becomes Second Executive Director in WAVE History. Read More

Did You Know?

Traffic volumes are down an average of 20 percent across the state due to the pandemic, but crashes and fatalities have increased from year over year. 64 more people have died on Michigan’s roads than at this time last year.

Check out this episode of MDOT’s Talking Michigan Transportation Podcast as they discuss why crash deaths are on the rise despite fewer vehicles on the road.

Get Involved!

MDOT has extended the public online survey for its state long-range transportation plan through Saturday, Oct. 31. The plan establishes a vision and priorities for transportation in Michigan for the next 25 years. MDOT is seeking input from the public on potential strategies to deliver Michigan's transportation system through 2045. Read More

Check out the WATS Calendar for upcoming meetings and webinars.