SCOPE SEMA quarterly publication of SEMCOG, the Southeast Council of Governments Spring 2006 One day in Southeast Michigan

Commentary The impact of SEMCOG’s work RTP Tracking progress General Assembly Highlights from the meeting Road construction Take the commuter challenge

SEMscope

2005-2006 Officers John F. Jones Chairperson Southeast Michigan Council of Governments Supervisor, 535 Griswold Street, Suite 300 Ira Township , Michigan 48226-3602 313-961-4266 • Fax 313-961-4869 Mary Blackmon www.semcog.org Vice Chairperson Vice President, Wayne County Regional John F. Jones, Chairperson Education Service Agency Paul E. Tait, Executive Director Robert J. Cannon Publication Staff Vice Chairperson Susan L. Stetler, Communications Manager Supervisor, Glenda Marks, Graphics Coordinator Clinton Township Nick Friedrich, Graphic Designer Robert Hison Please direct any questions about this publication Vice Chairperson to Sue Stetler, 313-961-4266 or [email protected] Mayor, SEMscope is a quarterly publication of SEMCOG City of St. Clair Shores ISSN#03061-1310 Chuck Moss Vice Chairperson Cover photo: Much of this issue is devoted to the impact that SEMCOG has Commissioner, in the region. SEMCOG work affects the daily lives of everyone in Southeast Oakland County Michigan, which we try to explain in the photostory, “One day in Southeast Michigan.” This photo, taken from the bridge on Ferry Street looking onto William T. Roberts southbound I-75, is meant to depict the beginning of a typical day. It was Vice Chairperson taken in March 2006. Mayor, City of Walled Lake

Preparation of this document was financed in part through Joan Flynn grants from and in cooperation with the Michigan Department Immediate Past Chair of Transportation with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Vice Chairperson, Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Macomb County Administration, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Board of Commissioners

Paul E. Tait Executive Director

Printed on recycled paper. SEMscope – Spring ‘06 Contents

Commentary The work of SEMCOG 2 impacts us all Paul E. Tait, Executive Director, SEMCOG

SEMCOG Work One day in Southeast Michigan 3

RTP Tracking transportation 6 progress in Southeast Michigan Page 3

Transportation New approach to 10 transportation planning considers community values

Meeting Highlights of SEMCOG’s 11 Page 11 Spring General Assembly

Information Ours to Protect campaign . . . 12 Before you fertilize, test your soil Commuter Challenge 2006 is underway

SEMscope – Spring ‘06 1 Commentary A commentary from Paul E. Tait Executive Director, SEMCOG

The work of SEMCOG impacts us all

A couple months ago, I was blessed with the birth of twin grandsons who, along with my granddaughter, bring me a wonderfully enhanced appreciation for every day joys and an even more intense personal interest in what the future will hold. This led me to reflect on my…our…work at SEMCOG. A whole lot of us — local elected officials, government and non-profit service providers, business people, activists, and a host of others — work hard at the business of regional- ism to ensure a strong future for our Southeast Michigan region. It is all too easy to get wrapped up in what seem to be critical regional issues of the moment — transportation plans, taxes, jobs, who gets what roads, what public transit do we want or don’t want to pay for, redevelopment, sprawl, clean air mandates, water quality standards, control over resources, my cause vs. your cause — the list goes on. It is very easy to forget the bigger picture. All of us in this regional business seek the absolute best quality of life for everyone, our children, and our grandchildren, now and in the future. This issue of SEMscope begins to close that “big picture” gap. What we do regionally at SEMCOG and beyond is not just some political or academic exercise. It affects each of us in our daily lives. What impressed me the most when we sat down to think about the impact of our regional actions on the daily lives of us, our children, and grandchildren is that, like it or not, we are bonded together across the region in how and where we live, work, and play. Beyond the “feel-good” of an All Star Game or a Super Bowl, we are routinely, in our everyday lives, pulled together as a region. Our eight trips a day carry us across governmental boundaries. The air we breathe in our communities is affected by our neighbors’ business and personal activities. The water we drink and use for recreation is increasingly affected by what we do across our region, not just at the shores of our rivers, lakes, and streams. Like it or not, our daily lives are intertwined as residents of the Detroit, Southeast Michigan region. While we clearly function together as a region, we all too often forget that we have to do a better job making decisions cooperatively as a region. This issue of SEMscope demonstrates the positive impact we have made when we work together. In the future, we must do an even better job of balancing very-localized needs with those of the entire 4.9 million people who live in Southeast Michigan. The quality of life for my grandchildren, all of our children and grandchildren, depends on how well we can work together, make common decisions together, as a region…as a Detroit, Southeast Michigan Region.

2 SEMscope – Spring ‘06 SEMCOG Work

One day in Southeast Michigan SEMCOG’s work makes a difference in our daily lives now and in the future. The following pages take us through one day in Southeast Michigan, a typical day greatly affected by the work and decisions made at SEMCOG. SEMCOG data provide a context for the region. Of the 4.9 million of us in Southeast Michigan:

Each day, we add an average of Each day, 25 people move out 25% of us are college graduates. 39 persons and 35 households. of the region.

Most of us (39%) work in service- There are 1.2 million children More than 500,000 (12% of related jobs such as dentistry. under age 18 (26% of the total Southeast Michigan’s population) Manufacturing jobs continue to population). are age 65 and older. decline (17% in 2000, down from 35% in 1965).

Our forecast helps us plan for More of us (43%) will have While we’ll see losses in the region of the future. In 30 service-related jobs such as manufacturing production jobs, years, the elderly population will accounting, while it’s important to note that a nearly double to 1.1 million or manufacturing jobs will core part of our economy will 21% of the total population. continue to decline to 14%. be based on the technology and “brain” side of the auto and other manufacturing industries.

SEMscope – Spring ‘06 3 SEMCOG Work

A typical day in Southeast Michigan

Cleaner air Cleaner water Smoother trips

Each day, the average person Each day, each of us uses 77 Each day, the average licensed takes 21,600 breaths. The gallons of water. It is cleaner driver in Southeast Michigan air we breathe is cleaner in as a result of the work drives 42 miles. A typical Southeast Michigan as a result SEMCOG does. Through household makes eight trips a of SEMCOG planning technical assistance and grant day to work, school, shop, and efforts. This includes the Ozone writing, storm water is cleaner. play. Those trips are smoother Action program; 91% of us are Through our work with officials because over 85% of the nearly aware of individual actions we from St. Clair and Macomb $1 billion that we annually can take to clean up our air, Counties, the St. Clair River program is invested in rebuild- avoiding mandates such as auto and Lake St. Clair are cleaner. ing, repairing, and maintaining emissions testing. Our air will Through the Ours to Protect our roads and bridges. be even cleaner in the future water quality public education through a SEMCOG-authored campaign, individual and fuels bill that helps us meet household actions help prevent stricter federal standards. water pollution,

Keeping the economy moving Getting kids to school After-school fun

Each day, 409,000 trucks Each weekday, nearly one After school, many children travel in Southeast Michigan, million children go to school in have fun at a local recreation bringing goods to meet our daily Southeast Michigan. That trip center. Through the use of needs and fueling our economy. is safer because of SEMCOG's Community Development Block By investing in our roads, the crash analysis and our continued Grants, which SEMCOG has 4,900 miles of state and county promotion of pedestrian and helped to preserve in the federal truck routes flow smoothly to bike safety. budget, and by educating local meet just-in-time delivery needs. governments on the advantages of partnerships, children have someplace to go for safe fun.

4 SEMscope – Spring ‘06 SEMCOG Work

Safer roads Sharing a ride to work Congestion relief

Each day, in a busy region like Each workday, nearly 1.9 1,000 miles of road in Southeast ours, there are, unfortunately, million commuters drive to work Michigan are currently con- 452 traffic crashes, resulting in alone, while 213,000 take the gested. Our average commute one death and 100 injuries. bus to work, and 200,713 share to work is 13 minutes longer The good news is that in recent a ride via carpool or vanpool. every day. In a year, that adds years all of these numbers have SEMCOG’s RideShare program up to 57 hours of delay for each declined, due in large part to continues to stress the benefits of us. While we can't build SEMCOG targeting the most — environmental and personal our way out of congestion, serious intersections and — of alternatives to the drive- SEMCOG is making strategic identifying the highest-benefit alone commute. This year, we investments to operate the system safety improvements. Further will invest $111 million in our more efficiently. The Freeway crash reductions come from bus system. Courtesy Patrol quickly takes SEMCOG-assisted public care of incidents on the freeways awareness campaigns on red-light that cause traffic to back up. running, deer crashes, and In addition, SEMCOG has impaired driving. promoted improved traffic signal timing and alerting drivers through electronic signs where trouble is upcoming. We will Ensuring core also see strategic road widenings Downtown reenergized community services to ease our travel on I-75, I-94, and county and local roads.

After a hard day at work, you Then, when we're all back in may like to grab a bite to eat our homes, when we've tucked and unwind with your family the kids in bed, when we sit and friends in one of the region's down to enjoy the game on TV, vibrant downtown districts. we can relax knowing that our Through advocacy of SEMCOG core government services are and others, downtowns have there should we need them. been preserved and reenergized. SEMCOG has played a role in SEMCOG Universities have heightening awareness of the helped train redevelopment local government finance crisis to professionals. ensure those services continue.

SEMscope – Spring ‘06 5 RTP Tracking transportation progress in Southeast Michigan REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN 2030FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN By Stephen Brudzinski, Tiffany Draper, and Jennifer Evans

RANSPORTATION IS THE BACKBONE OF trends in transportation performance. Finally, our region. We all rely on the transpor- we’ll summarize how the new federal transpor- tation system in some form or another … tation law will impact regional transportation Tto get to work, school, or the doctor’s office; to planning here at home. get to the store and for the products we buy to get there; to get to the local rec center for a workout, TIP survey results or to Ford Field for a once-in-a-lifetime football While the 2030 RTP outlines our transpor- game. SEMCOG is responsible for coordinat- tation vision, the Transportation Improvement ing our region’s vision for a transportation Program (TIP) is the tool for making it happen. system that does all that and more. This vision The TIP is a list of the highest priority projects is outlined in the 2030 Regional Transportation to be implemented over the next several years. Plan for Southeast Michigan (RTP), which was (The current TIP covers FY 2006-2008.) Each adopted by SEMCOG members in November year, SEMCOG conducts a survey of the TIP 2004. It makes sense to periodically take a look to track projects, gather cost information, and at where we stand in implementing that vision provide data for reporting to SEMCOG over- and highlight major activities, which we will sight committees and the public. Survey results also assist in determining long-term transpor- Implemented Projects, 2005 Survey tation needs in our region. In other words, we figure out what’s been done to improve the Nonmotorized region’s transportation system and how much it 1.2% cost. This year’s survey, which covered projects Safety Congestion Relief programmed for 2005, as well as projects (including signals) (operations) 4.0% 0.9% ongoing from earlier years, was completed Study online by cities, villages, road commissions, 4.4% transit agencies, and the Michigan Department Capacity of Transportation (MDOT). 4.8% According to the survey, 167 projects totaling Transit Operations 4.8% $533.5 million were implemented (started) dur- ing the 2005 survey period. Accomplishments Enhancement included repaving, rehabilitating, or reconstruct- 5.0% Preservation 46.1% ing 80 miles of existing pavement, repairing or replacing 113 bridges, adding seven miles of new Transit Capital 8.5% lanes to existing roads to reduce congestion, and Bridge adding 32 miles of nonmotorized facilities in the 20.3% region. Signal interconnects, signal retimings, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), and other operational improvements were initiated along 113 miles of roads. ITS is an important attempt to do here, summarizing 1) transpor- component of the region’s long-term plan to pre- tation investments made in FY 2005, 2) the serve and maximize the utility of our existing progress of major transportation improvement infrastructure, because it improves and increases studies, 3) strides made and obstacles encoun- the flow of vehicles on the region’s road system tered in improving public transit, and 4) recent without adding lanes. Transit accomplishments

6 SEMscope – Spring ‘06 RTP

included the acquisition or lease of 121 large • Federal approval was received for two major buses and 71 small buses to provide an alterna- studies recommending lane additions along tive to automobile travel. Attention was also paid I-75 from 8 Mile to M-59 and I-94 from I-96 Accomplishments to the aesthetics of the highway system with a to Conner. These projects can now proceed reported in the number of enhancement projects, such as the with design and construction when sufficient TIP project surveys Lower Woodward streetscape in Detroit, median funding becomes available. enhancement on Woodward at 9 Mile Road in • Possible locations for a new customs/immigra- Miles of road resur- Oakland County, construction of a noise wall tion/toll collection plaza at the Blue Water faced, reconstructed, along I-94 in southern Macomb County, land- Bridge in Port Huron were analyzed in detail or rehabilitated scaping at various points along I-94 in Wayne and funding for construction and operations 2003–132 County, and streetscape improvements along was identified. 2004–125 Huron Street in Washtenaw County. 2005–87 • An “area of continued analysis” for a Major project highlights this past year new border crossing between Detroit and included the completion of most of the planned Windsor was also identified, focused between Miles of roadway improvements to I-94 from the City of Taylor to widened Zug Island and the Ambassador Bridge 2003–24 the City of Detroit, including the two distinctive on the U.S. side. tied-arch bridges taking I-94 over Telegraph Road 2004–22 2005–7 (approximately $180 million), the completion of MDOT is often confronted with issues along improvements to the express and local lanes of its non-freeway routes as well. As development I-96 from the M-39 expressway to Roosevelt continues to increase along these routes, so do Bridges rehabilitated, traffic volumes. Commercial and residential reconstructed, or Street in the City of Detroit ($136 million), replaced driveways exacerbate the situation and con- and the completion of the I-96/Beck Road in- 2003–115 tribute to congestion and safety problems. In terchange in Oakland County ($33.4 million). 2004–108 many cases, widening the road is prohibitive in Fiscal year 2006 promises more improvements 2005–113 terms of costs or impacts. The concept of access to Southeast Michigan’s transportation system, management provides possible alternatives to with 283 projects currently programmed in be considered, ranging from implementing lo- Transit vehicles the TIP this year at an estimated cost of nearly acquired through cal development ordinances; to retiming traffic $944 million. lease or purchase signals for better progression; to selectively add- 2003–117 Significant progress ing turn lanes to remove turning vehicles from 2004–212 on corridor studies the flow of through traffic. In 2005, Monroe 2005–192 County completed a joint access management Many transportation decisions are relatively study with MDOT along US-24 (Telegraph straightforward, like deciding which roads can Road), as did White Lake Township along M-59 be repaved during a construction season within (Highland Road), and Canton Township along a community’s budget and programming those Ford Road. In each case, recommendations projects in the TIP. But some decisions are more were approved by the respective community complicated because there are multiple needs officials and are being implemented as appro- to be addressed, multiple options for address- priate. A larger study in western Wayne County ing them, or significant impacts associated with and a study in the I-94/US-23/US-12 area in those options. In these cases, a corridor study Washtenaw County are currently underway. may be required to conduct a more thorough analysis before making recommendations for improvement … a process which can often take a year or more. Check the status of ongoing corridor studies at In 2005, significant progress was made on www.semcog.org/TranPlan/RTP/assets/corridorstudies.pdf. several important studies conducted by the Mich- igan Department of Transportation (MDOT).

SEMscope – Spring ‘06 7 RTP

Moving regional transit forward The corridor between Ann Arbor and Down- Public transit continued to be one of the town Detroit is one of the 12 identified for most important and most perplexing trans- further consideration of rapid transit. The cor- portation topics in this region in 2005. Since ridor is a strong candidate because it is home to: 2001, SEMCOG has been promoting a vision • four of the 10 most populous cities in for regional transit that would enhance the over- the region; all transportation system in the region, provide • three of the top five employment centers; greater mobility options, and improve the region’s • 103 major retail centers; economic competitiveness. The vision consists of four tiers: • 135,000 students at 10 universities; • 12 rapid transit corridors, • Metro Airport, with over 16 million annual boardings, 18,000 employees, and 71,000 • Enhanced fixed-route bus service, other related jobs; and • Expanded community transit, and • numerous tourist and sports attractions, en- • Regional transit links. tertainment venues, and special events. Significant progress was made in 2005 on the Five Remaining Rapid Transit Alternative Routes Ann Arbor to Detroit Alternatives Analysis/En- Bus Rapid Transit vironmental Impact Statement Study. Five rapid PLYMOUTH LIVONIA REDFORD NORTHFIELD SALEM PLYMOUTH transit alternatives have been selected for more detailed analysis, including two bus rapid transit ANN ARBOR WESTLAND DETROIT DEARBORN GARDEN CITY W HTS. options, one light rail transit option, and two

A SUPERIOR E CANTON DEARBORN

YN INKSTER TEN commuter rail transit options. These alternatives ANN ARBOR A

SH

W A WAYNE MELVINDALE

W are being compared in terms of cost, travel times, ALLEN PK. RIVER ROUGE YPSILANTI station location, type of vehicle, and routes. TAYLOR ECORSE VAN BUREN ROMULUS LINCOLN PK. Our goal is to find an optimal balance between PITTSFIELD YPSILANTI SOUTHGATE BELLEVILLE WYANDOTTE the number and placement of station locations and their impact on ridership and overall travel Light Rail Transit times. The results of the analysis will be

PLYMOUTH LIVONIA REDFORD NORTHFIELD SALEM presented to the public this spring. PLYMOUTH The key to the success of this project is ANN ARBOR WESTLAND DETROIT DEARBORN GARDEN CITY W HTS. cooperation. The communities along the cor-

A SUPERIOR E CANTON DEARBORN

YN INKSTER TEN ridor have been very supportive; some have ANN ARBOR A

SH

W A WAYNE MELVINDALE W gone so far as to update their master plans to ALLEN PK. RIVER ROUGE YPSILANTI TAYLOR ECORSE accommodate a new rapid transit line. But VAN BUREN ROMULUS LINCOLN PK. regional consensus will be needed to select a PITTSFIELD YPSILANTI SOUTHGATE BELLEVILLE WYANDOTTE preferred alternative and dedicate a local funding source for the service — which must happen Commuter Rail Transit before the project can move forward to design

PLYMOUTH LIVONIA REDFORD NORTHFIELD SALEM and implementation. PLYMOUTH Regional consensus and adequate funding ANN ARBOR WESTLAND DETROIT DEARBORN GARDEN CITY W HTS. were two of three major impediments iden-

A SUPERIOR E CANTON DEARBORN

YN INKSTER TEN tified by SEMCOG’s Overcoming Transit ANN ARBOR A

SH

W A WAYNE MELVINDALE W Impediments Task Force (a subcommittee of the ALLEN PK. RIVER ROUGE YPSILANTI TAYLOR ECORSE General Assembly) in 2005. The third was a lack VAN BUREN ROMULUS LINCOLN PK. of regional champions committed to implement- PITTSFIELD YPSILANTI SOUTHGATE BELLEVILLE WYANDOTTE ing the transit vision. Although 2005 marked some encouraging progress in overcoming these impediments — evidenced by the progression of

8 SEMscope – Spring ‘06 RTP

the Ann Arbor to Detroit study — much more Highlights of the new federal remains to be done. SEMCOG will continue to transportation law work with the region’s elected officials and their While SEMCOG’s first and foremost constituents to support transit and foster coop- objective is serving the region, there are eration and consensus within the region. some fundamental federal guidelines we Formal guidance Transportation system performance must follow if we want to keep federal on implementing dollars flowing to transportation projects in In the end, what matters most is how well our region. On August 10, 2005, the Safe, SAFETEA-LU the transportation system is functioning … Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Trans- how smooth the ride is, how safe the roads and is still under portation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users bridges are, how many vehicles are on the road, (SAFETEA-LU) was signed into law. development. etc. SEMCOG routinely monitors the perfor- SAFETEA-LU authorizes federal transporta- mance of the system and uses that information Check SEMCOG’s tion funding for road and transit programs for to educate the public and community officials FY 2005-2009 and outlines key require- Web site at about current and future needs. Current trends ments that must be met before that funding of interest are noted below. www.semcog. can be used. Bridges: There are 3,551 bridges in Southeast Our funding estimates indicate that org/TranPlan/ Michigan. As of 2004 (the latest year of available SAFETEA-LU will generate approximately data), 1,164 were deficient; 226 were posted with SAFETEA- one to two percent in additional revenue for weight or height restrictions; and 53 were closed. Southeast Michigan. SAFETEA-LU also LU.htm for the Over the next three years, MDOT will fund generates some additional requirements that repairs on 53 bridges in Southeast Michigan. most current news we must consider, such as: Pavement: In 2005, the state completed a and information. • a congestion management process identifying third year of pavement data collection on all congestion and recommending solutions; major roads, including 500 miles of road recently classified as eligible for federal aid. Of the 20,842 • a public participation plan specifying how lane miles surveyed in Southeast Michigan, 22 the public will be included in transportation percent are in good condition, 66 percent in fair decision making; condition, and 12 percent in poor condition. • increased stakeholder consultation ensuring Traffic crashes: In 2004 (the latest year of the regional transportation system is consis- data), there were 164,900 traffic crashes in tent with other related areas, such as economic the region, down from 171,105 in 2003. Fatal development, planned growth, and natural crashes also decreased, from 448 in 2003 to resources; 396 in 2004. Alcohol-related crashes, on the • a process identifying environmentally sensitive other hand, increased from 6,073 in 2003 to areas, the possible impacts of transportation 6,207 in 2004. projects on those areas, and systemwide miti- Traffic counts: SEMCOG maintains a gation of those impacts; and comprehensive database of traffic counts • coordinated planning for transit serving the collected throughout the region, providing a elderly, persons with disabilities, and low-in- snapshot of current traffic volumes. The data are come workers. also used by local, state, and regional agencies for In March 2007, the 2030 RTP will be updat- short-term planning and to check our models ed to meet all new SAFETEA-LU requirements. for forecasting future traffic volumes. In 2005, A totally new RTP, extending to 2035, will SEMCOG added over 4,500 new counts to its then be adopted in March 2010. And the vision database at both existing and new locations. for transportation in Southeast Michigan will remain strong.

REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN 2030FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN

SEMscope – Spring ‘06 9 Transportation New approach to transportation planning considers community values By Lorraine Watt Corradino

LANNING AND IMPLEMENTING TRANS- CSS principles make a difference MDOT’s Context portation projects that are sensitive to Sensitive Solutions Just take a look in Southeast Michigan and community values without comprom- Principles P it’s easy to see projects reflecting community ising functionality or safety and without values without compromising safety or mobility. Early and continuous adding costs is the premise of Context Sensitive public involvement A prime example is the I-94/US-24 interchange Solutions (CSS). This new trend in trans- in the City of Taylor. If conventional planning Effective portation planning effectively incorporates decision-making methods were used, the existing interchange and community values with sound engineering bridges would have simply been rehabilitated. Reflection of practices, resulting in projects that enhance However, MDOT took a different approach community values quality of life. and worked with the City of Taylor, Telegraph Environmental sensitivity What are CSS principles? Tomorrow, and the Detroit Regional Gateway and stewardship Advisory Committee to address local concerns, Safe and feasible CSS principles are rooted in the Intermodal including safety, noise, economic development, solutions Surface Transportation Equity Act. This 1991 and aesthetics. The end result was a “single point Protection of scenic landmark legislation made a commitment to urban” interchange. The new design eliminated resources and achieve- preserving and protecting the environment the left-side entrances and exits (met the un- ment of aesthetically and cultural values affected by transportation. derclearance requirements on US-24), reduced pleasing solutions In response, the Department noise, made over 80 acres of land available for of Transportation examined its policies and development, and crafted a unique, tied-arch now emphasizes a balance between scenic, bridge. Benefits of Context historic, aesthetic, and cultural values with Sensitive Solutions safety and mobility. Here at home, the Michigan What’s the first step in implementing Better relationships Department of Transportation (MDOT) has CSS principles? with citizens also developed a set of CSS principles and Before incorporating CSS principles into Improved is committed to incorporating these principles communication and planning, learn more about the process. into its own projects and assisting local agencies SEMCOG is committed to using CSS in participation with citizens to do the same. throughout project transportation planning and is available to planning Why should we use CSS principles? answer questions and provide assistance to local communities and agencies. SEMCOG is Innovative aesthetics and It makes good planning sense. Collaborative also offering a second SEMCOG University design approaches interaction with stakeholders helps establish on CSS this fall. Check the SEMCOG Web Sensitivity to community the context — not just in physical engineering calendar for date and time. The FHWA Web needs, including terms, but the social context aspect — in which site, www.fhwa.dot.gov/csd, is also a good historic, cultural, and the project will move forward to completion environmental factors resource. Here in Michigan, MDOT has with fewer objections and obstacles from the publications and maintains a clearinghouse of Minimal community community and will result in a better project. CSS projects. Cynthia Warzecha is a good contact disruption Faster implementation and better results is and can be reached at WarzechaC@michigan. Lasting community value smart planning. gov or phone (517) 373-0146. Development process Video of these presentations can be viewed on SEMCOG’s Web site — www.semcog.org. From the tailored to community home page, link to News & Notices in the upper bar, then look for the link in the right column. and special circumstances

10 SEMscope – Spring ‘06 Meeting Highlights of SEMCOG’s Spring General Assembly March 23, 2006 • -Dearborn

University of Michigan-Dearborn Chancellor, Steve Manor, Chair of Daniel Little, welcomed SEMCOG General SEMCOG's Finance and Assembly delegates and alternates to the Budget Committee and Mayor campus’s education and management center. Pro Tem of Howell, requested He briefly discussed five important goals at General Assembly adoption of UM-D — enhancing Southeast Michigan's SEMCOG's FY 2006-2007 competitiveness in industry and manufacturing; Annual Operating Budget and creating better race relations; enhancing Work Program Summary for the environmental education; enhancing the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2006. quality of education; and developing regional The adopted budget's revenues are leadership. He acknowledged SEMCOG's an eight percent increase over the commitment to regional leadership. current budget.

Following adoption of the budget, Manor then introduced SEMCOG Executive Director, Paul Tait, who gave a presentation entitled, "One Day in Southeast Michigan." (Please note that this presentation has been recreated as a photostory for SEMscope beginning on page 3.) Noted Manor, “The budget you just adopted seems like an administrative and financial action. It’s clearly much more than that. It sets the direction for what SEMCOG will do in the upcoming year. SEMCOG’s work will make a difference in our daily lives now and in the future. It’s important that we have a ‘big picture’ sense of how our work and our decisions do make a significant difference.”

Gretchen Driskell, Chair of Lucius Vassar, Detroit’s Chief SEMCOG’s Transportation Advisory Administrative Officer, speaking on Council and Mayor of Saline, behalf of Mayor Kwame Kilpartick, requested General Assembly adoption touched on a myriad of topics, including of the amendment of six projects to growth and jobs, the regional efforts that the 2030 Regional Transportation contributed to the success of the Super for Southeast Michigan. In adopting Bowl, and SEMCOG’s role in the region’s this amendment, the projects can be transportation improvements. He also programmed into the Transportation promised a stronger commitment from Improvement Program, making the city in engaging in the work that them eligible for funding. SEMCOG does and in finding solutions at the regional level. And to move important regional issues forward, he asked for consideration of SEMCOG’s voting structure as it relates to Detroit Video of these presentations can be viewed on SEMCOG’s Web site — www.semcog.org. From the and the transit issue. home page, link to News & Notices in the upper bar, then look for the link in the right column.

SEMscope – Spring ‘06 11 Information

Our Water. Our Future. Ours to Protect campaign . . . Before you fertilize, test your soil

With over one million lawns being fertilized this spring, SEMCOG and the Southeast Michigan Ours to Protect Partners for Clean Water remind homeowners that fertilizer should be applied sparingly and caringly with an awareness that excess fertilizer can negatively impact the region’s lakes and rivers. Having your soil tested is an important first step and can help determine exactly how much (if any) fertilizer is necessary. Michigan State University Extensions in all seven Southeast Michigan counties, offer soil testing throughout the year for a nominal fee (under $20). “Fertilize sparingly and caringly” is one of the seven simple steps in SEMCOG’s ongoing water quality public education campaign. Each month, we will focus on a different step. SEMCOG surveys have shown a willingness on the part of the public to take action to protect water resources. This is the third year of the Ours to Protect campaign. To date, the campaign has had many suc- cesses. Highlights include the distribution of print materials; display set-ups at numerous libraries, community events and offices, as well as private companies and retailers; television and newspaper coverage; a Web site that receives thousands of hits per month; and Comcast’s airing of seven public service announcements approximately 2,300 times since September 2004. More information on this campaign can be found at www.semcog.org. Water Week is June 3-11. Check the Web site for scheduled events.

Commuter Challenge 2006 is underway

With major construction in the “mixing bowl” area of the Lodge Freeway challenging commut- ers this season, SEMCOG and its partners — Michigan Department of Transportation, SMART, DDOT, the Detroit People Mover, Michivan, VPSI, Compuware, and the Association for Commuter Transportation — have developed the Commuter Challenge. The goal is to encourage commuters, especially in this targeted area, to find an alternative (e.g., carpool, vanpool, transit) to the drive-alone work commute and alleviate some of the congestion in a corridor that will be severely compromised with construction. Businesses in Detroit and Southfield have been educated on the available alternatives and more than 600 employees have signed up for the "challenge," and the opportunity to win some pretty good prizes just for trying a different way to get to work. In fact, a very enthusiastic Gary Mach, from Harley Ellis Devereaux in Southfield, is planning to "bike pool" to work with a coworker! Commuter Challenge 2006 runs from March 27-May 12. More information is available at www.semcog.org.

12 SEMscope – Spring ‘06 MembersMembers SEMCOG Members (all seven counties are members)

Livingston County Orion, Oxford, Royal Oak, Waterford, Cities: Brighton, Howell West Bloomfield, White Lake Village: Fowlerville Education: Oakland Schools Townships: Brighton, Genoa, Green Oak, St. Clair County Hamburg, Hartland, Tyrone Cities: Marine City, Marysville, Livingston Educational Education: Port Huron, St. Clair Service Agency Townships: Clay, Cottrellville, Macomb County Fort Gratiot, Ira, Port Huron, St. Clair Cities: Fraser, Mount Clemens, Education: St. Clair County Regional New Baltimore, Richmond, Educational Service Agency St. Clair Shores, Utica, Warren Washtenaw County Villages: New Haven, Romeo Cities: Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Milan, Clinton, Harrison, Macomb, Townships: Saline, Ypsilanti Washington Village: Dexter Education: Macomb Intermediate Townships: Ann Arbor, Lima, Northfield, School District Pittsfield, Scio, Superior, Ypsilanti Monroe County Education: Washtenaw Intermediate Cities: Luna Pier, Monroe, Petersburg School District Villages: Dundee, South Rockwood Wayne County Townships: Bedford, Berlin, Erie, Milan, Cities: Allen Park, Belleville, Dearborn, Whiteford Dearborn Heights, Detroit, Flat Rock, Monroe County Community Education: Garden City, Gibraltar, , College, Monroe County Intermediate Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe School District Woods, Hamtramck, Harper Woods, Oakland County Highland Park, Inkster, Livonia, Cities: Auburn Hills, Birmingham, Northville, Plymouth, Riverview, Bloomfield Hills, Clarkston, Clawson, Romulus, Southgate, Taylor, Trenton, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Wayne, Westland, Woodhaven, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Wyandotte Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Lathrup Townships: Brownstown, Canton, Village, Madison Heights, Novi, Oak Grosse Ile, Huron, Northville, Park, Orchard Lake Village, Pontiac, Plymouth, Redford, Sumpter Rochester, Rochester Hills, Southfield, Education: Schoolcraft College, South Lyon, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Wayne County Community College, Walled Lake, Wixom Wayne County Regional Educational Villages: Beverly Hills, Holly, Milford, Service Agency Wolverine Lake Associate Members Bloomfield, Commerce, Townships: University of Michigan Highland, Lyon, Milford, Oakland, University of Michigan/Dearborn embership SEMscope – Spring ‘06 Mmatters Mission SEMCOG’s mission is solving regional problems – improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the region’s local governments as well as the quality of life in Southeast Michigan. Essential functions are: • providing a forum for addressing issues which extend beyond individual governmental boundaries by fostering collaborative regional planning, and “All SEMCOG • facilitating relations among local governments, educational institutions, and state and federal policy decisions agencies. As a regional planning partnership in Southeast Michigan, SEMCOG is accountable to local govern- are made by local ments who join as members. Membership is open to all counties, cities, villages, townships, intermediate elected officials, school districts, community colleges, and universities in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties. ensuring that Responsibilities regional policies SEMCOG’s principal activities support local planning through SEMCOG’s technical, data, and reflect the intergovernmental resources. In collaboration with local governments, SEMCOG is responsible for adopting region-wide plans and policies for community and economic development, water and air interests of quality, land use, and transportation, including approval of state and federal transportation projects. Funding for SEMCOG is provided by federal and state grants, contracts, and membership fees. member communities.” Decision making All SEMCOG policy decisions are made by local elected officials, ensuring that regional policies reflect the interests of member communities. Participants serve on one or both of the policy-making bodies – the General Assembly and the Executive Committee. Prior to policy adoption, technical advisory councils provide the structure for gaining input on transportation, environment, community and economic development, data analysis, and education. This deliberative process includes broad-based representation from local governments, the business community, environmental organizations, and other special-interest citizens’ groups.

PRESORT Southeast Michigan Council of Governments STANDARD 535 Griswold Street • Suite 300 U.S. Postage Detroit, MI 48226-3602 PAID Detroit, MI Permit No. 3981