SEMCOG visits Craig Fahle Show to Discuss Rideshare Program

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Interested in saving up to $3,000 dollars a year?  Consider ridesharing!  Yesterday, The Craig Fahle Show featured SEMCOG's Iris Steinberg and the agency's MiRideshare program.  You can listen to the interview below.

The MiRideshare program, which is cooperatively offered by the AATA and SEMCOG, matches commuters with others travelling similar routes.  This wallet-friendly service benefits the environment, reduces congestion, and you might even make a friend or two.  If you are interested in the program, visit the MiRideshare website to sign up!

Minneapolis Bike Crash Study

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In 2011, the City of Minneapolis Completed its new Bicycle Master Plan.  One of the plans goals was to decrease the number of bicyclist-motorist crash by 10%.  To meet this goal, city staff examined nearly 3,000 bicyclist-motorist crash records that occurred between 2000-2010.  Specific crash attributes were extracted from the accident reports, analyzed, and mapped.

Analysis found that the crashes are complex events, and no one factor that contributes to the crashes.  However, three primary conclusions from the data emerged:

  • Most crashes are occurring at intersections along major arterials
  • Motorists are not seeing or yielding to bicyclists
  • Bicyclists are not riding in a predictable manner
Staff also found a clear correlation between the number off bicyclists and the crash rate.  As the number of bicyclists increased in Minneapolis, the crash rate has decreased.  This safety in numbers effect is documented in other US cites and in academic research.


For more information about the research, view the full report at the city's website.

Lights, Camera, Transportation!

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Join Transportation for Michigan (Trans4M) on Wednesday, February 6th to share your message about your transportation needs, and your vision for the future of Michigan's transportation system   Trans4M will be at Zingerman's in Ann Arbor, shooting video of citizens so they can share those messages with state leaders.  Take a look at the flyer below or head to the Trans4M website for more information.


New Airbags Designed to Save Cyclists

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Image Credit: Cushion The Blow EPA/Piroschka van de Wouw
The Dutch company TNO is developing a new exterior airbag designed to protect  bicyclists and pedestrians in the event of a crash.  When a collision occurs, the airbag, which is housed under the hood, inflates and cushions the windshield, protecting the biker from a hard head-to-glass impact.  Popular Science reports that initial tests on test dummies demonstrated a 45% reduction in serious injury occurrence.

Amtrak Posts Record Year in Michigan

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Nearly 800,000 passengers traveled on Amtrak trains in Michigan in 2012, setting a highest-ever ridership record for the state's three routes. Michigan's routes include the three-times-a-day Wolverine Service (Pontiac/Detroit-Chicago), once daily Blue Water Service (Port Huron-East Lansing-Chicago), and once daily Pere Marquette Service (Grand Rapids-Chicago).

Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials cited increased awareness of train service and a positive focus on the future of rail travel as the most important reasons why ridership numbers are increasing. In addition, Amtrak operated extra trains in Michigan to supplement regularly scheduled Wolverine service (between Chicago and Kalamazoo/Ann Arbor) over the extended Thanksgiving holiday, and added extra capacity and frequencies over Christmas and New Year's, enhancing the strong performance.

There were 792,769 riders overall, with 495,277 traveling the Wolverine, 187,991 passengers on the Blue Water, and 109,501 passengers on the Pere Marquette. This compares to 780,655 total riders in 2011. The Wolverine service had an especially strong finish to the year, posting large ridership gains over the last four months compared to 2011: up 19.7 percent in September, up 9.5 percent in October, up 8.6 percent in November, up 6 percent in December.

Revenue from the three routes also jumped to a best-ever high of $27.8 million in 2012, with Wolverine revenue at $18.4 million, Blue Water at $6.1 million, and Pere Marquette at $3.3 million.


Timelapse Video of Bridge Being Moved (On Purpose)

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In 2004, transportation officials discovered cracks forming on Portland, Oregon's 87 year old Sellwood bridge.  Closing the crossing entirely while building a new one would divert too much traffic to other bridges, so why not simply move the bridge?  Well that's exactly what happened last weekend as construction crews moved the 1,100 foot long bridge 33 feet on the east side and 66 feet on the west side.  Once the new bridge is completed, the old will be used as a crossing for pedestrians and bicyclists.  See the impressive time lapse video below.

Built for Speed-99% Invisible Podcast

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Several weeks ago the podcast 99% Invisible, hosted by Roman Mars, asked a simple question:
How long are those white stripes that divide highway traffic?

With that question as a starting point, Mars explores the bizarre ways that we experience landscapes while travelling 75 miles and hour.  This is one of the best explanations of auto oriented design that we've heard, and we are excited to share it with our readers!

If you want to hear more from 99% Invisible, visit their website, where they post all of their episodes (we recommend Episode 66- Kowloon Walled City)

Update to Non-Motorized Border to Border Trail Progress

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The section of the Non-Motorized Border to Border Trail that connects Hudson Mills Metropark to the Village of Dexter will begin construction this Winter.  Residents near the new path can expect to hear chainsaws and construction equipment during the daytime as crews begin work on the new path.  Following the clearing of trees and removal of roots, the contractor will be installing the necessary timber piling to support the new boardwalk portions of the pathway.   The contractor has indicated that they will be working on the portions of the pathway closest to the Village from early February through early April. 

Upon completion, the project will connect to the West Side Connector boardwalk that was recently completed last year and allow pedestrians and bicyclists to safely travel between Dexter Village and the Hudson Mills Metropark.

West Side Connector in Dexter Village

Help Plan Washtenaw County's Transportation System and Future Projects

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Help WATS plan the future of Washtenaw County's transportation system as we move forward with our 2040 Long Range Plan.  We've added an exciting tool as part of our public involvement process that allows you to comment on projects in the county, and even identify projects you don't see in the Long Range Plan.  Visit the My Community Remarks website and provide your comments by February 28th!



How to Leave a Comment

  1. Visit the My Community Remarks Website
  2. Select a project type or specific improvement
  3. Leave your comment on the improvement
You can also add your own project (link on top right of map)