Repost of Carmine Palombo's Piece on Ann Arbor-Detroit Rail

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Last week, a state auditor general report criticized MDOT for spending $10 million on rail cars for service that has yet to begin. The implication is that these dollars could have been spent on other more important items. If you take a narrow view of the situation, you can see how they would come up with this conclusion. It is true. The cars are sitting at a rail yard in Owosso and are not in revenue service. However, sometimes you need to look at the big picture to see the plan and the vision.

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SEMCOG University: Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)

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$5 million available through TAP for FY-2016

SEMCOG has recently issued a call for projects for the Fiscal Year 2016 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). Through this program there is $5 million available for fiscal year (FY) 2016 for eligible projects, such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities, including shared-use paths and safe-routes for non-drivers; streetscape improvements; transportation-related environmental mitigation activities; historic preservation projects; and projects to encourage K-8 students to walk or bike to school. Please visit SEMCOG’s TAP website for additional information.

Applications for TAP are due to SEMCOG on April 27th. Eligible projects will be evaluated by SEMCOG’s Regional Clearinghouse Review Committee with award announcements made in late June or early July 2015.

SEMCOG and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will provide participants with presentations on:

  • eligibility and competitiveness criteria;
  • submitting a TAP application through MDOT’s MGS system;
  • project selection process;
  • successfully selected and implemented projects; and
  • best practices and guidance for applying and implementing projects.

Counties, county road commissions, cities, villages, townships, transit agencies, nonmotorized planners, engineers, and school districts should attend.

Here are the pertinent details on this SEMCOG University workshop:

What:SEMCOG University: $5 million available through the 
Transportation Alternatives Program – agenda
 

When:March 4, 2015, 9 a.m. - 12 noon
(Breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m.)
 

Where:SEMCOG Offices, 1001 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI
48226; parking in 1 State Street Parking Garage will be validated.
 

Registration:Required. Visit SEMCOG’s website to register for this event.
 

 

Contact: Kevin Vettraino, SEMCOG Plan Implementation.

 

Center for Independent Living Requests Community Input

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The CIL would like to know your thoughts about the strengths of services offered at the Ann Arbor CIL.

Chose a Date and Time that works for you:

  • Monday December 1 - 5:30-7:00 pm
  • Thursday December 4 - 10:00-11:30 am
  • Tuesday December 9 - 4:00-5:30 pm
  • Cannot attend a meeting, please share your thoughts on the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NT8HC8G

To RSVP and for accommodations contact:

andrea@aacil.org OR (734) 971-0277 x44

 The Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living, whose mission is to provide hope, offer support, and transform lives with dedication to the success of children, youth, adults, and seniors with disabilities at home, at school, at work and in the community invites you to join us in a conversation about your impressions of the Ann Arbor CIL. We invite all stakeholders, community organizations, members, elected officials and consumers to meet us at the starting line and help shape the future direction for the Ann Arbor CIL