The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, commonly referred to as The Ride, is starting a new technical study to determine the feasibility of the WALLY commuter rail line between Howell and Ann Arbor. Reporter Ryan Stanton | ryanstanton@mlive.com reports on this exciting project. Read the full article.
There is still time to share your thoughts on how WATS staff should interact with the public. The Public Participation Plan outlines the different ways in which WATS will engage with members of the public. We need you to share any ideas that you have!
WHAT HAVE WE HEARD FROM YOU?
There is still time to share your thoughts, please take 2 minutes and complete our survey.
Public comments will be received until October 10, and the survey will also close on October 10.
Please join WATS staff at the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority to discuss engagement methods that WATS staff should use in their planning process. WE WELCOME YOUR IDEAS. If you cannot make the meeting take the survey at http://www.miwats.org/pppsurvey.
At their September 4 meeting, the Huron I-94 Steering Committee reviewed feasible crossing alternatives for a non-motorized crossing on the Huron St. Bridge over I-94, feedback from the public on the alternatives, likely funding opportunities and input from MDOT, the bridge owner.
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WATS needs your input on techniques that we can use to better engage the public. Stop by one of our meetings or take our brief survey.
Meeting Dates
Help shape the future of the Huron Street bridge over I-94 connecting Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township. WATS is working with URS Corporation, local stakeholders and MDOT to create a variety of non-motorized crossing alternatives at Huron and I-94 for the public to review and comment on. Take this brief survey to share your thoughts.
Read MoreJoint MDOT on August 14, 2014, to discuss findings from its Environmental Assessment of its US-23 Active Traffic Management Project in Washtenaw and Livingston Counties.
Read MoreLast week, we featured a tool that allows armchair planners (or real ones) to design their perfect transit system. This week, we found another tool from Code for America, StreetMix, which allows users to design their perfect street. Anyone who has attended a complete streets meeting might be familiar with the exercise where citizens arrange variously widthed paper cutouts of streets (car lanes, bike lanes, etc) to build their ideal street. StreetMix is similar, but all online and with precise flexibility for street and lane widths.
Read MoreThe Highway Trust Fund is running dangerously low. The issue, can-kicked for years and avoided still, will require the US Department of Transportation will switch to a new cash management system. This new system is the equivalent of paying bills paycheck to paycheck (gas tax revenue the paycheck), rather than having a savings account (the highway trust fund) with enough cushion to effectively manage bills bulked within a single season. Instead of immediate reimbursement, states will be paid as funds become available. Below, a post from Secretary of Transportation, Anthony Foxx, which originally appeared on USDOT's blog, Fast Lane.
Read MoreCode for America, a non-profit group that gathers coders to create civic minded apps, is working on a DIY transit scenario builder for the web, Transitmix. For armchair transit planners convinced they could rethink the regions transit network, this tool allows you to do just that, complete with cost estimations and service frequency.
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