Detroit News: LaHood to Grant $25 Million to M-1 Rail at Auto Show

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The Detroit News is reporting that US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will be visiting the Detroit Auto Show on January 18th to announce $25 million in federal funding for Midtown Detroit's M-1 Rail.  Readers may remember a similar announcement in February 2010.  However, that funding was reallocated to a bus rapid transit system.  Returning the funding to light rail hinged on the progress of a Regional Transit Authority (RTA), which the Michigan legislature created in December's lame duck session.

According the the project website, the M-1 rail line will:
  • Have 11 stops from the Riverfront to the New Center area
  • Stations will be wheel-chair accessible and fully lit,  have a closed-circuit security system, emergency phone and covered ticket vending machine
  • Each light rail car stops every seven to eight minutes during peak hours and every 12 to 13 minutes during off-peak hours
  • Vehicles seat 60 passengers with the capacity to carry 149
  • The light rail will be equipped with a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system


Snyder to Address Transportation Funding in State of the State

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According to the Detroit News, Governor Rick Syder's third State of the State address on January 16th will focus on policies related to Michigan's roads and transportation funding.  In 2011, Gov. Snyder addressed the issue in a speech at Lawerence Technological University, but legislation advancing his ideas stalled in the state legislature.  Most public radio and local television stations will carry his January 16th speech live.  See the Detroit News for more information.

Distracted Driver Goes to Jail - New MDOT Safety Video

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"Step in the cell!" is the first thing that you hear in a new safety video posted on the Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT) YouTube channel. The new educational video, titled "Distracted driver crashes and goes to jail," shows some of the consequences motorists can face if they engage in dangerous distracted driving behavior.

The safety video was produced by the MDOT Office of Communications in partnership with the Michigan State Police (MSP), the Macomb County Sheriff's Office, and the Traffic Improvement Association of Michigan (TIA).

MDOT hopes to raise awareness and change driving habits to improve roadway safety. According to www.distraction.gov, the official U.S. government Web site for distracted driving, 3,092 people were killed in 2010 in crashes involving a distracted driver. That same year, an estimated 416,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver.

Visualizing Bike Trips on a Portland Bridge

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This year, Portland Oregon installed a bike counter on a major bridge over the Willamette River through downtown.  Since August 8, 2012, the counter has registered more than 644,000 trips at this single location.  Even better, the city has visualized this data for the rest of us online.  If you see the screenshot below, you will note the heavy traffic Monday-Friday, which would indicate that thousands of Portland residents are choosing their bikes for their work commute.  Visit the full website for more information and other nifty charts.


Internship Opportunity at WATS

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The Washtenaw Area Transportation Study (WATS) is looking for a Transportation Planning Intern to begin work in January 2013 through September 30, 2013.  Internship duties include:
  • Crash Data Collection Assistance (Primary Task)
    • Visiting crash sites with a WATS Planner, taking detailed measurements, pictures, and videos to describe events at crash sites throughout Washtenaw County
    • Entering and tracking measurements in a project database
    • Supporting in office duties of the project, including image editing, creating diagrams, and interpreting project data
    • Constant attention to safety while in the field, monitoring the safety of both yourself and your data collection partner
  • General Office Duties
    • Assist WATS staff with support materials for Transportation Plans and documents.  This might include research, transportation project analysis, analyzing previous projects and funding levels, or demographic analysis.

The ideal candidate would study Urban Planning or a related field at the Undergraduate or Master’s Degree level, and be available two full days per week.  The intern must be willing to work outdoors, and dress appropriately for all weather (we are outside for up to 6 hours/day in winter).  GIS experience helpful, but not necessary.  Please submit a resume and cover letter to ferrallm@miwats.org by January 3, 2013.  Please describe your availability when applying.  This is a paid position.


Transit Maps That Aren't Transit Maps

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Earlier this week, one of our favorite blogs, The Atlantic Cities, posted an excellent article that shows non-transit things mapped on London-style transit maps.  Ever wonder what a transit themed map of great movies would look like?  Well you could see it anyways over at this post at The Atlantic.  Maps also display such cool things as national parks, web trends, and the Mississippi River.  Click through to view the article.

Transit and SEMCOG's 2040 Long Range Plan

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In June 2013, SEMCOG's General Assembly will adopt a long-range transportation vision defining how the region's transportation system can support continued economic recovery, environmental health, community revitalization, and quality of life. The short-term funding priorities identified in that plan will be spelled out in SEMCOG's FY 2014-2017 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Together, these documents will guide planning actions and funding decisions for the region.

Various components of the vision and TIP will be posted on SEMCOG's website as they are developed.  Also, on the same webpage, there is a short survey about transit in the region.  Below we've posted a short video from SEMCOG regarding public transit's role in their Long-Range Plan.