Seat Belt Use and Traffic Fatality Statistics

Wayne State University has provided updated seat-belt use rates for 2012.   Based on the September statewide use survey, seat-belt use is down slightly from 94.5 percent in 2011 to 93.6 percent in 2012.

Variables that might be influencing the decline include::  

• Traffic enforcement statewide is down for all types of violations (dropping at a rate of 10 percent per year);
• Number of on-road officers, deputies, and troopers is down dramatically and the amount of discretionary patrol time is down as well;
• Many agencies have gone to modified shifts to address coverage issues (i.e. 12 hour shifts);
• There is a greater focus on crime at the expense of traffic enforcement;
• Some agencies are experiencing well-publicized budget and labor issues due to budget cuts, salary reductions, increases to employee contributions to cover health care and retirement, etc.

Also, we have new year-to-date summaries of Great Lakes Region traffic fatalities.  While Michigan's traffic fatalities increased from 2011 to 2012, the increase was relatively smaller than seen in Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Single-Lane Closure on I-94 at Sargent Road in Jackson to start on Oct. 21

Roadway:
I-94 at Sargent Road (Jackson County)
                                                                                                                                              
Dates Effective:
Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012-Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012

Project:
As part of improvements this year to the I-94/Sargent Road interchange (Exit 145), the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will remove the I-94 bridge at the I-94 Business Loop (BL), just west of Sargent Road (Exit 144).

Traffic Restrictions:
For the bridge removal, I-94 will be reduced to one lane in each direction around-the-clock for two weeks. Traffic will be maintained using median crossovers.

Motorists are advised to plan extra time when traveling through the corridor during this two-week period. An alternate route is strongly advised, especially at key times of the day such as morning and afternoon rush hour. Back-ups are expected.

                    

University of Michigan Distinguished Alumnus Lecture- Peter Lagerwey

The University of Michigan is hosting a Distinguished Alumnus Lecture with Peter Lagerwey on Friday October 12, 2012.  Mr. Lagerwey has spent his career working to expand non-motorized transportation options in cities and regions across the country.  Visit the event's Facebook page or website for more information.   

From the website:
In communities across the country, a movement is growing to “complete” the streets. States, cities, and towns are asking their planners and engineers to build roads that enable safe access for all users, regardless of age, ability, or mode of travel. In the process, they are creating better communities for people to live, play, work, and shop.

Peter Lagerwey, who earned his master of urban planning degree from UM’s Taubman College in 1981, is a nationally-known expert in alternative transportation issues. For the last three decades—many years before these issues were on the table—he has worked on non-motorized transportation projects. He was responsible for developing and implementing the widely acclaimed Seattle Bicycle Master Plan, giving the city its reputation as “the most bike-friendly city of its size” as well as one of America’s most livable cities.

TheRide Proposes Increased Route 5 Service Between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti

The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (TheRide) is seeking comments through November 5, 2012 about proposed service improvements that would go into effect in late January, 2013 on the Route 5 – Packard bus service between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.

 

Ridership on Route 5 is the third largest of TheRide’s routes at 645,000 trips annually.

 

TheRide is proposing to increase the number of buses on the route from five to seven during morning and afternoon peak hours.

 

According to Chris White, TheRide’s manager of service development, the increased service will result in:

• Less crowded buses
• More consistent on-time performance
• Revised times on most trips
• More frequent service in  some areas
• More direct trips with shorter travel time in some areas

Midday, evening, and weekend service will be unchanged.

 

Persons or organizations having questions or wishing to comment on the proposed changes may do so no later than Monday, November 5 by one of the following methods:

• By computer: Comment or ask questions by email to aatainfo@theride.org (put “Service Changes” in subject line).
• By phone: Call the service change hotline at 734.794.1880.
• By fax: To 734.973.6338 (put “Service Changes” in subject line).
• By mail: AATA Service Changes, 2700 S. Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
• At a public information drop-in session:
• Michigan Union, 530 South State Street, first floor, in rear area of Amer’s coffee shop; Tuesday, October 23, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
• Bryant Community Center, 3 W. Eden Ct., Ann Arbor; Wednesday, October 24, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Details on the proposed changes will be posted on TheRide’s website at www.TheRide.org.

Data Shows Where Workers Relying More on Public Transportation

A recent article in Governing Magazine, which covers municipal governance and policy, looks at some of the increases seen in transit ridership around the United States.  The article highlights some of the transit ridership gains in Ann Arbor, as more and more residents rely on transit for their work commute.  Check out the original article at Governing, or take a look at an interactive map that compares ridership nationwide.

Ann Arbor/Ypsi Graded High in New Livability Report

Reconnecting America, a national nonprofit that advises civic and community leaders on how to overcome development challenges, recently released a report, called Are We There Yet, which assesses whether communities have made the critical investments needed to strengthen the nation's economy.  The report measures then grades communities based on four quality of life indicators: Living, Working, Moving, and Thriving. 

• The Living grades show how regions are doing on creating housing choices that are equitable and accessible to people with a variety of needs.
• The Working grades show how regions are doing on creating jobs in the places where people of all incomes can access them and improve their opportuni­ties.
• The Moving grades show how regions are doing on creating safe and accessible transportation choices in our communities.
• The Thriving grades show how regions are doing on creating opportunities for safe, fun, and healthy lifestyles through access to parks, healthy food, etc.

The Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Region scored well on this report, earning A's in the Working and Thriving categories, and B's in Living and Moving.  View the full report or just the grades on Reconnecting America's website.

Temporary S. University Detour

Notice of Temporary Traffic Control Plan
S. University Street from S. Forest Avenue to Washtenaw Avenue
Saturday October 6th, 2012
8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Location and Limits of Affected Area:S. University Street from S. Forest Avenue to Washtenaw Avenue

Description of Work:The contractor for the Green Urban Living development at 601 S. Forest will install a crane at S. University to lift materials and equipments to the building’s rooftop. During this work S. University from S. Forest Ave to Washtenaw Ave will be closed to through traffic.

Temporary Construction Traffic Control Plan:The westbound traffic on S. University at Washtenaw Ave will be directed northwest on Washtenaw Avenue and southwest on S. Forest to S. University. The eastbound traffic on S. University at S. Forest Ave will be directed northeast to Washtenaw Ave and southeast on Washtenaw Ave to S. University.

Pedestrian traffic will be maintained on the north side of S. University during this work. We thank you in advance for your patience.

State Transportation Departments Announce Notice of Intent to Award Bi-Level Railcar Contract

No word on where these new two level railcars will be used, but we'd love to see them pass through Washtenaw County!

 

A four state partnership this week announced it will turn to Sumitomo Corporation of America to design and build 130 bi-level passenger railcars.

The California Department of Transportation made the announcement on behalf of its partners: Illinois Department of Transportation, Michigan Department of Transportation, and Missouri Department of Transportation.

Best bidder Sumitomo submitted a bid of less than $352.3 million to build the railcars, which will operate along intercity rail corridors in California and throughout the Midwest.

"By pooling our resources, all four states involved in this partnership can purchase the equipment at lower costs because it will be acquired in high volume under one contract," said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty in a statement. "These new railcars will help us meet the growing ridership demand on California trains, which is up 53 percent since 2002."

The bids still require reviews for Buy America compliance, as well as Federal Railroad Administration reviews. A final agreement could be completed in mid-November.

The railcars will be purchased through $808 million in new equipment rail grants from FRA. About $551 million of that was specifically set aside to purchase the bi-level railcars. The rest will fund future locomotive procurements and support project management and oversight. The first round of the new bi-level railcars are expected in 2015, with all delivered by early 2018. California is tapped to receive 42 of the 130 railcars, while the Midwest Coalition (a partnership of the three remaining states) will collectively receive 88.

The specifications for the car being procured were developed by the Next Generation Equipment Pool Committee, which is a state, FRA, Amtrak, and industry collaboration authorized by Congress to develop standardized specifications that would reduce costs, shorten procurement schedules, and create a level playing field for U.S. rail equipment manufacturers.

"We are proud to partner with Caltrans and the Midwest Coalition to cost-effectively procure the state-of-the-art passenger railcar equipment needed to address the increasing demand for efficient and convenient passenger rail service throughout the state," said IDOT Secretary Ann Schneider. "With Amtrak ridership at record levels in Illinois and the official purchasing process of the railcars under way, this massive project will continue to boost America's manufacturing and assembling industry and provide improved travel options for the entire Midwest."

To Encourage Biking, Cities Lose the Helmets (New York Times)

The New York Times recently published an excellent article contrasting the safety benefits of bicycle helmet use and the indirect barrier that helmets pose to widespread biking.  We've included a paragraph from the article below.  See the original article at the New York Times.


On the other hand, many researchers say, if you force or pressure people to wear helmets, you discourage them from riding bicycles. That means more obesity, heart disease and diabetes. And — Catch-22 — a result is fewer ordinary cyclists on the road, which makes it harder to develop a safe bicycling network. The safest biking cities are places like Amsterdam and Copenhagen, where middle-aged commuters are mainstay riders and the fraction of adults in helmets is minuscule.

Taking the Bus has Never Been Cooler

Danish transit provider Midttrafik published what may be the greatest transit commercial ever.  Best if enjoyed without subtitles.