Total ridership on the Macatawa Area Express (MAX) transit system of Holland, MI increased 28.93 percent in December over the same month a year ago with more than 33,902 rides provided last month.

For the third consecutive month, MAX has set an all-time ridership total on its eight fixed routes. Ridership on the fixed routes for the last three months has exceeded 28,500 each month, breaking the last fixed route ridership record of 28,356 set in March 2011.

Annual ridership also was up sharply. MAX saw a 23.3 percent increase in ridership to 420,000 for fiscal year 2011, which ended September 30, 2011. In 2010, MAX experienced an eight percent increase.

The lakeshore transit system expects ridership to reach 450,000 this year. The healthy growth in ridership is a trend that has occurred for the past four straight years since the fixed route service was expanded to eight routes in 2007. MAX’s fixed route ridership now comprises 76 percent of all rides provided, with reserved ride premium service making up just 24 percent.

A decade ago when MAX began operating three fixed routes, three-quarters (75%) of all rides were demand response, a more costly service to operate. MAX officials attribute the ongoing growth in transit use to persistent elevated unemployment, an decrease in household incomes, and rising fuel costs.

“Our passenger survey results from September 2011 indicate that more of our customers are facing declining incomes causing them to rely more on public transit for transportation to trim expenses,” said Sherri Cadeaux, MAX marketing and customer service manager. “Unfortunately, this mirrors the national trend of declining incomes.” MAX passenger surveys indicate 40 percent of MAX passengers ride the bus to get to and from work on a regular basis.

Total ridership on the Macatawa Area Express (MAX)transit system increased 28.93 percent in December over the same month a year agowith more than 33,902 rides provided last month.

TO:   All Transit Agencies and 5310 Agencies

FROM:  Sharon Edgar, Administrator, Office of Passenger Transportation

SUBJECT:  Upcoming Grant Opportunity from the National Center on Senior Transportation

The National Center on Senior Transportation’s (NCST) has announced a new grant opportunity.  The RFP is not yet available but I believe it will be released this week.  The website says applications will be due in mid-December so there will be a very short application period. If this sounds like something you would want to apply for, you might want to go to their website and be added to their email distribution list so you can get the application information as soon as it is available.

http://seniortransportation.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=NCST2_grant_opportunities_2012&autologin=true

The Grant Program, Enhancing Older Adult Mobility through Person-Centered Mobility Management, invites proposals for senior transportation projects that demonstrate innovative and effective solutions to enhance the mobility of older adults.

Grants will be funded at $50,000 or less.  The NCST expects to award 8 grants in 4 different categories:

• Peer mobility management and employment
• Mobility management in rural/frontier areas with limited transportation options
• Holistic models of mobility management that integrate mobility management within current practices such as options counseling, information and assistance and case management
• Mobility management applied to the family of transportation services

The NCST expects to award 8 grants, 2 in each of the categories listed above. Grants will be awarded for a maximum of $50,000.  Matching funds are not required.  Grantees will be expected to complete their work in approximately 9 months.

The focus of all the grants is on older adults, although projects may also target adults with disabilities. A focus on culturally and ethnically diverse older adults is strongly encouraged.

Older adults must be involved as key partners in the project.  Applicants are also expected to work in collaboration with stakeholders in senior transportation and obtain letters of commitment from key partners.

Please see the NCST pre-application webpage for more information about this grant.

See FTA flyer for details

Additional funding will allow for complete build out of new facility
View preliminary drawings of the proposed facility

The People Mover’s Millender lighting project has caught the attention of the Construction Association of Michigan. The lighting project, which features jewel-tone LED light shows is a project of the Beresh Group.

Visit CAM magazine online to read the full story including pictures from the Millender station, at http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/06b2e96d#/06b2e96d/13

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is encouraging Michigan schools, municipalities, organizations, and businesses to apply for the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant to replace old diesel engines with newer, cleaner-burning engines. Applications are being accepted now through November 16, 2011.

The DERA is part of the National Clean Diesel Campaign initiated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help owners upgrade their equipment so that less efficient diesel engines are retired and replaced by cleaner-burning models. The DEQ is coordinating the grant process.

The grant provides options to replace entire engines, equipment or vehicles or to install exhaust control equipment on existing diesel engines. Both installation and replacement options improve air quality and reduce health risks for communities located in or near industrial pollution sources or high-use roadways.

The DEQ is encouraging all Michigan municipalities, townships and villages, county and non-profit agencies, school districts, municipal planning organizations, and private industries to apply for grant funds totaling approximately $775,000.  To assist with the grant application process, the DEQ is hosting a half-day training session in Lansing on October 13, 2011.

Vehicles eligible for the DERA grant include: school buses; medium and heavy duty trucks; municipal buses, and marine, agricultural, energy production, mining and construction vehicles, and equipment.

You can find more information and the application online by visiting Michigan’s Clean Diesel Initiative Web site at www.michigan.gov/air and selecting “Clean Diesel Initiative in Michigan” from the middle of the page. For further information, contact Donna Davis at davisd8@michigan.gov or 517-335-2784.

On October 12 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, the National Center on Senior Transportation will partner with Easter Seals Project ACTION to present a webinar on Public Involvement in the Transportation Planning Process. This event is designed for transportation advocates who want to come to the table better informed and prepared to offer input that will be heard, understood and incorporated into their regional transportation plans. MPO and RPO transportation planners, as well as aging, educational and human service agency professionals are encouraged to participate. Presenters include Donna Smith, ESPA training manager; Mary Grinsfelder, Dallas Area Agency on Aging mobility project manager; James Powell, North Central Texas Council of Governments senior transportation planner; and Dan Gadbury, Transportation Systems Change Program coordinator.  For more information or questions, contact ESPADistanceLearning@easterseals.com.

Registration deadline: October 7.  To register, click on the webinar link above or visit the ESPA homepage at www.projectaction.org.

Aug. 30, 2011: MTA – Flint breaks ground on innovative hydrogen-fuel-cell fueling station, becoming one of only two such sites in the nation. Congratulations MTA!

This site will eventually also be a CNG and LPG (compressed natural gas and liquid propane gas) as well as solar-powered electric recharging facility open to the public.

The project is funded by federal and state grants and involves a unique educational partnership between MTA and Kettering University.

Original story published by Gongwer News Service – 8/22/2011

House Transportation Committee Chair Paul OPSOMMER (R-DeWitt) said he believes he has enough bi-partisan support to push a new plan to divert money from the general fund into road construction, but others have suggested it might take more than that to fix Michigan’s transportation systems.

Opsommer wants to divert part of the 6-percent use tax now collected on the sale of gasoline for roads.

“It’s got good support informally,” he said.

He told MIRS he rejects any notion of hiking the gasoline tax, which has not been raised since the dying days of former Gov. John ENGLER. Senate Majority Leader Randy RICHARDVILLE (R-Monroe) ruled out a gas tax increase earlier this month, but said he’s open to looking at changing how roads are funded (See “Richardville Nixes Gas Tax Hike,” 8/4/11).

Currently, 4 cents from the 6-cent tax goes to schools with another 1.5 cents earmarked for local governments. The remaining half-penny ends up in the General Fund, which means it is available for a variety of state services.

Tagging that for the roads would not raise the billions of dollars the road-building lobby would like to have, Opsommer acknowledged, but he said he thinks it could help. The lawmaker said he expects possible movement on legislation this fall.

Michigan Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Rich [STUDLEY] said the Chamber supports a user-fee based system to help deal with what he calls the “old problem” of funding fixes for Michigan roads, bridges and public transportation.

Michigan could see a one-third funding cut from the federal government for public transit under the deficit deal, which adds to the problem, Studley said.

“Now more than ever we need a Michigan solution to a Michigan problem,” he said.

Studley said the Chamber plans on working with the Legislature on both sides to see if they can achieve a major breakthrough in the issue this fall.

“I think there is a growing consensus and growing concern in the business community that we need to substantially improve how we approach roads and bridges and public transit,” he said. “At the Michigan Chamber, we’re recommending the goal has to be to work harder and work smarter and challenge MDOT (Michigan Department of Transportation) and road agencies to be more efficient.”

It will take more than improving efficiency to fix roads and bridges that have been given temporary fixes for years, Studley said. In the next few years the state will need to roughly double its investment in transportation, he said.

“There’s clearly a need for additional revenue,” he said. “We have to be certain any additional revenue is carefully targeted to produce the maximum return on investment.”

Raising revenue could gain ire from some legislators, but Studley said it is time to recognize Michigan’s key industries — manufacturing, tourism, and agriculture — depend on good roads, bridges, rails, airports and ports. Fixing and maintaining those systems can be accomplished by Michigan companies “ready and willing to do this,” Studley said.

“Frankly, I’m tired of meeting with lawmakers who want good roads but don’t want to pay for them, so we’re going to challenge those people,” he said. “If they don’t like one solution, what is their alternative?”

Studley also pointed to neighboring states like Ohio and Indiana that made “major” improvements to their transportation systems recently.

“No one in the House or Senate is being asked to do something that’s impossible,” Studley said. “We’re not asking anyone to build a rocket ship to Mars.”

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of discretionary Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities grant funds in support of the Federal Interagency Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility*s Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative. This notice of funding availability (NOFA) can be found at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-07-27/pdf/2011-18928.pdf.

This NOFA is summarized as below:

Eligible Projects:

Projects eligible for funding under the Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative must focus on the implementation of One-Call/One-Click Centers and related transportation coordination. Eligible expenses under the Initiative include capital expenses related to the establishment of a One-Call/One-Click Center. These costs can include: hardware purchases (computers, servers); in-vehicle technology (automatic vehicle location systems, communication devices, mobile data terminals); software (scheduling & dispatching, communications, billing, consumer mobile applications); facility-related capital (purchase, lease, alteration); design and engineering, including consultant costs; and project administration (not to exceed 10% of costs).

Cost Sharing:

Costs will be shared at the following ratio: 80% FTA/20% MDOT/local contribution. MDOT will provide match between 10% and 20%. Applicants are encouraged to provide additional match. If a transit agency wants to provide additional match, it will need to come from local sources. If a transit agency requests MDOT to provide the match with state funds, please apply for the maximum federal share allowable. MDOT cannot guarantee that state funds will be available for match. MDOT will provide matching funds to the degree possible based on the resources available to us at the time grant awards are made. Projects that commit local match rather than dependence on state match will be given priority by MDOT.

Program Purpose:

Building on the success of the FTA Office of United We Ride (UWR) *One Call
Center* model, the Veterans Transportation and Community Living initiative will help communities build or expand local One-Call/One-Click Centers to bring together transportation services available to the general public with those available to customers of human services programs, and especially services for veterans and military families. Coordinating transportation services will promote improved access to community services and employment, and will advance the integration of those with disabilities into their communities.

Project Evaluation Criteria:

Projects will be evaluated by an interagency review team based on the proposals submitted according to: (1) Planning and prioritization at the local/regional level; (2) readiness; (3) technical, legal and financial capacity; and (4) demonstration of need. There are detailed evaluation criteria listed under each of these four categories; the applicant is required to address each of the evaluation criteria separately, demonstrating how the project responds to each criterion.

For details regarding the evaluation criteria, proposal content, and other information regarding this NOFA, see http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-07-27/pdf/2011-18928.pdf.

If you would like to be included in the Michigan Department of Transportations* application for this program, please complete the FTA Supplemental Form (attached). Note the following when completing the Supplemental Form:

select **Other** for project type and indicate **VTCLI One-Call/One-Click Transportation Resource Center Project** in the text box.
use 1207 as the FTA Recipient ID Number if you are a nonurban agency
use the following as the “Timeline Item Description” (via clicking the “Insert Item” button under the “Project Timeline” section):

RFP Issued/Quotes Requested
Contract Award/Vendor Selected
Contract/Project Complete

develop the timeline schedules based upon the assumption that the FTA grant will be awarded for the selected projects by January 2, 2012.

Please complete the Supplemental Form and email it back to your project manager by August 22.

If you have any questions, contact your project manager.

MAX Transit in Holland is seeking an RFP for a VoIP/Phone/Call Center system (software and hardware). If any other transit system has issued a similar RFP recently please forward it to:

Sherri Cadeaux
Marketing & Customer Service Manager
Macatawa Area Express Transportation Authority
Padnos Center
171 Lincoln Ave. Ste #20
Holland, MI 49423

Ph: (616) 928-2475
Fax: (616) 928-2467
Email: s.cadeaux@catchamax.org

The Shiawassee Area Transportation Agency (SATA) is soliciting proposals for    Architectural/Engineering Services required for the design, documentation, bidding, and construction administration of a canopy structure covering the front portion of its vehicles in their parking spaces. To obtain a complete bid package, email a request to sata@tir.com. It is strongly recommended that all potential bidders attend a pre-bid conference on August 23, 2011 at 10:00am at 180 N. Delaney Road, Owosso, MI to clarify any matters pertaining to this project prior to submitting proposals. Emailed questions will only be accepted until 5:00pm, August 17, 2011. Proposals will be accepted until 2:00pm on September 16, 2011

by Clark Harder
Executive Director
Michigan Public Transit Association

Governor Rick Snyder (R-Ann Arbor) has come in for much criticism over some of his proposals since taking office last January. One area where the Governor deserves praise is in his handling of the stateʼs public transportation budget.

Governor Snyder proposed the strongest budget recommendation for public transportation services in more than a decade and then he stood firm in his resolve to see this budget passed by the Legislature, despite pressure from many in his own party to cut public transit services. For this strong leadership, the Michigan Public Transit Association, commends the Governor.

Public transportation in Michigan is a growing service and an economic development tool that is often overlooked and under-utilized. Governor Snyder seems to have a clear vision for investing in, and growing, our public transit infrastructure. He has recognized that transit is not only a tool for luring new businesses to Michigan and keeping young professionals in our state, but he also acknowledges the significant role that public transit plays in the quality of life for those who lack mobility options; seniors, the infirm and disabled, students and those who do not own cars or can not drive.

For this outstanding advocacy, we thank Governor Snyder and encourage him to remain strong in his resolve to support this sector of our state government services.

Download this op/ed as a PDF

Troy Lowe of the Branch Area Transit Authority in Coldwater placed 5th in the 2011 CTAA Roadeo held on June 5 at CTAA’s annual convention in Indianapolis.  Deanna Hughes of Gladwin City/County Transit placed 10th in the national competition.  Al Diana of the Capital Area Transportation Authority in Lansing placed 28th.  The three drivers qualified to represent Michigan in the national roadeo by theirperformance at the 2010 Michigan Small Bus Roadeo.

Transit keeps things moving! That is the message the Michigan Public Transit Association wants legislators to hear. As a way to raise public support for the upcoming transit budget, the MPTA has placed a number of billboards in the Lansing area promoting their new website gasolinepain.com. The website features a “compute your commute” calculator where drivers can get an idea of how much money they could save by parking the car and using public transit. There are also links to find public transit options across the state including bus systems and ride sharing.

For more, visit gasolinepain.com.

The Macatawa Area Express (MAX) Transportation Authority and
organizers of the Tulip Time Festival this year will be providing a free shuttle service through the
downtown Holland area on festival days in hopes of alleviating traffic and parking problems.

The shuttle will be offered every day during the festival (May 7-14) and will operate every
30 minutes, beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 9 p.m. Shuttle service will be suspended from
12 noon to 4 p.m. on the parade days of May 11, 12 and 14.

Residents and visitors who want to board the shuttle must be waiting at the shuttle stop
at least 2 minutes before its scheduled arrival. The shuttle will not stop at shuttle stops where
no one is standing or waiting. The shuttle will make eight stops at the following locations:

Windmill Island
7th St. Parking Garage
Window on the Waterfront
Eighth & Central
Civic Center
Kollen Park
Tulip Time Office/Museum
Centennial Park
Ditto Park-N-Ride Lot
(8th and Clover Ave)

In addition to the free shuttle service, MAX has established nine Park-N-Ride lots where
motorists can park their cars near a bus stop, board the bus, and ride the MAX into downtown
Holland. Park-N-Ride lots are located at the two Holland area Meijer and Family Fare stores,
the Holland outlet center, Walmart, the MDOT lots at Business 196/Homestead Drive and 112th /
Chicago Drive, and the Ditto lot on 8th St. and Clover.

For a schedule of times the MAX arrives at these Park-N-Ride lots, visit catchamax.org or call
MAX Customer Service at (616) 355-1010 or toll free (866) 355-1391.

Kudos to Champion Bus on their recent expansion!

\

MPTa member will be excited to know that the TransitSHARE document posting resource is now operational. Visit mptaonline.org/transitshare today to find useful sample documents for RFPs, purchasing contracts and more.

Clare County Board of Commissioners and Clare County Transit Corporation are soliciting proposals for Architectural/ Engineering Services required for the design, documentation, bidding, and construction oversight of photovoltaic, wind turbine, solar hot water heating systems, net metering, and a fueling station canopy. The following is a list of areas, but not limited to, that need to be covered in the RFP. The Architectural firm will be responsible for design development and developing all construction bid documents. The Architectural firm will be responsible for analyzing all proposals/bids and making a written recommendation for award to CCTC. Following award, the A/E Firm will be responsible to provide CCTC with project management and oversight assistance as it relates to the bid documents developed by the firm. Pre-Proposal Meeting will be held February 9, 2011, 1:00PM at 1473 Transportation Dr., Harrison, MI. 48625 Download the full RFP for details.

Allegan County Transportation (ACT) is accepting bid proposal’s (RFP) for the purchase of Transportation Services until Friday, February 4, 2011 at 3:00 p.m.   ACT is a rural public transit system. If your firm would like to submit a bid proposal to Allegan County for this service, please go to http://www.allegancounty.org under Bidding Opportunities, to download the Request for Proposal #10091.

Submittals should be mailed to Kriss Kraker, Purchasing Analyst, Allegan County
Finance Department, 3283 122^nd Avenue, Allegan, Michigan 49010

Barry County Transit (BCT) is seeking proposals from firms that provide scheduling, dispatch software, vehicle location and mobile data terminals (MDTs) that will include training and ongoing technical support, for door to door transit authorities. BCT is accepting proposals on the following specifications until Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. Download the full RFP for details.

Dear Transit Providers:

We have some exciting news to share! The Macatawa Area Express Transportation Authority has been awarded a mobility management grant to develop a new “TransitSHARE” electronic library as an addition to the Michigan Public Transit Association’s (MPTA) website.

How many times have you searched for a vendor of products or services, needed a sample RFP, or wanted to review other transit systems policies and procedures?

The new TransitSHARE section of the MPTA website will be an electronic resource library where transit systems statewide can upload files to share, and download information from other transit systems. The purpose of TransitSHARE is to facilitate collaboration and sharing among state transit systems to reduce redundancies and gain efficiencies.

BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP.

We are actively building this section of the MPTA website and need documents from transit providers to begin populating our TransitSHARE library. TransitSHARE will be officially introduced at MPTA’s legislative conference in February, and training webinars will be offered. Please email any of the following types of documents that you are willing to share as pdf files to Jeremy Harder, at Jeremy.harder@gmail.com We would like your documents by Nov. 19 to begin building this section.

Policies and/or procedures
Legal (Notices, Opinions, Rulings, Challenges, etc.)
Requests for Proposals
Surplus Capital Listings (available for bid or sale)
Open Purchasing Contracts (Subcategories: Vehicles [by type of vehicle or brand], Electronics, Office Furniture, Equipment, etc.)
Vendors (Products or Services. Need company name, your sales contact name, address, city, state, zip, email, website, phone and fax)

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Many thanks in advance for your help in developing this valuable resource!

Sherri Cadeaux
Marketing & Customer Service Manager
Macatawa Area Express Transportation Authority
Padnos Center
171 Lincoln Ave. Ste #20
Holland, MI 49423

Ph: (616) 928-2475
Fax: (616) 928-2467
Email: s.cadeaux@catchamax.org
Web: www.catchamax.org

The Macatawa Area Express Transportation Authority of Holland, Mich., is accepting sealed bids for a Konica Minolta DiALTA DI2010 copier/printer/scanner, purchased new for $4,800 in 2004.

This is the standard unit with these additional optional features: a duplex unit, finisher (corner stapling); additional bin kit; as well as Scan to FTP, HDD, Email, URL, Network Twain.

This machine has been used daily, maintained regularly, and is in good working order. All functions are working properly. No warranty is expressed or implied and the machine is sold “As Is.”

Bids will be received for this copier/printer/scanner sight unseen, and the Authority will not allow physical inspection of the unit or entertain questions. All specifications for this model may be obtained by contacting the manufacturer, Konica Minolta.

Successful bidder must pay for and remove the unit by 4 p.m. Monday, November 15 or the item will be offered to the second highest bidder.

The bid minimum is $500.

Bids with the bidder’s name, address, phone number, email and highest bid amount must be in a sealed envelope with the delivery address below and received by MAX no later than NOON, Friday, November 12, 2010.

Bids are to be sent in a sealed envelope labeled KONICA MACHINE BID to:

MAX Authority
Re: Konica Machine Bids
Padnos Transportation Center
171 Lincoln Ave. Ste 20
Holland MI 49423

Easter Seals Project ACTION is hosting an Introduction to Travel Training course November 16-18 in Silver Spring, Md.  Information about the course can be found by following the link.  Applications are due October 24.  Class size is limited.

Introduction to Travel Training is an intensive three-day course with classroom and field instruction. A limited enrollment and high trainer-to-participant ratio offers an environment where travel trainers will acquire knowledge in the classroom and directly apply and practice new skills on the street, obtaining constructive feedback from trainers and colleagues. Travel trainers will receive a toolkit packed with useful resources ready to use when they return to work.

If you know of any trainers in your region who would be interested in applying, please forward this announcement along and encourage them to apply.

For specific questions about the course, please contact Kristi Ross, ESPA Training and Technical Assistance Specialist, at kross@easterseals.com or (800) 659-6428.

Armed with stories and signed petitions urging Congress to fund significantly increased federal investment in public transportation, APTA culminated its year-long “Telling Our Story” initiative in a big way yesterday as the industry gathered in Washington, DC, to tell our story to Capitol Hill.

Part of the event included the launch of APTA’s Online Wall that features video testimonials of riders and community leaders speaking to the benefits of public transportation. All content on the wall was submitted by APTA members.

The wall will become the collective voice of Americans as they express the importance of public transportation and urge Congress to increase funding for public transportation by passing a multi-year surface transportation authorization bill.

Thanks to all members who have already submitted testimonials and signed and circulated the petition.

The wall is now open to the public and APTA encourages you to invite your riders and community leaders to post a testimonial on the wall.

Increased federal investment in public transportation is greatly needed, and here is another chance for you to help!  Encourage your employees, riders, stakeholders, advocates and community members to sign the National Public Transit Petition.

The petition will be presented by industry leaders on September 22 at an event in Washington, D.C. to highlight to Congress the importance of public transportation across the country

How can you help:

• Sign the Petition: http://www.publictransportation.org/petition/
• Post the petition on your agency’s website to encourage visitors to sign
• Notify community leaders about the petition and encourage them to sign
• Utilize social media tools to communicate the importance of signing the petition out to your followers
• Host a special event inviting members of the community to sign the petition

And don’t forget to save time from 2:00 – 3:00 pm Easter on Thursday, September 9 for the webinar on strategic planning. During the webinar , we will discuss how often to create a strategic plan, how to begin the process, why a strategic plans is good for you and your board, and the realities of living with a strategic plan.   Kristen Joyner, executive director, South West Transit Association will conduct the webinar.   You will receive a separate email on the link to get  access to the webinar.

Citizens understand important link between transportation investment and economic development

LANSING – Voters throughout Michigan generously and overwhelmingly approved measures to pay for road improvements and public transportation in the Aug. 3 Primary. Voters gave a thumbs up to an astonishing 85 percent of the 136 road repair millage requests from local governments. In Metro Detroit, voters approved a property tax renewal for regional bus service by a lopsided margin.

These primary election results are even more impressive given the backdrop of Michigan’s high unemployment, plummeting personal income and property values, and the perception that voters are in an anti-tax mood.

“Michigan voters are willing to step up and financially support the state’s increasingly neglected transportation network – they understand that these road projects not only benefit commuters, but also serve as important economic development tools in a state going through tough times,” said Mike Nystrom, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association. “Lawmakers who continue to ignore a growing chorus of pleas to identify a sustainable revenue stream to fix our crumbling roads and bridges would be wise to follow the good judgment displayed by voters.”

Voters approved 60 percent of the 48 local ballot measures asking for a tax increase to maintain and improve local roadways. According to a post-election analysis by the Center for Michigan, voter support for road projects was only exceeded by their support for fire services.

Pressure is growing for the Legislature to deal with road funding in the lame-duck session following the Nov. 2 election. The Comprehensive Transportation Fund, which pays for road and bridge work, is down by $100 million from a decade ago.

The state’s gasoline tax has not been increased since 1997, while the cost of road repair and construction has steadily shot upward. Revenue from the gasoline tax has been reduced because many motorists are driving fewer miles or switching to more fuel-efficient vehicles. In addition, there are fewer new vehicles being purchased in today’s troubled economy, meaning less money in registration fees. To make matters worse, lawmakers – for the first time ever – are leaving $475 million on the table in Washington because they can’t come up with the $84 million matching funds to qualify for the transportation federal aid.

On the public transit front, the support for SMART bus service across Metro Detroit reached new highs – with 78 percent of Oakland County voters approving a property tax renewal to keep the buses operating, 74 percent approving in Wayne County and 72 percent supporting a renewal in Macomb County.

Public transit systems in Michigan employ about 9,200 people and pump $1 billion into the state’s economy. Public transit usage has grown by 22 percent in the last six years as people discover the financial, environmental and other associated benefits.

“There’s no question public transportation reduces traffic congestion and improves the quality of the air we breathe,” said Clark Harder, executive director of the Michigan Public Transportation Association. “But lawmakers also must remember that for every 10 jobs created in the public transit sector, another six spin-off jobs are created in the rest of the economy.”

The Michigan Transportation Team (MTT) is a broad-based, bipartisan partnership of business, labor, local government, associations and citizens with the common goal of improving Michigan’s transportation infrastructure. The DriveMI campaign is committed to promoting the development and maintenance of a safe, convenient and efficient transportation network that serves the public, private and economic development needs of Michigan. Please visit www.drivemi.org or www.facebook.com/fixmichiganroads for more information on transportation funding. Citizens can also follow MTT on twitter @drivemi or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/FixMIRoads.

15 of 16 public transportation millage requests were approved by large margins (+ 60% and higher) in the following locations:

-Branch County

-St. Joseph County

-Van Buren County

-Ingham County (two proposals)

-Lapeer

-Clare County

-Shiawassee County

-Genesee County

-Wayne, Oakland & Macomb Counties (SMART)

-Wexford County

-Mason County (two proposals)

-Bay County

-Saginaw County

The only transit millage to fail to be approved by voters was in Eaton County where EATRAN was looking for an increase in millage to 0.75 mill to allow service expansion and some fixed-route service. It was defeated by a 55 to 45% margin.

With almost half of the votes reported counted, Eaton County Transportation (EATRAN) appears to be the only millage question being defeated in the State of Michigan today.  EATRAN was proposing a millage increase to .75 of a mill to expand service and begin some fixed-route operations.

All other transit-related millage questions appear to be headed to victory across the state. In most jurisdictions the Yes votes are overwhelming the nay-sayers.

Greater Lapeer Transporation Authority final results are in showing a 4718 yes vote (67%) to 2373 no.

Branch County Transit has achieved a 70% approval with 3615 yes votes to 1570 no.

Ludington MTA millage renewals in Scottville and Ludington are winning by large margins.

Cadillac/Wexford Transit is also rolling up big numbers in victory.

Clare County final results show 2364 Yes to 1500 No.

SMART millage renewal is sweeping to huge victory in all three counties: Wayne, Oakland and Macomb.

Shiawassee Area Transportation millage approved in Caledonia Township,  498 Yes to 320 No.

Van Buren County Transit final results are in and voters there have approved renewal, 8090 Yes to 3725 No.

St. Joseph County Transportation renewal is leading with 3328 Yes to 2108 No.

Millage questions in MTA-Flint, and CATA (two proposals) all have large leads with better than 50% of the votes counted.

  MTA Millage Renewal Proposal GENESEE COUNTY
          VOTE FOR  1
              (WITH 53 OF 230 PRECINCTS COUNTED 23.04%)
           YES  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     7,764   63.85
           NO.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     4,395   36.15

St. Joseph County Transportation, with 24 of 26 precincts reporting,  Yes: 2974, No: 1855

Clare County Transit results, with 50% of precincts reporting, Yes:  1138, No: 695

Oakland County, 2 of 321 precincts reporting (1%)… Yes… 918 …    No…  180

Macomb County, 9 of 362 precincts reporting (2.5%)…Yes…3,430…  No…   1357

There are over a dozen transit millage requests on today’s ballot. Results will be posted here on the MPTA website as they become available this evening, overnight and in the morning on Wednesday.  Results can also be followed on the MPTA Facebook page and through MPTA Twitter posts for our followers.

MPTA joins with MDOT to announce new tool to measure benefits of transit

LANSING, Mich. – For every 10 jobs created in the public transit sector, six additional jobs are created in the rest of the economy, according to a study released by the Michigan Public Transit Association (MPTA) and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).

The study estimates that transit operations sustained about 9,200 jobs and contributed $1 billion in economic output in Michigan in 2008.  The study also says that the money passengers save by taking the bus add $264.4 million to the Michigan economy.

These findings are part of “Economic and Community Benefits of Local Bus Transit Service,” a case study that utilizes a new Michigan-based assessment tool created to help MDOT and transit agencies better understand the important role transit plays in stimulating the state’s economy and helping communities and their residents.

“For the first time, a local transit agency can quantify the economic impact and value of bus operations on their local community,” said Clark Harder, executive director of the Michigan Public Transit Association. “In the past, we have only had national studies to demonstrate the value of

transit, which are heavily weighted in favor of passenger rail-intensive states.  This model drills right down and focuses on Michigan and our transit bus-based service.”

“Michigan public transit systems will be able to better understand the social benefits and economic impacts of their services on their communities, thanks to this new assessment tool,” said Sharon Edgar, administrator of the MDOT Bureau of Passenger Transportation. “We can better understand the statewide picture, and the transit agencies will be able to tell their local story. To our knowledge, no other state has such a model at its disposal.”

An overview of the model, its use and significance, and the statewide results it generated were shared with the Michigan State Transportation Commission on July 29 in Lansing.

The case study served three main purposes:

• to demonstrate how the model is used to estimate the economic and community benefits of local bus transit service in Michigan;
• to assess the benefits of transit for the State of Michigan;
• and to document the analysis results in non-technical terms.

“For instance, we learned through this study that when people use public transit instead of a more costly alternative, such as a personal car or taxi, they save money, which in turn can be spent on food, health care, housing and other staples.  In 2008, out-of-pocket savings totaled $348.8 million for riders in Michigan,” said Edgar.

Every dollar invested to deliver public transit results in a dollar’s worth of consumer product, i.e., an individual is transported to their desired destination.  However, the benefits extend beyond that service and these additional benefits are divided into two broad categories: social benefits and economic impacts.

Overall, public transit contributed nearly $804 million in social benefits to Michigan communities in 2008.  These benefits exceeded transit operating and maintenance costs by as much as $252 million.  In other words, transit agencies in Michigan delivered $1.46 of economic value for each dollar spent on providing transit services.  This value was in addition to the actual transportation service provided to the individual consumer.

Public transit agencies contributed $1 billion to economic activity as a direct result of their hiring and spending, as well as through the re-spending of out-of-pocket cost savings by riders.  The combined output impact is estimated at $1.3 billion in 2008.

The study was created for MDOT by HDR Decision Economics, using the most recently available data.  The study was a two-year, two-phased effort. To read more, visit the MDOT Web site at: www.michigan.gov/mdot

Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority is seeking samples of contracts/agreements
where a transit agency may have another entity that is sharing a building
and/or mechanic, drivers, dispatchers, or administration, such as a transit
agency with road commission, commission on aging, or another transit agency.

Thank you for your help.  We are working in a tight time frame, please send
you sample by July 30th.

You may email them to motrans@sbcglobal.net or fax to 231-796-4137.

(As of July 15, 2010)

Additional MPTA Primary endorsements may be announced at a later date.

Endorsements of incumbent legislators are made upon review of their voting records and bill sponsorships. Endorsements of non-incumbents are based upon review of their positions, input from local transit officials and their demonstrated support of MPTA positions.

Download this list of MPTA endorsements as a PDF

U.S. Congress

1^st District:  Jason Allen, R

Gary McDowell, D

2^nd – 3^rd Districts: No endorsement at this time.

4^th District: Dave Camp, R.

5^th District: Dale Kildee, D.

6^th District: Fred Upton, R.

7^th District: Mark Schauer, D.

8^th District: Mike Rogers, R.

9^th District: Gary Peters, D.

10^th – 15^th Districts: No endorsement at this time.

State Senate

1^st District: Coleman Young, D.

2^nd District: Bert Johnson, D.

3^rd District: Morris Hood, D.

4^th District: George Cushingberry, Jr., D.

5^th District: Tupac Hunter, D.

6^th District: Glenn Anderson, D.

7^th District: No endorsement at this time

8^th District: Hoon-Yung Hopgood, D.

9^th District: Steve Bieda, D.

10^th District: Paul Gieleghem, D.

11^th – 12^th Districts: No endorsement at this time.

13^th District: John Pappageorge, R.

14^th – 15^th District: No endorsement at this time.

16^th District: Doug Spade, D.

17^th District: Randy Richardville, R.

18^th District: Pam Byrnes, D. - Rebekah Warren, D. (Both meet endorsement criteria.)

19^th District: No endorsement at this time.

20^th District: Robert Jones, D.

21^{st –} 22^nd Districts: No endorsement at this time.

23^rd District: Gretchen Whitmer, D.

24^th District: Rick Jones, R.

25^th - 26^th Districts: No endorsement at this time.

27^th District: John Gleason, D.

28^th – 30^th Districts: No endorsement at this time.

31^st District: Jeff Mayes, D.

32^nd District: Roger Kahn, R.

33^rd District: No endorsement at this time.

34^th District: Geoff Hansen, R.

Mary Valentine, D.

35^th District: Darwin Booher, R.

Roger Dunigan, D.

36^th District: Andy Neumann, D.

37^th District: Howard Walker, R.

38^th District: Michael Lahti, D.

House of Representatives

1^st District: Timothy Bledsoe, D.

2^nd – 8^th Districts: No endorsement at this time.

9^th District: Shanelle Jackson, D.

10^th – 11^th Districts: No endorsement at this time.

12^th District: Rashida Tlaib, D.

13^th District: Andrew Kandrevas, D.

14^th – 15^th Districts: No endorsement at this time.

16^th District: Bob Constan, D.

17^th District: Phil Cavanagh, D.

18^th District: Richard LeBlanc, D.

19^th – 20^th Districts: No endorsement at this time.

21^st District: Dian Slavens, D.

22^nd District: Doug Geiss, D.

23^rd District: Deb Kennedy, D.

24^th District: Sarah Roberts, D.

25^th District: Jon Switalski, D.

26^th District: Kevin McLogan, D.

27^th District: Ellen Cogan Lipton, D.

28^th District: Lesia Liss, D.

29^th District: Tim Melton, D.

30^th – 31^st Districts: No endorsement at this time.

32^nd District: Jennifer Haase, D.

33^rd District: No endorsement at this time.

34^th District: Woodrow Stanley, D.

35^th – 36^th Districts: No endorsement at this time.

37^th District: Vicki Barnett, D.

38^th District: No endorsement at this time.

39^th District: Lisa Brown, D.

40^th – 41^st Districts: No endorsement at this time.

42^nd District: Harold Haugh, D.

43^rd District: Gail Haines, R.

44^th – 55^th Districts: No endorsement at this time.

56^th District: Kate Ebli, D.

57^th – 58^th Districts: No endorsement at this time.

59^th District: Matt Lori, R.

60^th – 61^st Districts: No endorsement at this time.

62^nd District: Kate Segal, D.

63^rd District: No endorsement at this time.

64^th District: Martin Griffin, D.

65^th – 66^th Districts: No endorsement at this time.

67^th District: Barb Byrum, D.

68^th District: Joan Bauer, D.

69^th District: Mark Meadows, D.

70^th District: Mike Huckleberry, D.

71^st – 74^th Districts: No endorsement at this time.

75^th District: Bing Goei, R.

Brandon Dillon, D.

76^th District: Roy Schmidt, D.

77^th – 80^th Districts: No endorsement at this time.

81^st District: Judson Gilbert, R.

82^nd – 83^rd Districts: No endorsement at this time.

84^th District: Terry Brown, D.

85^th District: No endorsement at this time.

86^th District: Rob Verheulen, R.

87^th – 100^th Districts: No endorsement at this time.

101^st District: Dan Scripps, D.

102^nd – 103^rd Districts: No endorsement at this time.

104^th District: Wayne Schmidt, R.

105^th -107^th Districts: No endorsement at this time.

108^th District: Judy Nerat, D.

109^th District: Steve Lindberg, D.

110^th District: No endorsement at this time.

State Legislature passes bill that releases federal ARRA stimulus dollars to local transit systems.  The bill passed the State Senate on Thursday, June 10 and the House concurred, sending it to Governor Granholm for her signature.

The original formula distribution of federal ARRA funds included in 2009 PA 3 included $211.8 million for local road jurisdictions. As part of the local federal aid planning process, some local units elected to “flex” these funds for local transit projects. [The option to flex certain federal highway program funds for local transit projects is available under the current non-ARRA federal aid program.] The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has approved the state’s request, on behalf of local units, to flex a total of $524,100 in FHWA ARRA funds to local transit projects for capital equipment and facility renovations.

The specific projects are as follows:

• Ogema County Board of Commissioners $20,000Sanilac County Board of Commissions $14,405
• St. Joseph County Transportation Authority $110,121
• Barry County Board of Commissioners $48,000
• Van Buren County Board of Commissioners $80,000Caro Transit $28,000
• Ionia Dial-a-Ride $15,000
• Greater Lapeer Transit Authority $20,000
• Shiawassee Area Transit Authority $6,000
• Crawford County Transportation Authority $37,885
• Bay Metro Transportation Authority (Arenac County) $40,000
• ALTRAN Transportation Authority (Alger County) $71,327
• Lenawee County Board of Commissioners $7,834
• City of Adrian $25,500

This story appears in today’s Free Press, at http://www.freep.com/article/20100522/NEWS05/5220387/1322/Rally-puts-transit-woes-in-spotlight

Rally puts transit woes in spotlight

Supporters say cuts hurting residents

By MATT HELMS
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Union workers and supporters rallied Friday at Hart Plaza to support mass transit as transportation systems across the country cut services and lay off workers because of funding depleted by the recession.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson and U.S. Reps. John Conyers and Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, both Detroit Democrats, were among the speakers at the rally, which included the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 26, representing Detroit Department of Transportation drivers.

“This may be the most critical issue of our times,” Jackson told about 75 people who attended the rally.

Jackson said transit’s ability to move people in environmentally friendly ways is crucial for the future. He said older cities across the country could be revitalized by efforts to improve and expand transit, similar to how Detroit was transformed into the Arsenal of Democracy for World War II. “The same Detroit that can make tanks also can make trains and make buses and put America back to work,” he said.

DDOT has cut bus routes and laid off more than 100 drivers in the last year. SMART, the suburban bus system, said it’s facing budget shortfalls beginning in 2012 that could lead to service cuts.

Transit agencies across the country are ditching workers, cutting routes and frequency of service and raising fares as revenues plummet. A recent survey by the American Public Transportation Association found that 84% of the nation’s transit systems have taken such measures or are considering doing so.

Transit supporters say sustained service is crucial to people who rely on it for commuting to work and for unemployed people to look for jobs.

Megan Owens, executive director of Detroit-based Transportation Riders United, said the Michigan Senate recently voted to cut $7 million from transit programs to help cover a projected $84-million shortfall in matching funds the state needs to get about $500 million in federal road funding.

Yet more people are using transit across the country and locally, Owens said. In Detroit, riders are waiting longer, spending more time to get around and forgoing trips to places along canceled routes.

“It’s having a real impact on people’s lives,” she said.

You are strongly urged to contact your Michigan legislator today in the House of Representatives to oppose Senate Transportation Bill 1164.  Yesterday the Republican-led Senate approved Senate Bill 1164 on a 21-17 vote.  The budget bill includes harmful cuts but no stable revenue sources in an attempt to come up with the $84 million Michigan needs to qualify for $475 million in federal matching transportation funds.  The bill now goes to the House Appropriations Committee for action.

Here’s two easy ways to contact your legislator:

1. Call 888-719-3087 to be automatically connected with your legislator’s office.
2. Visit the Contact Your Legislator Section of www.drivemi.org for an easy way to e-mail a message to your legislator after selecting your county location.

To view a press release regarding why transportation groups are opposing Senate Transportation Bill 1164, click here.

Make your voice heard.  Contact your legislator today!

You are likely voting today on SB 1164 as amended by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday afternoon. As a former legislator, I appreciate the difficult decisions you are struggling with in trying to address our state’s critical needs. However, please be advised that this Department of Transportation 2011 budget bill represents a disingenuous effort at circumventing the clear recommendations of the Transportation Funding Task Force (TF2), the “blue ribbon” committee appointed by the Governor and Legislative leadership and which released its recommendations in November, 2009; none of which have yet been enacted by this Legislature.  The Task Force, in its report, raised the clear need for greater investment in our state’s roads, bridges and public transportation infrastructure.  Subsequently, legislation has been introduced that would accomplish many of the recommendations made by the TF2. Those bills remain stuck in committees.

Further, SB 1164 is a clear raid upon Comprehensive Transportation Funds (CTF) intended for use in public transportation projects to provide the necessary $84 million state shortfall to fully match available federal road funds in 2011.  Not only is it a raid on earmarked CTF funds but it also takes state matching funds for the federal Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) program which will result in an even greater shortfall in matching available federal funds for public transportation projects in Michigan in 2011.

For several years MDOT has been failing to fully match available federal transit funds for use in Michigan with hard dollars, instead using “toll credits.”  In 2011 we were already predicted to fall short in matching federal transit dollars by approximately $30 million. (For every $1 the state puts in on the transit side, we have available $4 from the federal government.)  This $30 million shortfall is above and beyond the $84 million shortfall in matching federal dollars for road construction.  So the real need is not $84 million, but more on the order of $115 million.

SB 1164 merely “robs Peter to pay for Paul.”  It takes primarily from public transportation and gives to road construction, while compounding the problems we already have in failing to meet the state match for available federal funding.  To redirect these funds from their intended purpose to meet the match for federal road funds is, frankly, deceitful.

This is not a solution, it is a stopgap measure so that you can say you met the road funding match shortfall without raising the gas tax.  It is, at best, a one year fix for the road funding and, at worst, a long-term complication for our public transportation infrastructure funding.

As many of you know, during my tenure in the Legislature, I chaired the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation.  So I know what the line items mean and I also know the tricks that can be played in crafting a budget document. Please allow me to elaborate on some of the line items that are being cut under SB 1164, so that you may fully understand the impact this will have on transit across the state.

But before I address CTF line items, let’s consider this: In the State Transportation Fund (STF) there is the largest cut of all from Maintenance:  $40.3 million.  Now I ask you, does it really make sense to cut road maintenance in order to leverage more federal road dollars?

Let’s look at some of the public transportation line items:

Intercity Services: $725,000 These are Intercity Bus and Rail subsidies for Amtrak and Indian Trails to provide essential core route service. The majority of riders on intercity buses have no other alternatives to move from one part of Michigan to another.

Marine Passenger Services:  $60,000 These funds are utilized to transport residents daily to and from Drummond Island, Neebish Island, Sugar Island (in the Sault region) and Beaver Island in Lake Michigan.

Specialized Services: $521,100 This funding goes to transport primarily elderly and disabled, particularly in counties that have no other organized public transportation service. Often utilizing volunteer drivers, this program has been severely cut in the past several years and is failing to meet the far greater statewide need.

Municipal Credit Program: $300,000 The program helps to fund bus purchases, primarily in SE Michigan.

Transportation to Work/Work First: $2.3 million This one is the most egregious cuts and makes absolutely no sense, since these funds help leverage more federal transit dollars.  This is also known as the Job Access/Reverse Commute (JARC) program. It is used extensively by Flint MTA, The Rapid in Grand Rapids, and metro Detroit but also in many rural areas throughout the state. It gets people to and from work when they have no other way of accessing their jobs. Proponents of this cut say that this line item has lapsed funds in recent years; however, they likely won’t say that the need has been growing each year and that MDOT projects that the full recommended line item of $9.3 million will be fully needed in 2011.

Van Pooling: $19,500 This program has been all but destroyed from its high level in the 1990s. It is the state program that encourages people to carpool and rideshare to and from work by providing state matching funds for vans.

MDOT personnel could tell you what all of the other line items fund in great detail.  But this will give you a start to know that these are real programs that impact real people in your districts all across the state.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me for further clarification.

Sincerely,

Clark Harder
Executive Director
Michigan Public Transit Association
517-324-0858

Holland area teens aged 10-17 hoping to get out of the
house and enjoy their summer vacation might find that MAX transit’s Summer Fun Pass is just their ticket to freedom.

The Macatawa Area Express (MAX) Transportation Authority for the second year is offering a Teen Summer Fun Pass that gives teens unlimited rides on the fixed bus routes from June 1-Labor Day for just $30. Two passes can be purchased for $50 – an
even greater savings – to encourage teens to ride the bus with friends or siblings.

Student bus passes normally cost $15 per month or $50 per semester (4 months).

“Soon it’ll be summer and kids will, as usual, complain about being bored. MAX’s Fun Pass is a great way for them to get out of the house inexpensively and without bothering parents or older siblings,” says Matthew Scott, owner of Lemonjello’s Coffee in Holland, one of the 11 local sponsors of the promotion.
Other sponsors, some of which are offering special deals and discounts to teens who show their pass, include: the Holland Aquatic Center; Boys & Girls Club of Holland; Century Bowling Lanes; Herrick District Libraries; Holland 7 Theater (Goodrich Quality Theaters); Home Roller Rink; Howard Miller Library; the Lost City; Peppino’s Pizza; Vitale’s Pizza of Zeeland.

The MAX Fun Pass promotion will also feature a TV spot.

Theater and Drama Club students from West Ottawa
High School will be starring in a new television commercial to promote the Macatawa Area Express (MAX) Transportation Authority’s Teen Summer Fun Pass. The transit system will be filming at various locations around Holland on Saturday, April 24
(Editors: See attached filming schedule).

The students were recruited after the lakeshore transit system hired SVS Productions of Holland, Mich. to produce a new 30-second television commercial for the transit system’s Teen Summer Fun Pass. “If we want to market the Fun Pass to teens,
then we need input from teens to make the spot ‘real’ and to appeal to them,” explains Sherri Betz, MAX marketing and customer service manager.

From freep.com …

Petty partisanship too often characterizes the work of Michigan legislators, so it’s encouraging to note that Republicans and Democrats do come together from time to time to support policies that will move Michigan forward.

Such is the case with a package of bills promoting transit by extending economic development incentives to bus stops, train stations and related improvements. Driving the bipartisan transit bills are two Democrats — Rep. Marie Donigan of Royal Oak and Sen. Gilda Jacobs of Huntington Woods — and two Republicans — Sen. Jason Allen and Rep. Wayne Schmidt, both of Traverse City.

So-called Transit Oriented Development bills would not raise taxes or require any community to invest in bus or rail systems. But the bills would provide new tools for municipalities to use Tax Increment Financing, tax credits, abatements and other incentives provided by existing economic development laws, including Corridor Improvement and Brownfield Redevelopment, for transit stations and other improvements.

Equally important, the bills would require communities to consider transit development options when updating their master plans. Although transit would not have to become part of any local master plan, municipal leaders should at least consider ways transit could benefit their communities if they want to move Michigan into a 21st Century economy.

These bills could change Michigan’s landscape by providing incentives to create dense, walkable communities around transit hubs. Nationally, every dollar spent on transit spurs an estimated $4 to $7 of related private investment. More transit in Michigan would also help the state recover more than the 46 cents it gets back for every transit dollar it sends to Washington.

“Transit needs to become part of economic development in Michigan,” said Andy Schor of the Michigan Municipal League. “More transit means attracting more investment and more talent to Michigan.”

Michigan needs transit systems that will relieve congestion, conserve energy, reduce global warning, reduce the enormous cost of maintaining and expanding highways, and create jobs and economic development. Legislators can help Michigan get there by approving the bipartisan package of Transit Oriented Development bills.

Thursday, April 1, 2010
http://www.drivemi.org/
Details: http://www.drivemi.org/PDFs/LansingLobbyDay.pdf

Join us for a Transportation Lobby Day at 10:30 a.m., May 4, in the Rotunda of the Capitol Building in Lansing.  The goal of the rally is to encourage lawmakers to find a funding solution for transportation infrastructure.  Participants are encouraged to meet with their legislators before or after the rally.  Please set appointments where possible.   Your attendance at this Lobby Day is important.  See you May 4!

Published in Crain’s Detroit Business on March 26, 2010…

By Bill Shea

John Hertel, who helped orchestrate a proposed $10 billion regional mass transit system and used backroom diplomacy to launch a light-rail line project for Detroit’s Woodward Avenue, was appointed general manager today of the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation bus system.

SMART’s board voted to appoint Hertel and ordered its administrative staff to begin contract negotiations, said Beth Dryden, director of external affairs, marketing and communications.

“This all happened very fast,” said Hertel, who expects to begin work in coming weeks. He declined further comment.

Hertel will replace Hayes Jones, who retired in June. Steve Brown, a deputy general manager, had been working as interim general manager.

One of the first things on his plate will be SMART’s 0.59-mill property tax, a primary source for operating funds that is up for renewal on the August ballot in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

Because of declining property values, SMART’s annual tax revenue has fallen from $65 million to $51 million since the last renewal in 2006. The system raised fares, cut jobs and trimmed benefits last year to save money.

The system’s 640 buses service 1,200 square miles of suburban Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties (54 routes, 7,000 stops), typically serving more than 12 million riders annually. The system connects to Detroit’s bus system.

Hertel currently is CEO of the Regional Transportation Coordinating Council’s Detroit Regional Mass Transit effort. His current bosses — the elected political leaders of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, and the mayor of Detroit — put him in charge of creating a regional transit system that could survive the political pitfalls that have consumed numerous previous attempts.

Legislation to authorize the system is being debated now in Lansing.

The Big 4, as Hertel’s political bosses are known, agreed in December 2008 on the plan — a mixture of improved and expanded bus service, light-rail and commuter trains over 406 miles in the three counties — and Hertel was working on a report to them that will suggest a governance plan and likely funding options.

The plan would cost $10 billion over 25 years, but only would be deployed by stages if ridership dictated the need.

Hertel also spent months shepherding a privately funded venture to deploy a 3.4 mile light rail loop with 12 stops along the busiest stretch of Woodward Avenue in Detroit, now known as M1 Rail.

Hertel previously was chairman of the board of commissioners for Wayne and Macomb counties, served as director of the state fairgrounds from 1993 to 2006 and was elected three times to the Michigan Senate.

He also has taught at Lawrence Technological University and worked at WXZY-Channel 7 as a producer and editorial director.

(Holland, Mich.) March 3, 2010 — The Macatawa Area Express (MAX) Transportation Authority is a recipient of the 2010 Communitas Award for Excellence in Community Service.

The MAX was given the award for its annual “Stuff the Bus” Food Drive, in which food donations are collected from passengers and the general public to restock the food pantry at Community Action House.  The 2009 food drive resulted in more than a ton of food valued at over $4,500 being collected to help local residents in need.  MAX has sponsored the Stuff the Bus Food Drive for six years.

Communitas Awards recognize exceptional businesses and organizations that are unselfishly giving of their time and resources to benefit their communities. The awards are given by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP).

Communitas is a Latin word that means “people coming together for the good of a community.” Communitas is inspired by the vision of a better world and is an attempt to do something about it through volunteerism, investment and ethical, sustainable business practices.

The Communitas Award signifies the harmony of people, the environment and the world. A face, a leaf and the globe are one. Created by the originators of the Oscar®, Emmy®  awards, the Communitas Award is comprised of an oval glass help by two highly polished outstretched metal arms.  The design signifies the harmony of people, the environment and the world as the face, the leaf and the globe are one.

The Michigan Transportation Team (MTT) has launched an online petition supporting the passage of any legislation that will increase investment in Michigan’s transportation infrastructure, including raising vehicle registration fees and user fees on gasoline and diesel fuel.

“We’ve already collected more than 1,000 signatures calling on Michigan legislators to finally make transportation funding a priority,” said Mike Nystrom, vice president of government and public relations for the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA).

Source: MIRS

Visit DriveMI.org to read and sign the petition, or sign it now.

The 3-bill Bi-partisan package to raise the state’s gasoline tax has been introduced by Reps. Richard Ball (R-Laingsburg) and Pam Byrnes (D-Chelsea).

House Bills 5768-5770 would, among other things:

* raise the gas tax by 4 cents immediately on gasoline with another 4 cent increase in 2013;

* gradually bring the diesel tax into line with the gasoline tax;

* set aside the funds in a Transportation Investment Fund that would be immune to siphoning for other state departments; and

* guarantee the full 10% off-the-top commitment to the Comprehensive Transportation Fund (CTF) which funds public transit.

Greater Lapeer Transit Agency has some fantastic looking buses on the road, thanks to their second annual student art contest.

Check out pictures and the full story from The County Press.

Today, the Detroit Free Press examines the importance of public transportation for senior, and the implications that massive funding cuts will have on an already frail population.

“It’s been ignored, by and large, by most of the leaders, the fact that we’re getting older,” said Tim Wintermute, executive director of the Luella Hannan Memorial Foundation in Detroit, which works to provide activities and improve quality of life for area seniors.

“It’s the No. 1 thing for older people: How are we going to get around?”

Read the full article…

Easter Seals Project ACTION (ESPA) announces a new initiative that builds on a long-standing program. ESPA’s Mobility Planning Services Program: The Accessible Transportation Coalitions Initiative (ATCI) is a one-year process designed to support systems change at the local level. Long known as a Washington, D.C.-based event, an initial two-day gathering for team development, training and planning will be hosted by ESPA staff within the selected communities. Assistance then continues through one year of follow-up technical assistance to support implementation of the plans that the community teams develop. There is no registration fee for this program but acceptance is through a competitive application process that is now open but will end Jan. 29.

For more information, visit the Easter Seals Project ACTION ATCI page.

The National Transit Institute will be sponsoring a “Project
Management for ARRA Recipients” classes in Detroit, MI on January
26-27, 2010. This is the same Project Management for Construction
Projects class re-titled.

The course is intended for transit professionals whose current and/or
future responsibilities include planning, managing, and executing all
phases of a project’s lifecycle. Upon completion of these training
programs, each participant will: know how to build, manage, and execute
a project; understand the tools used for a successful project management
system; appreciate the importance of analyzing, leading, and managing
the complexities of transit projects by providing them with the tools to
foster success.

By the end of this course participants will be able to:
● Describe the major components of a well-defined project
● Explain the functionality of each phase of the project lifecycle
and associated deliverables
● Create a Project Management Plan (PMP), Statement of Work (SOW) and
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
● Identify methods to obtain reasonable project estimates to develop
a realistic project schedule
● Use Earned Value to control and report a project’s status and
evaluate the impact of potential changes on the PMP
● Recognize the relationship between leadership and teamwork
development, as well as the importance of communicating to all
stakeholders

You can register for this class on-line at the National Transit
Institute’s website at http://www.ntionline.com/Courses.asp The
contact person at NTI is Barbara Vandyke. She can be reached at (732)
932-1700 ext 211 or via email at bvandyke@rutgers.edu. Tuition shall be
waived for federal, state and local government employees who work in
transportation or related areas.

Today, Oakland County Commissioners voted on a proposal that would have sent to the ballot a countywie transportation tax. The proposal failed to pass after a 6-6 voting stalemate. As a result, the current system will remain in place, allowing individual communities to either join or abstain from the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART).

See today’s Detroit Free Press article for further details.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2009

Editor’s Note: To see photos from the Roadeo, please go to the MDOT Web site at: www.michigan.gov/mdot, then News and Information, Event Photos.

CONTACT: Janet Foran, MDOT Office of Communications, 517-335-7176

Top bus drivers named in 34th Annual Small Bus Roadeo safety and skills competition

November 2, 2009 — Nearly 50 bus drivers from 17 transit systems statewide competed in the 34th Annual Small Bus Roadeo held at the Mt. Pleasant Comfort Inn & Suites Hotel on Friday, Oct. 30.

Drivers competed in Roadeo events designed to test the skills and knowledge of Michigan public transit bus drivers.

“This statewide competition encourages safe driving habits and professionalism behind the wheel,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. “There are more than 3,600 buses out on Michigan streets daily and the drivers who transport the state’s 102 million passengers deserve our appreciation.” Oct. 30 was “Public Transit Bus Driver Day” in the State of Michigan, as proclaimed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

First-place honors in individual competition went to Ken Zelenka of Clinton Area Transit System, who is the repeat Transit Driver of the Year winner from 2008. Al Diana of Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) in Lansing won second place in individual competition, while third place went to Deanna Hughes of the Gladwin City/County Transit. Drivers competed for points based on: a written test, their driving skills, an obstacle course that evaluates their knowledge of road and transit vehicles, a test to load and unload a wheelchair passenger, and a pre-trip vehicle inspection.

The three top individual winners are eligible to complete in the national competition in Long Beach, Calif., in May 2010 at the Community Transportation of America Annual National Bus Roadeo held during its annual Expo.

First place in team competition went to Clinton Area Transit System, with drivers Ken Zelenka, Dan Miller and Rick Hopkins (Clinton Transit also took first place in 2008). Second place went to CATA, with drivers Al Diana, Tammie Reeder and Steve Soliz. Third place went to Gladwin City/County Transit, with drivers Deanna Hughes, Bud Byrd and James Carroll.

The title of “Rookie of the Year” went to Gemille Tuthill of Blue Water Area Transportation in Port Huron. The highest driving score was recorded by Ken Zelenka, and the driver with the highest score on the written test was Steve Soliz of CATA.

Top winners received cash prizes and trophies donated by the Michigan Public Transit Association. The expenses for the trip to Long Beach to compete in the National Small Bus Roadeo are provided through federal training funds.

Sponsors of the event include the Michigan Public Transit Association, Michigan Association of Transportation Systems, and the Michigan Department of Transportation.

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MDOT: Working with our partners at airports, bus systems, marine and rail to find innovative solutions for Michigan’s transportation systems.

Janet Foran
Office of Communications
Michigan Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 30050
Lansing, MI 48909
office phone: 517-335-7176
cell phone: 517-937-7219
e-mail: foranj@michigan.gov

The Michigan Land Use Institute has worked with BATA in Traverse City to release a report titled “Expanding Transportation Choices in the Grand Traverse Region.” The report shows an interest among riders for more fixed schedule routes in rural areas of the region.

From the Michigan Land Use Institute:

the new report focuses on the other, smaller part of BATA’s service—its fairly new, fixed-route Village Connectors. Connector riders and bus drivers quoted in the report agree that adding more frequent, better-promoted Village Connectors would attract many more people.

The report, with its from-the field observations and advice, arrives as the next phase of a vastly larger study, the citizen-based Grand Vision transportation and land use project, gets underway.

Read the full Michigan Land Use Institute press release to learn more about this study, as well as other methods BATA is using to discover and address riders’ needs.

Public Transportation has often been referred to as “the accidental occupation” because most people are not aware of the many good career opportunities that exist in the field of transit.   This fast-paced DVD is designed to be seen by high school and college students who have yet to make up their minds on what field they will enter.  It provides a preliminary glimpse of the kinds of jobs that are available, and stresses the “green nature” of transit as well as the extensive technology that is being utilized in all forms of transit systems.  We hope it will increase their interest in exploring the possibility of working in the field of public transportation.  Given the tremendous competition there will be for talent once the Boomer generation retires, the public transportation industry must compete for good applicants and increase its visibility as an employer of choice.

For Immediate Release
September 21, 2009
Contact: Clark Harder, Executive Director

The Michigan Public Transit Association (MPTA) today blasted the budget agreement forged by Legislative leaders that would transfer $11.5 million from the Comprehensive Transportation Fund (CTF) to cover General Fund shortfalls.

“CTF money is, by statute, protected funding, to be used solely to fund public transportation investment projects, including local bus operations and bus capital match funding that brings a 4-1 return of federal funding to Michigan, along with rail passenger and rail freight operations. But once again, the Legislature seems bound to shortchange the CTF and strand Michigan residents who depend on these services,” stated Clark Harder, Executive Director of the MPTA.

“Apparently we’ve reached the point in Michigan where legislators believe we don’t need $1.2 billion of investment in job creation and our infrastructure. That’s what the Legislature is jeopardizing in federal funding if this proposal goes through,” Harder said.

Our statewide transit system provided 100 million passenger trips last year – a 7% increase over the prior year. Nationwide, the most common purpose for a transit trip is getting to and from work. The second most common use is getting to and from school. Cuts in state support will result in service cuts at the local level which means people cannot get to their jobs or job training, making Michigan’s economic recovery even more difficult.

This is not the first time that state legislators have raided funds designated for the specific use of public transportation, with a total of over $120 million taken over the past dozen years. “We recognize the significant state budget crisis but it is simply inappropriate of legislators to continuously raid funds that the public trusts are earmarked for transportation purposes,” Harder said.

The MPTA urges citizens to contact their legislators as well as Speaker Andy Dillon and Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop and tell them to “keep their hands off public transit funding” as a way to bail out the state’s general fund shortfall.

An interesting note from the Michigan Clean Diesel Initiative:

This is to inform you that the Michigan Clean Diesel Initiative (MiCDI), a coalition of government, industry, and nonprofit organizations that have been working on projects to address diesel engine pollution in Michigan, will be holding its Fall meeting on:
Monday, October 5, 2009
at the
Lansing Community College, West Campus
5708 Cornerstone Drive, Lansing, MI 48917
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Many of you have agreed in the past to pass information along to your membership regarding events, projects, activities and most importantly, grant funding opportunities that become available for diesel engine emission improvements.  The Fall meeting will provide those interested members who are transportation providers, with information on upcoming federal funding assistance for diesel engine fleet owners, operators and managers.

Eligible applicants that can apply for grant funding assistance include: regional (county), state, local, or tribal agencies, port authorities, school districts, and non-profit organizations or institutions that provide air quality reduction/education services, or perform transportation or air quality activities.

Eligible projects for grant funding include:

Retrofit Technologies (i.e. oxidation catalysts and particulate matter filters);

Idle Reduction Technologies (i.e. auxiliary power units, aerodynamic hoods and generator sets);

Cleaner Fuel Use (i.e. cost differential associated with biodiesel substitution); Engine Repowers (i.e. replacement with new or cleaner engine and scrappage of an old engine); The installation of engine upgrades kits;

and Vehicle and Equipment Replacements

for the following types of diesel engine equipment or vehicles:

Medium or heavy duty trucks;

Municipal or school buses;

Construction and mining equipment and vehicles;

Agricultural equipment;

Port operation and cargo handling equipment;

Generator sets used for utility generation.

I encourage you to pass on this very valuable meeting information along to your members.  For your convenience, I have attached a short article that can be used in your next membership e-mail distribution or newsletter during the month of September.  As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me or give me a call at the telephone number below.

Thank you for helping us get the word out about this resource to improve our state’s overall air quality!

Donna Davis, Manager

Clean Corporate Citizen Program
State Clean Diesel Program
Office of Pollution Prevention and Compliance Assistance
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 30457
525 W. Allegan St.
Lansing, MI  48909
(517) 335-2784
(517) 241-0858 (FAX)

An editorial by Jeff Gerritt published in today’s Detroit Free Press discusses gas tax reform that could result in more funding for public transit systems.

“The centerpiece of the reform package would scrap the state’s flat 19-cents-a-gallon tax and replace it with a proportional tax paid by gasoline wholesalers — a move that eventually would raise an added $150 million for transit.”

Read the full story on freep.com including reader comments.

Midwest High Speed Rail Association launches midwesthsr.org.

The Midwest High Speed Rail Association has launched a new website (http://www.midwesthsr.org/)to enable action among supporters. The site is also an informative resource for media and individuals, sharing positive facts on the benefits of high speed rail. Site visitors can use Web tools to send letters of support to Congress and sign up for e-mail alerts.

MHSRA is a Chicago-based non-profit association of individuals, local governments and corporations committed to expanding high speed rail infrastructure throughout the midwest.

ANN ARBOR, MI – The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) has named Michael G. Ford as its new chief executive officer. Ford, who has more than 25 years of experience in both public and private transportation, will begin work at AATA on Monday, July 20.

Ann Arbor Transportation Authority has hired Michael G. Ford as its new CEO.

AATA Board Chair David Nacht praised the new CEO, saying, “Michael Ford has a terrific record of accomplishment managing traditional bus service, light rail and express buses.  He has spent the bulk of his career at Tri Met in Portland, Oregon, which is a crown jewel of American transit.  He has a consensus building teamwork approach that is consistent with our community’s values and style.

He also has the tenacity to ride a bicycle 200 miles from Seattle to Portland in one day, eleven times.  If anyone can build the support to expand transit in our community, he is the guy!”

In making the announcement, Nacht also acknowledged the outstanding service of Dawn Gabay, who served as assistant executive director prior to 2007, when she was selected by the AATA board as interim executive director. Gabay will return to her previous responsibilities and assist the new CEO.

Before starting his own consulting firm in 2008, Ford served as chief operating officer and assistant general manager of the San Joaquin Rapid Transit District in Stockton, California.

Earlier, he served as executive advisor to the general manager and as director of transportation operations at Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation System (TriMet) in Portland, Oregon, and in several positions, including director of maintenance/operations at Community Transit in Everett, Washington. Previously, he held several management positions at Greyhound Lines in Spokane, Washington and has served as a board member of several non-profit organizations on the West Coast.

Ford earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and philosophy from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon and a master’s degree in business administration at City University of Seattle/Spokane.

In anticipation of his new position, Ford said, “I am very excited about the opportunity at AATA and working with the Board, staff and the community to propel the agency forward. I’m looking forward to becoming part of such a dynamic community.”

On July 17th, The Rapid dedicated the final art installation at Rapid Central Station, Journey Home, by Dennis Oppenheim.

In his artist’s statement, Oppenheim wrote that “Journey Home shows a torqued spiral expanding from a point into the shape of a house.  This dynamic represented travel, brings physical evidence to the emotional build up experienced by an individual as they approach their destination.  The circuitous rambling of a journey is reduced to a flowing movement through space, made simply to arrive at a place.”

Following the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) guidelines, the purchase of art was included in the capital budget for Rapid Central Station, which opened five years ago.

It’s interesting to see art and infrastructure co-mingle and we’re sure travelers passing through Rapid Central Station will appreciate this unique installation.

The new $22.5 million, 25,700 square foot facility boasts 15 bus bays and connects to SMART and Transit Windsor buses. The site could be used as a hub in any future light rail projects. Read the full story from the Detroit Free Press.

With all the recent buzz about MagLev trains crisscrossing the nation, and even some talk of stainless steel tracks linking Lansing and Detroit, it would seem that public transit solutions all exist in some far-off shiny future.  The pessimists among us will lament the gigantic infrastructure investments such systems would require.  Even the most optimistic could get discouraged by the costs.  

A story in today’s Free Press reminds us that there’s a readily available source of public transportation that has many potential uses and low infrastructure requirements. What is this magical mystery mover? Why, a bus of course!  It’s a good reminder that although the future may bring some amazing advancements in moving people, the present still offers many untapped options.

The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority is opening a commuter bus route from Canton Township to Ann Arbor that will be ready by the end of the August, an AATA official said today.

Mary Stasiak, manager of community relations for AATA, said the route is a demo park and ride route funded from a $495,000 U.S. Department of Transportation grant that will enable the AATA to guage interest and support for a permanent link between the two communities. 

According to Stasiak and Canton Township Supervisor Philip LaJoy, thousands of western Wayne County residents commute to Ann Arbor for work, including 3,000 residents of Canton, Plymouth and Westland who work at the University of Michigan.

“We think it’s great for the residents here who work in Ann Arbor,” LaJoy said today. 

Full story: http://www.freep.com/article/20090611/NEWS05/90611080 

What do you think?  Do you think this plan will succeed?  Is it worth the costs?  Where else would you like to see buses running?   Leave a comment here and share your opinion.

Kalamazoo County voters gave a resounding victory to public transportation in Tuesday’s election with a 63% approval rating, restoring funding for the system which had lost a countywide vote last November that placed continued operations in jeopardy.

Shiawassee Area Transportation Agency also scored a victory on the ballot in the City of Perry where a first time millage was approved with 54% approval.

The Grand Rapids Silver Line Bus Rapid Transit proposal lost on a 52%-48% vote. The GR proposal would not take effect until the year 2012, but it was tied to continued funding of current operations. Funding for current operations continues to 2013, under a previously passed millage. The Bus Rapid Transit line (BRT) would be the first of its kind in Michigan and would be largely funded through federally earmarked money; however, a guaranteed local match for operations is required for the project to move forward so Tuesday’s millage defeat places the BRT project in jeopardy. It is unclear yet whether supporters will attempt another vote to support the BRT. They could place it on the ballot again in 2010.

It’s May 5th, an election day in Michigan. If you have a public transportation millage on your local ballot, don’t forget to vote today! Public transportation needs you!

Federal ARRA stimulus dollars intended for use in public transportation projects have begun to flow. ABC News reported recently on the significance of the dollars being invested in public transportation bus construction, including an interview from American Seating headquarters in Grand Rapids. Officials at the west Michigan seat manufacturer were interviewed on the importance of the stimulus investment in building new buses and their role in providing seating for those vehicles. Michigan has moved quickly to put the federal dollars in play not only on bus capital projects but also on the highway side with significant federal money being targeted to construction projects throughout the state.

Call it MPTAonline version 3.0, if you will.  It’s our new look that has rolled out for public viewing effective April 12, 2009.  With a completely refreshed home page look, this updated MPTA website promises to provide much more information to MPTA members and the public, with a greater ease of use.  And the best part is that we’re just getting started.  There are a number of new innovations coming in the next few months, as we ramp up our online presence and provide a more useful portal for navigating everything transit in Michigan.

For starters, take a look at our new Google map of transit members throughout Michigan.  Dig a little deeper and you’ll discover that our Associate Members, both businesses and specialized services transit operators, are listed too with easy Google links to their addresses and mapping directions.

For fun check out our new VuVox which shares our story in photos and will be updated from time to time to help tell our transit story.

If you are an MPTA member, you are entitled to access our Members Section for timely updates on meetings of the MPTA and, a new feature for our transit system technicians around the state will soon be unveiled in the Members Section. It will allow techs to share issues, common problems and solutions in an easy give-and-take posting area.  Meanwhile, you can find reports and presentations posted in this section to stay on top of developments in Michigan transit.

Another area that will soon be expanded will be our Advocacy section as we link up our own Let’s Get Moving Coalition with the Get Michigan Moving Coalition of the Michigan Municipal League and other supportive organizations.

There is a lot happening on the transit front in Michigan these days, and the MPTAonline.org website should be your first link to staying in touch!  Take us for a test drive and let us know what you think.  We’re always interested in member and public feedback and welcome your ideas and input for improving our website.

–Clark Harder, Executive Director, MPTA

SMART move: Bus tracks down thief

By BILL LAITNER • Free Press staff writer • March 5, 2009

SMART bus driver Joe Butler veered off 8 Mile in Ferndale at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday to chase a teen who got off after stealing a rider’s cell phone, police said.
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Butler drove up a side street, saw the youth run into a yard, then circled the block to spot him emerging onto Livernois, while keeping police informed, said Ferndale Lt. William Wilson.

“Our officers were able to stop the suspect nearby, and with eye witness identification by bus passengers, they arrested him,” Wilson said Wednesday. The phone was returned to a 37-year-old Detroit woman, he said.

“We hope this doesn’t get the bus driver in trouble” for leaving his route, Wilson said.

SMART spokeswoman Beth Dryden said that Butler, 59, of Detroit “certainly wouldn’t be disciplined. We’re very happy he was able to bring this situation to a positive close.”

“Our drivers go through a lot of training” although “none of it covers situations like this,” she said. Regarding Butler, she added, “I anticipate that he’ll be lauded” although she did not know what kind of recognition the driver, a 22-year veteran, would receive.

The suspect — Marques Engram, 19, of Detroit — was arraigned Wednesday for larceny from a person, a 10-year felony. Police said they expected Engram to be in Oakland County jail by Wednesday night after he failed to post bond.

With the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act now passed by Congress, the public transportation industry stands ready to help Americans get to work on public transit projects nationwide.

“This groundbreaking legislation will give people expanded travel options, while creating or supporting hundreds of thousands of American jobs,” said American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President William W. Millar. “Setting the course for years to come, this legislation will begin to craft a greater intermodal transportation system that our nation desperately needs.”

The economic recovery legislation provides $8.4 billion for investments in public transportation projects. Of the $8.4 billion provided for public transit, $6.9 billion will be distributed to public transit systems through the Federal Transit Administration’s formula program that is already in place. The remaining $1.5 billion will be available as grants for new major projects and modernizing the nation’s urban rail systems.

The legislation also includes for the first time, a significant investment of $9.3 billion for intercity passenger rail, including $8 billion for high speed rail corridors and $1.3 billion for Amtrak. Additionally, there is $1.5 billion for a new, intermodal discretionary program that can be used for public transportation, highways, bridges, freight rail, and ports. Separately, an additional $150 million for rail and transit security grants is provided to help make our public transportation systems more secure.

“With public transportation ridership at modern record levels and local and state transit ballot initiatives resoundingly approved by voters, the American people have demonstrated that they want more public transit services,” said Millar. “Congress is listening to the public and this legislation is responding to the public will.”

Pointing out that Congress also included tax incentives to encourage transit commute benefits at the same level as parking benefits, Millar said, “We are very pleased that Congress, for the first time, has made the transit commute benefit equal to the parking benefit, which is currently $230 per month. This action will provide a tax-free way for employers to encourage their employees to use energy-efficient, fuel-saving public transportation.”

“Investing in public transportation and intercity and high speed rail is part of the solution to helping build a stronger economy,” said Millar. “Passage of this legislation is a win-win for American workers who need jobs and for the millions of people who take public transportation and passenger rail.”

Dome Magazine online, an electronic publication which covers Lansing Capitol news and related stories, has published an interesting article on the status of mass transit in metro Detroit. To read the story online, just follow this link: http://domemagazine.com/blogs/masstransit.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008: Another day of great success for transit millage support across Michigan.
Congratulations to all systems on your positive support from voters. In total there were 16 separate millage votes for both renewal and new proposals and just one of the 16 came out on the negative side. In Mason County, Ludington MTA was successful on one renewal and split between new millage issues on the ballot in two different townships, winning one and losing in the other. Nevertheless, the resounding success rate once again demonstrates the great support for public transportation throughout our state.

Here are results, as compiled by MPTA from news sources:

Caro Transit Authority: 514 Yes – 70%, 223 No – 30%
Charlevoix County Transit: No report yet
Genesee County MTA: 22,756 Yes – 69%, 9,992 No – 31%
*Gladwin City-County Transit: 2613 Yes – 64%, 1478 No – 36%
Gogebic County: 1847 Yes – 80%, 462 No – 20%
Huron County Transit: 5845 Yes – 69%, 2686 No -31%
**Isabella County Transportation: 5174 Yes – 74%, 1809 No – 26%
Jackson Transportation: 1145 Yes – 75%, 374 No – 25%
Lake County/Yates Twp Dial A Ride: 1298 Yes – 67%, 650 No – 33%
Mason County/Ludington MTA:
Scottville Renewal: 66 Yes – 66%, 34 No – 34%

Pere Marquette Township New Millage: 213 Yes -56%, 165 No – 44%
Hamlin Township New Millage: 395 No – 56%, 305 Yes – 44%
Marquette County: 7536 Yes – 76%, 2360 No – 24%
Ogemaw County: 1920 Yes – 61%, 1245 No – 39%
Ontonagon County: 1126 Yes – 77%, 338 No – 23%
Roscommon County: 4200 Yes – 60%, 2803 No -40%

* New millage issue: .5 mill increase for five years.
** 1 mill increase for 4 years.

The Detroit People Mover (DPM) is an automated guideway rail transit system operating in downtown Detroit. It is operated and maintained by the Detroit Transportation Corporation (DTC), a municipal corporation established for the purpose of operating and maintaining the Detroit People Mover. The elevated DPM system circles the downtown Detroit area, providing frequent and convenient transit service to many of Detroit’s central business district commercial, residential and entertainment venues.
The DPM system was originally built by UTDC (now Bombardier) and opened for service in 1987 as one of the first automated guideway people mover systems in the U.S. The system encompasses a single-track 2.9-mile elevated guideway, consisting of a reinforced con¬crete beam structure supported on reinforced concrete columns. The track system includes 35 track curves with radii ranging from 115 to 3,000 feet. The single track is standard gauge with direct fixation fasteners on 20 to 40-inch centers.
For the past 20 plus years the Detroit People Mover has provided a safe, convenient transportation service to the patrons of Detroit’s downtown businesses and establishments; be it to the many restaurants, Detroit’s Auto Shows and other events at Cobo Center or supporting the World Champion Detroit Red Wings Hockey at Joe Louis Arena. Over time, this transit service takes a toll on both the DPM’s vehicles and the guideway track system.
Recognizing the need to perform proactive maintenance in order to maintain a high level of ride quality and safety, DTC asked Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB), an engineering consultant firm providing technical support services to DTC, to provide a condition assessment of the DPM guideway track system in late 2006. PB evaluated the system and identified six track curves that had worn to the point where track curve replacement was warranted. The affected curves are scattered about the DPM guideway, specifically located within the systems tightest (115 foot radius) track curves. The rail replacement is required due to wearing of the rail head profile which has occurred over the past 20 years. The rail wear is understandable and expected in normal transit/railway operations, and at some point all rail transit systems must replace portions of their running rail.
Although minor repairs and improvements have taken place over the years with a minimum of service interruptions, DTC recognized that the time had come when a major track maintenance task must be undertaken to continue the level of DPM service expected by the citizens of Detroit. Steps were immediately taken to determine the financial needs for the project and to identify the funding sources to support the project. Simultaneously, DTC began the process of developing technical specifications and bid packages to procure the replacement rail and contractor services to perform the installation of the new rail. In late 2007 a contract was awarded to LB Foster Company to manufacture the new rail sections to be used for the project. This was followed by the award of another contract in early 2008 to Delta Railroad Construction, Inc. to perform the task of reconstructing the direct fixation track system with the new rail.
DTC is undertaking the first running rail replacement of the track system, affecting six track curves or about 9 percent of the system’s track. To improve on the wear rate and extend the life of the new rail, the guideway track direct fixation system will be improved and a special “High Strength” rail with extra rail head hardness will be used. The result will be an improved running rail system and many additional years of service for the Detroit People Mover and its customers.
Because the DPM is a single-track system, it is not possible to perform this work without a temporary system shut-down. Therefore, DPM operations will be suspended at 2:00 AM on Sunday, July 20, 2008 and the system will remain out of service until normal service is re-sumed on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 6:30 AM. We understand the inconvenience this program will cause to our patrons, however to maintain the safe reliable transportation this system is increasingly known for, the rail replacement must be carried out.
Project Information and Data

System Shutdown Period

29 days, from July 20 through August 17

Rail Replacement Locations

Six track curves located throughout the DPM system

New Rail Type

New 115RE High Strength, Head Hardened Rail, pre-curved for DPM system

Approximately 2,800 feet of rail, or 1,400 feet of two-rail track (about 9% of the DPM loop), weighing approximately 75 tons

Continuous welded rail using a Thermite Weld process at the installation site. The rail will be affixed to the guideway through a direct fixation process that utilizes special fasteners and shims to provide correct rail superelevation and cant.

The Process and Contract Teams Working on the
Rail Replacement Project
Construction will begin after the People Mover completes service operations for the night at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 20. The system will restart service at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 18.
The four weeks in July and August were selected because there is a relatively light schedule of events downtown during that time, the summer weather is more conducive to people being able to walk between destinations downtown, and the long summer days will allow the construction team to work double shifts and complete the work on time. DTC consulted with the Metropolitan Detroit Convention and Visitors Bureau and Cobo Center in scheduling the shut down.
Construction will move quickly along the six locations on the guideway and there will not be any major traffic impediments or loud noise at any one location for an extended period of time. The minor traffic implications that will occur include lane and sidewalk closures where the crane is removing and replacing the tracks. Construction noise will also be minor and will occur primarily during business hours. Each section of rail will be cut and removed and then replaced with new length of rail which will be secured in place through a thermite welding process.
The construction locations are the curves between: Gratiot Avenue and Broadway Street; Witherell Street and Broadway Street; Park Avenue and Bagley Street; John C. Lodge Freeway and Jefferson Avenue; Larned Street and Shelby Street and inside Cobo Center.
The track replacement is the latest in a series of extensive renovations and improvements that have been made in the system over the past six years. There have been noticeable aesthetic improvements and others that aren’t noticeable, but have resulted in improved operations, such as updating the computer and security systems and installing heat strips on the tracks to prevent icing during the winter.
The Detroit Transportation Corporation and its staff are working with a contracted team consisting of the Detroit office of Parsons Brinckerhoff, which is the project management consultant, in addition to being the original track designer. Advanced Geomatics is the surveyor and the original surveyor of record for the Detroit People Mover system. Rail construction is being performed by Delta Railroad Construction, Inc.
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) is a leader in developing and operating infrastructure, with approximately 12,000 employees dedicated to meeting the needs of clients and communities around the world. PB offers skills and resources in strategic consulting, planning, engineering, program/construction management, and operations for all modes of infrastructure, including transportation, power, community development, water and the environment (www.pbworld.com).
Advanced Geomatics
Advanced Geomatics conducts professional land surveying corporation, serving Michigan since 1888 with a variety of land services. Originally known as Charlevoix Abstract and Engineering, Advanced Geomatics continues under the same family ownership and management for over 50 years. Advanced Geomatics, is a registered DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) with MDOT (the Michigan Department of Transportation).
Delta Railroad Construction, Inc.
Delta Railroad Construction is recognized as one of the nation’s premier railroad construction and engineering companies. It has been delivering quality services with personal integrity since 1957. Services include new track construction, track maintenance and rehabilitation, flash-butt rail welding (continuous welded rail), track equipment repair and remanufacturing and track equipment sales, rentals and leasing. Delta Railroad Construction provides services for industry, short line railroads, Class I railroads, commuter and passenger transit lines, and metro trolley systems.

The number of people riding public transportation in Michigan has increased dramatically in the first quarter of 2008, with double-digit ridership increases being reported by many of the state’s metropolitan communities.
“The increases from month to month have been significant, with Battle Creek, Flint, Saginaw and Kalamazoo registering double digit increases in February, 2008 over a year ago,” stated Michigan Public Transit Association Executive Director Clark Harder.
The total number of passengers boarding Michigan’s public transit agency buses is recorded for every bus operating on every route, both urban and rural, line-haul and demand response (dial-a-ride). These numbers are recorded statewide by the more than 70 agencies that operate public transportation in every county of the state.
“In 2006 Michigan’s public transportation agencies provided over 92 million individual rides, which represented an 8.7% increase over 2005, roughly three times the national increase in transit ridership for the same period,” Harder said. While final statistics on 2007 are not yet available, monthly ridership numbers suggested a similar increase would be recorded for 2007 over 2006.
In the first quarter of 2008, riders have increased in Detroit’s Department of Transportation (DDOT) by an average of 200,000 per month over 2007 figures. In several small urban communities the level has increased by 20% and higher from the same time a year ago. The increases have not been occurring just in urban areas, though, as many rural communities and counties have also seen significant increases in their demand-response, or dial-a-ride, type operations.
“We attribute the increases to a couple of significant factors. First, the price of gasoline is clearly causing many people to park their vehicles and try public transportation for the first time. Second, transit systems are constantly reviewing and refining their routes to better serve the demand and this reflects in an increase in usage,” Harder said.
The increasing ridership on public transportation doesn’t come without complications,
however.
“Just like with individual autos, the price of fuel has soared for public transit vehicles. Transit agencies are feeling the pinch of the significantly greater demand and costs, while public transit federal and state funding remains basically flat. When more people ride, it does boost the farebox revenue. However, just because more people ride, it still doesn’t allow transit agencies to significantly defray their costs, which outpace the farebox,” Harder stated.
There are 19 urbanized public transit agencies serving Michigan communities and 58 rural agencies serving townships, small cities and counties.
In March, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announced that Americans
took 10.3 billion trips on public transportation in 2007, the highest level in 50 years, representing a 2.1% increase over the previous year.

The Transit Legislative Day on Tuesday, April 22, organized by the Let’s Get Moving Coalition was a resounding success. This was the third such legislative day in Lansing put on by our Coalition and the attendance was tremendous from locations throughout the lower peninsula, east to west. More than 75 attendees met personally with Senators, Representatives and their legislative staff people and made the case for continued strong funding for transit. Advocates included representatives of transit agencies, the disability community, transit riders, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, local government, planning agencies, counties, cities and others. The morning kicked off at 8:30 with a presentation from Representatives Marie Donigan, Lee Gonzales and Gabe Leland who spoke about their work in the Legislative Transit Caucus, the special House subcommittee on public transit, and the House Appropriations process for transportation.

A highlight of the day came at 2 p.m. when House Speaker Andy Dillon, Rep. Donigan, Rep. Hoon Yung Hopgood and Rep. Tom Pearce joined representatives of the Coalition in a bi-partisan news conference in the Capitol Rotunda to announce record transit ridership and to call for increased funding. Hats off and a huge thank you to Megan Owens of Transportation Riders United (TRU) in Detroit (a LGM Coalition partner) for organizing the press conference.

The package of three bills in the State Legislature which would provide stiffer penalties for assaults that occur on public transit employees and property have been scheduled for a first hearing in the Michigan House Judiciary Committee. Rep. Paul Condino (D-Southfield) has put the bills on the committee schedule for Wednesday, February 27. After more than a decade of work by the Amalgamated Transit Union and Michigan Public Transit Association, this is the first time we have been able to see this package scheduled for even one hearing. We especially appreciate the efforts of the lead sponsors of the bills (Rep. Gabe Leland-Detroit, Rep. Lee Gonzales-Flint and Rep. Robert Dean-Grand Rapids) and Rep. Condino for their efforts in bringing these bills to the forefront.

The bills would elevate attacks that occur on public transit to the level of felonies, rather than misdemeanors; thus stiffening penalties significantly and providing greater deterrents against attacking public transit employers, passengers and public transit vehicles and property.

National Center on Senior Transportation
Releases Requests for Proposals for Demonstration Grants

The National Center on Senior Transportation (NCST) is soliciting proposals from aging/human service agencies, tribal organizations, faith-based organizations, units of state and local government, public and private transportation providers and other entities interested in developing and implementing innovative approaches to increasing senior transportation options and improving older adult mobility.
Successful projects will be collaborative, replicable, and consistent with senior transportation-related goals of the national United We Ride initiative of the Federal Transit Administration. The goals are to:
Ø Increase transportation options for older adults
Ø Simplify older adults’ access to transportation services
Ø Increase the quality of transportation services for older adults
Successful applicants will receive grant awards ranging from $50,000 – $90,000 and 24 months of individually tailored technical assistance. Higher or lower amounts may be awarded based on specific proposals.
Proposals are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, and should be submitted electronically via email to twilson@n4a.org or using the online form which can be reached through the center’s Web site (www.seniortransportation.net). Electronic or online submission is preferred but hard copies will be accepted. Hard copy of the proposal must be received on or before Dec. 17, 2007.
The mailing address:
Tabitha Wilson
Assistant Director, NCST
1730 Rhode Island Ave., NW
Suite 1200
Washington, D.C. 20036
Please visit the center’s Web site at www.seniortransportation.net for more information and to download a copy of the RFP. Questions related to the solicitation should be directed to Ms. Wilson at the above email address or by phone, (202)872-0888.