by orionontv | Feb 17, 2025 | Transportation
Highlights of Gov. Whitmer’s road funding plan
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Zach Kolodin, the state’s chief infrastructure officer, breaks down the highlights of a road funding plan released by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office on Monday, Feb. 10.
 Kolodin first talks briefly about federal grants the state and many municipalities have received the past few years. Among some large grants for state roads and bridges was a $73 million award to replace an aged movable bridge in Bay City.
 Talking about the governor’s road-funding plan, Kolodin explains how removing the sales tax on fuel, which does not fund roads and bridges, would allow for every penny drivers spend at the pump to go toward road repairs.
The plan would backfill the sales tax with a combination of cuts and additional revenue from closing the wholesale tax loophole on marijuana and assessing other fees. |
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by orionontv | Feb 6, 2025 | Transportation
Breaking down the federal funding challenges for transportation
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Zach Rable, a federal policy specialist at the Michigan Department of Transportation, who talks about priorities for funding as a new Congress convenes.
 The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) will expire in September 2026, and members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee are in early discussions about the next reauthorization and what it should include. Three members of the committee are from Michigan: Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, and Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City.
Some key points from an American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) analysis of the IIJA:
- The IIJA reauthorizes surface transportation programs, with 34 percent more funding than the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act
- The IIJA provided close to $500 billion for road and bridge programs in communities across America.
- The act included 21 new DOT grant programs that will make targeted investments to repair bridges, improve the resiliency of our surface transportation system, and more.
- These funds go a long way to address the $1.2 trillion, 10-year surface transportation funding gapthat ASCE identified in the 2021 Report Card.
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by orionontv | Jan 29, 2025 | Transportation
MDOT awards grants to projects that will support more than
478 jobs and investment in Detroit and Grayling
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced today two state Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) grants that will support a total of 478 new jobs and $3.1 billion of private investment in the city of Detroit and Grayling Township.
“Today’s investments to fix the damn roads will support 478 good-paying jobs and more than $3 billion of investment in Detroit and Grayling,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “In 2025, we’re focused on growing our economy, creating jobs for Michiganders, and making sure Michigan leads the future of key industries from health care and manufacturing to defense. These projects will upgrade roads around Henry Ford Health and improved access to Saab, Inc. and the Grayling community so we can keep moving our state forward. Let’s keep working together to power our economic development strategy and make Michigan an even better place to live, work, and invest.”
by orionontv | Jan 24, 2025 | Transportation
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Traffic advisory for I-75 closure in Holly Thursday, 1/23/25
NB/SB I-75 at Evans Road, between Baldwin Road and Grange Hall Rd will be closed for multiple :15 minute intervals this weekend, Jan. 25/26 for aerial installation:
- Saturday 8am-10am
- Sunday 8am-10am
MSP will be assisting with the closure. Plan for delays and/or detour routes.
DETOURS:
- NB I-75 to Grange Hall to NB Dixie Hwy to NB 75
- SB I-75 to Dixie Hwy/Saginaw to SB Dixie to WB Grange Hall to SB 75
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by orionontv | Jan 23, 2025 | Transportation
Federal grants will benefit some vital Grand Rapids corridors
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Art Green, manager of the Grand Rapids Transportation Service Center, about some federal grants announced recently for his area.
 But first, Green talks about his experience with extreme winter events in Grand Rapids, like this week’s lake-effect snow and extended sub-zero temperatures. Much of the focus in questions to transportation agencies on social media channels focuses on salt and a lack of understanding about how it loses effectiveness in very cold temperatures.
Green explains how the department maximizes its salt use and mixes in other mitigation efforts.
A $25 million grant will help rebuild the vital East Beltline Avenue bridge at the junction with I-196 and I-96 east of Grand Rapids. Green explains that the new bridge will feature nonmotorized connections for trails to the north and south of the interchange. It will also ease congestion on some of the ramps.
He also talks about a grant to support planning for better connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists between the east and west sides of US-131 just north of downtown Grand Rapids. |
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by orionontv | Jan 16, 2025 | Transportation
Rebuilding the third segment of I-696 begins soon
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Brian Travis, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) project manager overseeing the rebuilding of the eastern segment of I-696.
The work will begin in March and continue through most of 2027, and involves closing the eastbound lanes of I-696 from M-10 and Lahser Road east to I-75.
Travis explains that this is the last of three phases of the “Restore the Reuther” project, a $275 million rebuilding of the freeway. In 2019, the state completed work along the easternmost portion, along with the western end in 2023 and 2024.
A complete closure makes sense, Travis says, for the safety of drivers and the construction contractor’s employees.
Travis also talks about the history of the freeway, which was originally conceived as I-98 in the earliest discussion of the Interstate system. The center segment was completed years later than the eastern and western portions because of various obstacles, including a lack of agreement among community leaders on the corridor about the exact route. Progress came about only after then-Michigan Gov. George Romney forced the various leaders to gather in a room and come to an agreement. |
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