Tag Archives: MDOT

MDOT to Send Out MI Travel Counts Survey

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The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), in cooperation with the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), will administer a travel survey program call MI Travel Counts. Throughout the course of the yearlong study, thousands of randomly selected households will receive letters inviting them to participate in the survey. It is important that, if contacted, municipal officials can verify the legitimacy of the survey and encourage the participation of selected households.

MDOT has provided the following letter containing information on the survey. MI Travel Counts. Additional information about the study can be found here.

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

MDOT Makes Significant Upgrades to Act 51 Reporting Portal and the Investment Reporting Tool

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The Michigan Municipal League would like to inform you that the Michigan’s Transportation Asset Management Council (TAMC) has made some significant updates to Michigan’s Act 51 Reporting Portal (MITRP) specific to completed project reporting requirements within both the Investment Reporting Tool (IRT) and Act 51 Distribution andReporting System (ADARS). Both systems can be accessed via this link: www.mcgi.state.mi.us/MITRP/.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and each local road agency has a responsibility to annually submit a report to the TAMC that includes, road and bridge projects anticipated to be contracted within the next three years and completed projects (open to traffic) for the fiscal year being reported. In 2006, the TAMC developed the Web-based IRT to facilitate the collection of project location information related to planned and completed projects for local agencies. In 2011, in an effort to gather meaningful cost information from local agencies, the TAMC partnered with MDOT to add an asset management page to the Web-based ADARS system. Unfortunately, this had an unintended consequence that caused many local agencies to have to manually re-enter duplicate project information into both systems.

This situation has been corrected and as of September 3, 2014, both the IRT and ADARS Asset Management page will be fully integrated to allow for the completed project information reported within the IRT to be automatically “synced” to the reporting categories within the ADARS page.

Initially, there will be a “soft” roll-out of this update for agencies with fiscal years ending on/after October 1, 2014 – September 30, 2015. During the roll-out MDOT will focus on training and educating local agencies on the project reporting process and you will still be able to submit Act 51 reports by clicking the “No Treatments to Report” button. However, on/after October 1, 2015, the TAMC will expect the project information requested in both the IRT and ADARS to be complete. Failure to report this information could result in non-compliance with Act 51 reporting requirements and funds withheld until such a time that compliance can be determined.

If you have any questions, please contact Brian Sanada, TAMC Coordinator, at 517-373-2220 or sanadab@michigan.gov.

The following is a link to the letter that was sent out by the Transportation Asset Management Council regarding these changes. TAMC Letter to IRT-ADARS Users 9 3 14

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

Senate Passes Repeal of Annual Certification to MDOT

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In December of 2012 Public Act 506 was enacted that required local road agencies to certify the the Michigan Department of Transportation that the had developed and publicized an employee compensation plan or were in compliance with with PA 152 of 2011. The law requires a local road agency to maintain a searchable website accessible by the public at no cost that includes the following: a) current fiscal year budget, b) the number of active transportation employees of the local road agency by job classification and wage rate, c) information on financial performance, d) the names and contact information for the governing body of the local road agency, and e) a copy of the certification mentioned above. Compliance with these provisions needs to take place no later than September 30, 2014.

The League has advocated that certifying to MDOT that we are in compliance with PA 152, which by law we are required to be in compliance with, is redundant, unnecessary, and an inefficient use of time. We have also advocated that the creation of another dashboard is unnecessary because of the public access to our current EVIP dashboards, F65 Forms, audits, and our comprehensive annual financial reports.

As a result Senator Casperson introduced SB 882 that would repeal the provisions section 18j for cities and villages. This bill was take up before the full Senate today and vote out with nearly unanimous support. This bill now moves to the House where we are hopeful that progress will continue to be made and these unnecessary requirements will be repealed before the implementation date of September 30, 2014.

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

Senate Transportation Committee Votes Out Repeal of Annual Certification to MDOT

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In December of 2012 Public Act 506 was enacted that required local road agencies to certify the the Michigan Department of Transportation that the had developed and publicized an employee compensation plan or were in compliance with with PA 152 of 2011. The law requires a local road agency to maintain a searchable website accessible by the public at no cost that includes the following: a) current fiscal year budget, b) the number of active transportation employees of the local road agency by job classification and wage rate, c) information on financial performance, d) the names and contact information for the governing body of the local road agency, and e) a copy of the certification mentioned above. Compliance with these provisions needs to take place no later than September 30, 2014.

The League has advocated that certifying to MDOT that we are in compliance with PA 152, which by law we are required to be in compliance with, is redundant, unnecessary, and an inefficient use of time. We have also advocated that the creation of another dashboard is unnecessary because of the public access to our current EVIP dashboards, F65 Forms, audits, and our comprehensive annual financial reports.

As a result Senator Casperson has introduced SB 882 that would repeal the provisions section 18j for cities and villages. The committee unanimously voted this bill out of committee today. We are committed to working with the legislature to see this bill move forward and are hopeful that it will be voted out of the Senate as soon as next week.

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

MDOT Accepting Transportation Economic Development Fund Category F Applications for Fiscal Year 2016

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The Michigan Department of Transportation Office of Economic Development is will begin accepting Transportation Economic Development Fund Category F applications for Fiscal Year 2016 on April 15. Eligible applicants include cities, villages and county road commissions.  Proposed projects must be on federal-aid designated routes within a Federal Adjusted Census Urban Boundary located in a county with a population of 400,000 or less. Higher consideration is given to applications that propose improving all-season capabilities on routes having high commercial traffic or those that improve access to state trunklines.

The application deadline for Category F grants is Friday June 30, 2014. The application and instructions can be accessed at http://www.michigan.gov/tedf. For questions, please contact Matt Wiitala at 517-241-2152 or wiitalam@michigan.gov

The following is a link to a flyer about the Category F grants. Category F Economic Development Flyers

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

Updated Local Agency Program Application Made Available by MDOT

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Effective April 1, 2014, the updated MDOT Local Agency Program Application Forms 0258, 0259, and 0260 were activated and made available on the MDOT Local Agency Program (LAP) website here as well as at the MDOT Forms page here.

The forms were updated mainly to:

• request information from the local agency regarding whether its project includes work in any MDOT right of way, or whether the proposed work affects any existing traffic signals or pedestrian signals. This information will allow MDOT LAP staff engineers to determine whether other MDOT units need to be involved in the project.

• revise ROW Attachments A and B, defining “property acquisition” as “permanent fee, permanent easements, temporary consents to construct, and grading permits”, hopefully resulting in a less confusing definition

• include space for the local agencies to list their designated Certified Computerized Office Technician (page 10 of each form), in accordance with current Bureau Of Highway Informational Memoranda (BOHIM)

• provide consistency in fonts and type faces

• changed references to the Transportation Alternative funding program

• correct several fields which were auto-filling incorrectly

Local agencies should begin using these forms as soon as possible, so that they can identify their certified computerized office technician and comply with the BOHIM.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact Bruce Kadzban, MDOT LAP Rural and Enhancement Program Manager, at 517-335-2229 or at kadzbanb@michigan.gov.

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

 

Local Bridge Program Application for FY 2017

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The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is soliciting applications for candidate projects for the Local Bridge Program; selected projects will be funded during the 2017 fiscal year. The deadline for this application in May 1st, 2014. For more information on the application requirements and the electronic application please use the following links.

FY 2017 Local Bridge Program Call for Applications

FY 2017 Call for Electronic Application Submittal

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

MDOT Releases Presentation on ADA Ramp Guidelines

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The Michigan Department of Transportation has provided the Michigan Municipal League with a PowerPoint presentation regarding the new ADA ramp guidelines. MDOT ADA Presentation

In addition MDOT has release a draft memo on Local Agency 3R guidelines to address changes in ADA requirements and how standards apply for a project with 3R and 4R work. LAP 3R Guidelines 2013 10-21 Draft

For the changes in ADA ramps, the following is a memo that FHWA and DOJ worked on jointly to address different interpretations of when ADA ramps are required for road projects that are considered alterations. The main change is Microsurfacing, Cape Seals and certain multiple CPM treatments will now be considered an alteration and will require ADA ramps to be upgraded.  For multiple CPM treatments, if more than one of those treatments contains aggregate and/or filler, the combination will be considered an alteration. 2013-07-30 – BRIEF – ADA Resurfacing Technical Assistance

For a project that includes 3R and 4R work, the applicable standards will correspond individually to each work type (3R or 4R) within the limits of that work.

FHWA has requested that MDOT implement the revised ADA requirements beginning with projects in the March 2014 bid letting. MDOT has requested that any comments or concerns be sent directly to Larry Doyle. He can be reached at DoyleL@Michigan.gov.

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

MDOT Announces Constructing Pedestrian Facilities for Accessibility Workshops

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In this hands-on workshop, experts from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Michigan Concrete Association (MCA), along with industry consultants will teach proper design, planning, and construction procedures for complying with ADA requirements.

Workshop Date(s): 

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 – 7:30am to 12:00pm

Tuesday, March 4, 2014 – 7:30am to 12:00pm

Tuesday, April 1, 2014 – 7:30am to 12:00pm

Location

MITA Building, 2937 Atrium Dr., Okemos, MI 48864

Registration

The cost to attend this workshop is $65 per person, which includes all workshop materials. To register, contact the Center for Technology & Training (CTT) ctt@mtu.edu or call at (906)-487-2102 with the attendee’s contact information (name, agency, title, email) and the name of the event..

For more information regarding this on-site training, see the flyer located at: http://www.michiganltap.org/sites/ltap/files/workshops/ADA_compliance_2014.pdf

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

MDOT Releases Revised Guidelines for ADA Ramps

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The Michigan Department of Transportation has release a draft memo on Local Agency 3R guidelines to address changes in ADA requirements and how standards apply for a project with 3R and 4R work. LAP 3R Guidelines 2013 10-21 Draft

For the changes in ADA ramps, the following is a memo that FHWA and DOJ worked on jointly to address different interpretations of when ADA ramps are required for road projects that are considered alterations. The main change is Microsurfacing, Cape Seals and certain multiple CPM treatments will now be considered an alteration and will require ADA ramps to be upgraded.  For multiple CPM treatments, if more than one of those treatments contains aggregate and/or filler, the combination will be considered an alteration. 2013-07-30 – BRIEF – ADA Resurfacing Technical Assistance

For a project that includes 3R and 4R work, the applicable standards will correspond individually to each work type (3R or 4R) within the limits of that work.

FHWA has requested that MDOT implement the revised ADA requirements beginning with projects in the March 2014 bid letting. MDOT has requested that any comments or concerns be sent directly to Larry Doyle. He can be reached at DoyleL@Michigan.gov.

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