Author Archives: John LaMacchia II

ORV Legislation Another Step Closer to the Governor’s Desk

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This week the the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Environment and Great Lakes moved three bills designed to help expand ORV use in Michigan for residents and tourists.

Senate Bill 50 would allow the DNR to create free ORV riding days. These would be similar to the free fishing weekends currently established by the DNR and would allow riders to use Michigan’s trail system without purchasing a license.

House Bill 4284 would establish a process for local units of government to approach MDOT with a request allowing ORV use on State Trunklines within their jurisdiction. It would also allow MDOT to designate State Trunklines for ORV use for the purpose of connecting trails or for access to food, fuel ,or lodging.

House Bill 4299 would expand the ability of a local unit of government to pass an ordinance allowing or preventing ORVs on roadways under their jurisdiction to all 83 counties.

Through discussion with the sponsors of these bills the League has worked to improve our communities local control over ORVs while maintaining high safety standards for riders, increasing access to trails and promoting tourism in Michigan.

John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate for the League handling Transportation issues. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

Representative Lauwers and Representative Callton to Host Transportation Town Halls

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Please mark you calendars and spread the word about more transportation towns halls coming up this month.

  •  Representative Dan Lauwers, Tuesday June 25th, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Location: St. Clair County RESA, Woodward Development Center Cafeteria, 499 Range Road Marysville, MI 48040
  • Representative Mike Callton, Tuesday June 25th, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Location: Ionia County Commission on Aging, 115 Hudson St., Ionia, MI 48846

We encourage you to attend these town halls and help spread the League’s message about funding a complete transportation system that is built to support all users.

 

John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate for the League handling transportation issues. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

 

Timeliness Report for Bridge Safety Inspections for Local Agencies Released by MDOT

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MDOT has released the timeliness report for bridge safety inspections for local agencies. A copy of the report can be found below.

Local Summary June 2013

John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate for the League handling Transportation issue. he can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

Free Signage Available to Identify your City or Village as an “Amtrak Served Community”

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Municipalities may order Community Signage from Amtrak at no cost. These signs are designed to alert people to the fact that your town or city contains and intercity passenger rail station. More information on these signs can be found here.

John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate for the League handling transportation issues. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

State Representatives to Host Transportation Town Hall Monday June 10th

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State Representatives from the Grand Rapids area will be hosting a transportation town hall next Monday, June 10th, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Grand Rapids. The location will be at Grand Valley State University’s Pew Downtown Campus, in room 215A of the Eberhard Center. The address is 301 Fulton Street West, Grand Rapids MI, 48504. Parking is available in the Eberhard Lot, which is off Front Avenue.

The event is being hosted by the following State Representatives:

  • State Rep. Tom Hooker, R-Byron Center
  • State Rep. Lisa Posthumus Lyons, R-Alto
  • State Rep. Peter MacGregor, R-Canon Township
  • State Rep. Rob VerHeulen, R- Walker
  • State Rep Ken Yonker, R-Caledonia

The Director of the Michigan Department of Transportation, Kirk Steudle, will also attend and be available for a question and answer session.

We encourage you to consider attending this town hall. Please help express the importance of local communities in the overall transportation system and how this system needs to be inclusive of all modes of transportation. This issue is more than about just building roads and the view from curb to curb. It is about building great places that contribute to the economic growth and success of Michigan.

John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate for the League handling transportation issues. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

 

Transportation Budget Sees Increase Due to Budget Surplus

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The Conference Committee on Transportation voted out a budget today that included an additional $350 million dollars. Those dollars will be split two ways, $121 million going to the Federal Aid Match Requirement and the remaining funds into a new Priority Roads Investment Program. This increased funding is a direct result of the budget surplus.

The Priority Roads Investment Program will have $115 million available to spend this year with the remaining carrying over to the following year. The legislature will be responsible for appropriating the money to specific projects around the state.

With no deal on new transportation funding the budget did not include the recommended $1.2 billion Governor Snyder requested. The Governor is still committed to to solving the need for greater investment in transportation and will be working with the legislation over the next few weeks, and likely the coming months, to come to an agreement on increase funding for transportation.

John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate with the League handling transportation issues. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

League Issues Successfully Addressed in ORV Legislation

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The Michigan Municipal League has been working with Representative Bumstead on House Bill 4299 to improve local control over ORVs being used within municipalities. As a result of this work, and the willingness of Representative Bumstead to address the League’s concerns, significant changes were made to this legislation to improve local control. A County or a Township must now provide written notice to each municipality within the County in advance of adopting a resolution that allows or prohibits ORV use on their roadways. Local municipalities will now be allowed to both open and close roads located within their municipality to the use of ORVs through the adoption of an ordinance.

As a result of these changes the League officially supported this legislation in committee and looks forward to helping secure final passage. A copy of the legislation that was passed out of House Tourism Committee can be found here. (ORVs)

John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate with the League handling transportation issues.He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

League Issues Successfully Addressed in ORV Legislation

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The Michigan Municipal League has been working with Representative Bumstead on House Bill 4299 to improve local control over ORVs being used within municipalities. As a result of this work, and the willingness of Representative Bumstead to address the League’s concerns, significant changes were made to this legislation to improve local control. A County or a Township must now provide written notice to each municipality within the County in advance of adopting a resolution that allows or prohibits ORV use on their roadways. Local municipalities will now be allowed to both open and close roads located within their municipality to the use of ORVs through the adoption of an ordinance.

As a result of these changes the League officially supported this legislation in committee and looks forward to helping secure final passage. A copy of the legislation that was passed out of House Tourism Committee can be found here. (ORVs)

John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate with the League handling transportation issues.He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.