WATS Technical Committee Looks to Expand

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WATS recently updated its bylaws to add five special interest positions to the Technical Committee.

WATS is seeking applications to fill each of the new positions:

Non-motorized
Environmental
Senior Community
Disabled Community
Freight

The responsibilities of the Technical Advisory Subcommittee are to:

Advise the Agency staff and recommend technical methods, procedures, and standards necessary for the transportation work of the Committee.

Help coordinate the work of agencies and governmental units participating in the work of the Committee.

Recommend alternative plans and proposals to the Committee.

Respond to the Committee’s requests for technical information and assistance.

Make recommendation to the Policy Committee for multi-year federal and state funding programs.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming more involved in the transportation planning process and are interested in representing one of the special interests, please take a look at the application.

2035 Long Range Transportation Plan Approved

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On September 16th, the WATS Policy Committee approved the 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan for Washtenaw County. With the Plan now approved, staff is now working to make the document more user friendly by adding additional graphics, quotes and other aesthetic items. Once complete, final copies will be bound and delivered to the locations that currently have the draft version of the plan including local government offices, libraries and the WATS office.

The plan can still be found on the WATS website here.

The WATS plan will be fully incorporated by reference into the SEMCOG Plan and then go on for final approval by MDOT and the Federal Highway Administration.

SEMCOG to host Long Range Plan Meeting in Washtenaw County

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SEMCOG will be holding a public meeting on the Regional Transportation Plan on Thursday September 10th. I've included information from their press release below. If you have any questions about the meeting you can also call WATS at 734-994-3127.


Presentation of Direction2035

Public is Invited

SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, is inviting citizens to learn about the region’s next long-range transportation plan, Direction2035, by attending presentation on Thursday, September 10, 2009 from 2 to 4 pm. The meeting will be held at Washtenaw Community College’s Liberal Arts Building, Room 375, located at 4800 E Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor.

Direction2035 represents the region’s blueprint for transportation through 2035 and includes policies, initiatives, and projects designed to maximize regional goals.
You have the right and responsibility to review Direction2035 and offer comments. All comments will be reviewed and considered before Direction2035 is adopted. Public comment ends on October 22, 2009.

Direction2035 can be found online at www.semcog.org/Long-RangeTransportationPlan.aspx. You may also contact SEMCOG at (313) 324-3362 to request a printed copy.

You can offer comments by: E-mailing Direction2035@semcog.org Phoning 313-324-3362 Faxing 313-961-4869 Mailing SEMCOG, Attn: Information Center, 535 Griswold, Suite 300, Detroit, MI 48226 Commenting in person:
o September 10, 2009; 2 pm; Public Presentation, Washtenaw Community College, Liberal Arts Building, Room 375, 4800 E Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor, MI
o September 23, 2009; 9:30 am; Transportation Advisory Council, SEMCOG offices, 535 Griswold, Suite 300, Detroit, MI
o September 25, 2009; 1:00 pm; SEMCOG Executive Committee, SEMCOG offices, 535 Griswold, Suite 300, Detroit, MI
o October 22, 2009; 4:30 pm; SEMCOG General Assembly, Concord Inn, 44315 Gratiot, Clinton Township, MI

SEMCOG is a regional planning partnership of governmental units serving 4.9 million people in the seven-county region of Southeast Michigan striving to enhance the region's quality of life.

2035 Long Range Plan Draft Available

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Staff has completed the Final DRAFT 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan. You can view the plan by clicking here. You can view the appendices here.

WATS will continue to accept comments until September 20th, 2009. Any comments, including those received on the blog, will be considered by staff and discussed with transportation agencies. The comments will also be included in a plan appendix.

Be sure to forward the plan to your friends, family and co-workers. More public participation means a better plan and a better transportation system.

It's not too late to participate in Long Range Plan development

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As the WATS staff continue to make the 2035 Long Range Plan presentation to interested residents all over the county, you can participate from the comfort of your home.

We are still looking for deficiencies that aren't specified in the draft listings. If your deficiency is not listed, please contact us or leave a comment to this post. Also, if there is a project or improvement you would like to see added to the Plan, leave us a comment on the blog and it will be sent to the transportation agency with jurisdiction over the improvement. The improvement will also be added to the list of unfunded improvements which is growing every day. Having your transportation needs addressed in the unfunded list is an important step to help ensure transportation decision makers are aware of your concerns.

LRP Meetings Continue

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Over the last two weeks, WATS staff has been toting around map boards and informational brochures across the county, answering questions and taking comments on the Draft 2035 LRP. So far WATS has presented the information to more than 40 people. We've included below a few pictures from some of our meetings.

There is still time to make it out to one of our meetings if you haven't had the chance. Click here for a complete list of meetings.

We are currently working on uploading a video of the presentation given at the beginning of each meeting. Stay tuned to the blog for access to the video presentation when it becomes available.

Comments continue to come in to the WATS office. Feel free to post your thoughts as a comment on the WATS blog. Once the Plan is completed, staff plans to expand the focus of the blog to all transportation issues and news. Help the discussion get started now by posting a comment.

LRP Meetings Begin Today

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The first in a series of 17 meetings across Washtenaw County to discuss the Long Range Transportation Plan for Washtenaw County is today at Palmer Commons, 100 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor on the University of Michigan Campus from 2-4pm.

The Long Range Plan Meetings will include a presentation on the anticipated funding levels as well as proposed improvements. Maps of the six deficiencies discussed on the blog as well as a map of both funded and unfunded improvements will be available for public review.

Staff will be on hand to answer questions and record comments. Comment forms on the Draft Plan will also be available.

A calendar with all of the Long Range Plan meetings is available to the right as well as on the WATS website here

Thank you for your interest in the transportation planning process. As always, feel free to leave a comment on the blog which will be included with comments recieved at the public meetings and distributed to local transportation agencies.

Town Hall Meeting - Your Roads, Your Dollars

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State Representative Pam Byrnes invites you to a Public Town Hall Meeting

Your Roads, Your Dollars

Special Invited Guests: Congressman John Dingell & Congressman Mark Schauer
Monday, May 11 • 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Washtenaw Community College
Morris Lawrence Building
For more information please contact State Representative
Pam Byrnes
(800) 645-1581 • byrnes.housedems.com

Long Range Plan Meetings Available for your Community Group

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The Washtenaw Area Transportation Study is working to prepare the Draft 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan for Washtenaw County.

Public Participation is of critical importance to the transportation planning process. WATS is currently scheduling public meetings to discuss the Draft 2035 Long Range Transportation plan at local community centers and libraries. Meetings will be held in June.

WATS is willing to hold a public meeting for your community, agency, or group. If you have a preferred location, please provide WATS with the details and a contact to secure the space. Participants will have an opportunity to review six modal deficiencies identified and comment on proposed improvements to address those deficiencies. WATS will synthesize and present the comments received at the meetings to the agencies responsible for implementation and incorporation in to the 2035 Plan if feasible.

There is no charge for a meeting and WATS will attempt to meet your scheduling and location needs.

WATS will be posting information on LRP meetings when it becomes available on the blog and website.