2035 LRP Public Meeting - You're Invited

2035 Long Range Plan Meeting
To: Washtenaw County Stakeholders
Date: January 14th, 2009
Where: WCC Morris Lawrence Building

WATS is initiating the public meeting process in support of the development of Washtenaw County’s 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRP). Two meetings will be held January 14th, from 2pm to 4pm and from 6pm to 8pm. The Washtenaw Community College Morris Lawrence Building is located at 4700 East Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor, MI‎. WCC Campus can be accessed using THE RIDE routes 3 and 7.

This first set of public meetings will focus on the Goals and Objectives and plan Development Schedule. WATS will take public comment in the following goals and objectives.

· Promoting a safe and secure transportation system
· Reducing the number and severity of traffic crashes.
· Increasing the safety and security of the transportation system and its users.

· Providing accessibility and mobility for all people and goods.
· Reducing the distance or time spent traveling
· Increasing the occupancy rate for all motorized modes.

· Investing strategically in transportation infrastructure to enhance the vitality of the community.
· Giving priority to preservation and maintenance of the existing transportation system.
· Developing a financially responsible plan that allocates available resources.

· Protecting and enhancing the environment.
· Reducing air, water and noise pollution and emissions and concentrations.
· Reduce energy consumption

Urgent Funding Message from MITA

This information was passed along to WATS by the Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association.

URGENT CALL TO ACTION: MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

A three-year effort to increase transportation investment in Michigan all comes down to a single day— this Thursday, the final day of debate for the lame duck session.

Policymakers are considering a transportation investment plan that would provide an additional investment of $1.5 billion per year. In short, the legislation would get rid of the state’s per gallon gas and diesel tax and replace them with a percentage tax based on the wholesale price of fuel. The funding package would also adjust vehicle registration fees and close various loopholes. (The bill numbers are House Bills 4577, 6749, 6750 and 6752.)

Your help is needed!

Legislators often tell us that they never hear from constituents regarding this issue. This is your chance. We strongly urge you and all your employees to call your legislators beginning today through Thursday and ask for their support for the transportation investment plan. Go to: http://mi-ita.com/legislative_contact.asp to find your representative and senator.) Tell them how important jobs and the economy are to our state. Ask to speak to your elected official directly. If they are not available or you get a voicemail, leave them a message encouraging their support. Feel free to make a follow up call again on Thursday to ask how your legislator is going to vote.

The Legislature must not put off action until next year—they MUST act on Thursday.Please contact Mike Nystrom at mikenystrom@mi-ita.com or Keith Ledbetter at keithledbetter@mi-ita.com or call the MITA office at 517-347-8336 with any questions or comments.

Transit Deficiencies

WATS has already collected comments on pavement, bridge, congestion, non-motorized and safety deficiencies throughout the County. This post will focus on transit deficiencies including the need for new service, extended service hours, more frequent service or any capital improvements such as bus shelters, new vehicles, or technology improvements such as next bus signs or cell phone alerts on service.

Several types of transit deficiencies are measured in the long range plan including quality of existing service, span of service (which refers to hours in service), frequency of service (which refers to how often a bus comes) as well as an overall lack of transit service. In addition to corridors that are not served by transit destinations such as schools, parks, libraries, hospitals, etc., that are not served by transit could also be provided.

One example of a transit deficient location could be “I can’t ride the bus from my house in a Township to the library in Saline.” A different example of a transit deficiency would be “I don’t get off work until 2am but the bus stops running at 11:00 pm.” This would be an example of a span of service deficiency.

When providing a comment please include your name, the community you live in, and if you feel comfortable, your email address. If you do not feel comfortable including your email address, you may still provide comments, however, to allow WATS to document and keep track of your comment, please include your email address with your comments in an email to us at wats@miwats.org.