WATS Hosting Public Meetings to Gain Input About Projects

WATS is hosting a series of open house meetings to discuss what projects should receive federal transportation funds over the next four years.  Please plan to come to a meeting or take our short survey (soon to be released) to share your comments with the Policy Committee members. Learn more at http://www.miwats.org/tip.

Local Agencies Request $29 million in Federal Funds for Road Projects in Washtenaw County

The process to select projects for the 2017-2020 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) started with the call for projects in November, 2015.  Local agencies have submitted their candidate projects to WATS. Urban area project list and rural area project list.

Requested Funds, Anticipated Revenue and Deficit

• Urban Area Funds:  $12.5 million Deficit - $29 million (requested); $16.5 million (anticipated revenue over 4 years)

• Rural Area STP Funds: $700,000 Deficit - $2.5 million (requested STP); $1.8 million (anticipated STP funds over 4 years)

• Rural Area Fed/State D Funds:  $304,000 Deficit - $1.3 million (requested D Funds); $996,000 (anticipated D funds over 4 years)

The candidate projects that are recommended to be funded will be presented to the Technical Committee and then final action will be taken by the Policy Committee to include projects in the TIP.  The proposed project list includes all the projects that are seeking federal urban and rural dollars.  

Questions and comments can be sent to Suzann Flowers [flowerss@miwats.org, 734-994-3127, 200 N. Main St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104].  All comments and responses will be collected and presented to the Technical and Policy Committee members for their consideration in project selection.

Special Interest Seats Available on WATS Technical Committee

WATS encourages interested citizens who would like to have a voting seat on the Technical Committee to apply for the available special interest seats that represent Freight, Non-motorized, Environment, Senior Community, and the Disability Community.

• You can find the applications here.
• Appointments are for 2 years beginning February 1, 2016-December 31, 2017.
• The appointments will be made by the Policy Committee on January 20, 2015.
• Questions should be directed to Suzann Flowers at 734-994-3127 or flowerss@miwats.org.
• Applications are due to Suzann Flowers on December 31, 2015. 

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.