Inside 208

MSHDA has passed along information to the League and our members about a new grant program from MDOT called the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP).  The program uses federal transportation funds for activities that enhance the intermodal transportation system and provide safe alternative transportation options.  Some eligible activities that could be [...]

The House Transportation Committee passed legislation that would create a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) in Southeast Michigan. The bills passed were SB 909, 911, 912 and SB 967. These bills create the structure for the RTA in southeast Michigan, and will allow Michigan to bring in millions in federal transit dollars. [...]

The SenateTransportation Committee passed HB 5302. This bill creates so-called “best practice” requirements for local road agencies. It would require that road agencies comply with PA 152 (health care 80/20 or hard caps). It also requires that the transportation employee compensation plans meet prescribed conditions regarding employer retirement contributions, defined [...]

There is much speculation among those interested in federal transportation issues whether Secretary Ray LaHood will be resigning from his post as President Obama starts his second term. When he was first appointed, the Secretary stated that he would only serve one term. Yet, he has been notably quiet regarding [...]

With 2012 coming to an end in the next month and half, it is time to get the word out again about the League’s Legislative Committees. We hope that you will consider being a member of one (or two) of the committees for 2013. There are two levels of participation: [...]

This morning the House Transportation Committee took testimony for over 2 hours on legislation that would create a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) in Southeast Michigan. HB 5309 mirrors legislation that passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee in May which has since stalled on the Senate floor. Today in the House [...]

From Secretary LaHood:  I am writing to ask you to participate in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s on-line survey on categorical exclusions. Your responses—and those of other key stakeholders—will give us valuable information as we consider whether to develop any new categorical exclusions from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) [...]

On Wednesday September 20, a four bill package (HBs 5673-5676) was reported from the House Natural Resources, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee. All four bills passed unanimously by a vote of 9-0. These bills will provide more flexibility and expanded options for those municipalities that need to fix its sewers and water pipes. [...]

On Thursday September 27 at 9am the House Transportation Committee is expected to hold a hearing on the proposed Regional Transit Authority (RTA) for Southeast Michigan. The hearing is expected to be testimony only. The League will be there to testify in support of the RTA. Currently RTA legislation (SB’s 909, 911, [...]

Recently the League staff attended a meeting with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to discuss how they intend to implement the new federal transportation funding law, MAP-21, which Congress passed this summer. The new law makes several changes to the categories on federal funding and provides some additional flexibility [...]