Does Oregon have the solution for funding transportation?
/See what solution Oregon is testing.
No deal on road funding in Michigan
/Members of the legislature are still not in agreement on how to fund the state transportation system. Read the SEMCOG Blog to see what questions need to be solved before a deal can be discussed.
Still no plans on state road funding
/State transportation funding debate: More questions than answers
The Michigan House of Representatives returned to Lansing last week looking to resolve the transportation funding issue. While hopes were high early in the week, the House adjourned until after Labor Day with no agreement on a plan. The list of issues in play during the negotiations is extensive. House Republicans are not likely to generate more than 40 of the 55 votes necessary to approve any plan that increases state revenue. This is the first time in the current legislative session that House Democrats are in a position where their votes are necessary for a plan to be approved. Read the entire SEMCOG blog here.
City of Dexter-Mill Creek Project Profiled in SEMCOG Blog
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Public art along the river trail in the City of Dexter
Read MoreCity of Dexter profiled in SEMCOG Blog
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The City of Dexter was profiled in the SEMCOG blog regarding the completed Michigan DNR Trust Fund project.
The Trust Fund, Washtenaw County, and others teamed up to invest more $1 million in developing beautiful Mill Creek Park. Adding benches, boat launches and fishing docks, expanding the trail network, and enhancing natural features of Mill Creek have enhanced quality of life in Dexter.
WATS Policy Meeting Full of Information
/Michael Ford-RTF and Amy Malmer-SEMCOG provided great information about projects taking place throughout the region. Need more details contact Suzann Flowers at flowerss@miwats.org.
Road Funding, To Be Continued
/"The 6-cent sales tax you pay on gas does not go to fix roads or improve public transit – it goes to the state’s general fund primarily for schools and local government revenue sharing." Carmine Palombo, SEMCOG. Read the blog here
Road Funding, To Be Continued...
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"The last time the state gas tax was increased was 1997 – 18 years ago! Then, it was increased by 4 cents from 15 cents to 19 cents a gallon. As a point of reference, Ohio’s gas tax was at 22 cents in 1997; they have raised it by 6 cents a gallon over the same period and it’s now at 28 cents – no wonder their roads are in better shape than ours!" Carmine Palombo SEMCOG Blog
Read the entire Blog post at SEMCOG
WATS Technical Committee Meeting Today @ 9:30a.m.
/WATS regularly scheduled Technical Committee meeting will be at 200 N. Main St in the lower level conference room.
House passes 3 month transportation funding extension
/Joan Lowy from the Associated Press reports on the effort by House members to shore up the Highway Trust Fund before the fund is depleted this week.
"The House voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to shore up federal highway aid and veterans' health care before heading out of town for its August recess, leaving unresolved an array of sticky issues that are sure to complicate an autumn agenda already groaning under the weight of indecision.
In one of their last decisions before adjourning for a month, the House backed a bill that would extend spending authority for transportation programs through Oct. 29, and replenish the federal Highway Trust Fund with $8 billion. That's enough money to keep highway and transit aid flowing to states through mid-December.
The Senate plans to take up the House bill before a midnight Friday deadline, when authority for the Transportation Department to process aid payments to states will expire".
Read the full article here
