by orionontv | Feb 26, 2024 | Transportation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2024 |
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MEDIA CONTACT
Michael Frezell
517-281-6519
[email protected] |
MAC and MDOT announce award winners for
outstanding achievements in improving Michigan aviation
LANSING, Mich. – At the 2024 Michigan Airport Conference held in East Lansing on Feb. 22, the Michigan Aeronautics Commission (MAC) and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced the award winners for achievements in promoting and improving aviation. These awards are presented to airports, professionals, consultants, and others. Here is a list of the 2024 award winners:
- General Aviation Airport of the Year Award The West Branch Community Airport in West Branch was selected for outstanding contribution and sustained excellence toward aviation progress and safety in Michigan. The airport demonstrated exemplary leadership and dedication in providing exceptional aviation services to the public.
- Air Carrier Airport of the Year Award The Alpena County Regional Airport in Alpena was recognized for sustained excellence and partnership toward aviation progress in Michigan. The airport is commended for their rebuilding of a runway critical to the airport’s operational efficiency and business continuity, which will meet the needs well into the future.
- Aviation Professional of the Year Award Gary Todd of the Clare Municipal Airport in Clare was recognized for his outstanding contribution and sustained excellence serving as the airport’s manager for the past decade. He showed exemplary leadership in maintaining the airport in top condition. Todd also collaborates with others in the aviation community to share his knowledge and provided flight training. His dedication and hard work contributed to aspirational standards for many aviation professionals.
- Aviation Community Involvement Award Casey Brown was selected for his outstanding contributions supporting the Lowell City Airport in Lowell. Brown volunteered at the airport, ensuring a safe, well-maintained facility, in addition to hosting special aviation events, which are recognized and appreciated by the public.
- Robert G. Pekham Consultant of the Year Award Arconcepts, an architectural, design and planning firm based in Livonia, was recognized for exceptional work on the Hillsdale Municipal Airport Terminal Project in Hillsdale. The firm’s team brought this project from sketch to reality in a very short timeline, ensuring all deadlines were met along the way. The newly designed terminal brings many modern amenities to the airport, creating a welcoming space for the public to enjoy. The building’s forward-thinking concept will meet the needs of next generation aviation enthusiasts for years to come.
- Aviation Student of the Year Award Willow MacLaughlin of Owosso was recognized for outstanding contributions as a Michigan aviation student. Passionate about aviation, she demonstrated it through volunteering with the Civil Air Patrol and restoring the Owosso Community Airport’s historic Beacon Memorial. In obtaining her private pilot license and studying to become a commercial airline pilot, MacLaughlin is a shining example of the high-caliber aviation professional the future aeronautics workforce can look forward to.
“Congratulations to this year’s awards winners and thank you for your contributions to improving Michigan aviation,” said Mike Trout, MAC director and MDOT Office of Aeronautics administrator. “Their outstanding work has not gone unnoticed to the MAC, MDOT and the aviation community.”
The MAC and MDOT have recognized airports, individuals and organizations whose innovative contributions have led to significant improvements to facilities, operations or public relations that support aviation in Michigan. The MAC is responsible for the general supervision of aeronautics within Michigan.
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MDOT: Working with our partners at airports, bus systems, marine and rail to find innovative solutions for
Michigan’s transportation systems.
General Aviation Airport of the Year Award
Left to right: Betsy Steudle, MDOT Office of Aeronautics; Ben Evergreen, West Branch Community Airport; and Stephanie Whitinger, MDOT Office of Aeronautics.
© 2024 MDOT Photography Unit
Air Carrier Airport of the Year Award
Left to right: Sarah Finello, Nick Patterson and David Joye, RS&H; John Kozlowski, chairman of the Alpena County Board of Commissioners; Steve Smigelsk (holding plaque), Alpena County Airport manager; and Jim Hartman, MDOT Office of Aeronautics.
© 2024 MDOT Photography Unit
Aviation Community Involvement Award
Left to right: Casey Brown and Ashley Lucas, MDOT Office of Aeronautics.
© 2024 MDOT Photography Unit
Robert G. Pekham Consultant of the Year Award
Left to right: Nick Patterson, RS&H; Ginger Moore, Hillsdale Municipal Airport; and Andrew Laszczyk and Shirley Ghannam, Arconcepts
© 2024 MDOT Photography Unit
Aviation Student of the Year Award
Left to right: Willow MacLaughlin and Michael Soper, MDOT Office of Aeronautics.
© 2024 MDOT Photography Unit
Aviation Professional of the Year Award – Not Pictured
by orionontv | Feb 23, 2024 | Transportation
| Gov. Whitmer’s proposed budget includes more to enhance opportunity for all |
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Gov. Whitmer’s proposed budget includes more to enhance opportunity for all
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget include additional funds for MI Contracting Opportunity, a program that supports contractors and suppliers who are socially or economically disadvantaged. The $5 million recommendation represents a renewal of the item in the previous budget, with a $2 million increase.
Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205/14555593-gov-whitmer-s-proposed-budget-includes-more-to-enhance-opportunity-for-all
On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Lisa Thompson, who directs the Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Office of Business Development, which includes the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, explains how the funding will help build on the success of assisting these businesses.
Thompson says the goal is to assist small businesses with tools to actively participate in the various phases of road and bridge design and construction.
Other objectives include:
- The continuation and growth of MDOT’s highly successful consultant, small business mentor-protégé program.
- Expanding a small business trucking program that covers the cost of commercial driver’s license (CDL) training for small, disadvantaged trucking companies to help with truck driver shortages.
- A key focus to connect firms with access to capital and the skills to manage it successfully throughout the project life cycle; build and maintain meaningful relationships with industry professionals to provide opportunities to utilize and/or expand their work types; and provide training regarding the intricacies of government contracting and ways to strengthen their business functions and efficiencies.
- Upcoming initiatives include creating two small business revolving loan programs to help support small, disadvantaged businesses grow and contract more MDOT work.There will be a small business lending program and a mega projects small business lending program. Any funds received by the state as repayment of past loans are appropriated and shall be available for future loans.
- Create a small business incubator program that serves MDOT’s existing small and disadvantaged business development program to grow the capacity of Michigan-based small, disadvantaged businesses through training and construction mentor-protégé opportunities.
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A guest presenter addresses the audience at the 2023 MDOT DBE Conference.
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by orionontv | Feb 15, 2024 | Transportation
Gordie Howe International Bridge team continues to invest in communities
This week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features conversations with two people who participated in a Feb. 6 announcement by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) of an additional $2.6 million being invested in 13 community projects as part of construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge (GHIB).
Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205/14512005-gordie-howe-international-bridge-team-continues-to-invest-in-communities
First, Heather Grondin, vice president of corporate affairs and external relations for WDBA, talks about the community benefits program and why it’s so important.
The projects include cycling infrastructure added to Jefferson Avenue and Clark Street, making for a connection between the GHIB multiuse path and the City of Detroit’s Joe Louis Greenway.
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Later, Mohammed Alghurabi, a Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) senior project manager on the bridge project, talks about what it means to him to be able to demonstrate to residents that Canada and Michigan are delivering on promises to the community.
Projects announced for funding:
- $250,000 toward local history and culture,
- $1.3 million toward community safety,
- $540,000 toward green initiatives,
- $250,000 toward food security,
- $250,000 toward wellness, and
- $100,000 toward community partnerships.
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by orionontv | Feb 6, 2024 | Transportation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT
February 6, 2024 Diane Cross
[email protected]
Northbound I-75 resurfacing from M-15 (Ortonville Road) to Oakland/Genesee county line begins in early March
VILLAGE OF CLARKSTON, Mich. – Bridge and road work along I-75 in northern Oakland County is expected to resume in early March. The Michigan Department of Transportation is investing approximately $160 million to resurface and repair I-75 from M-15 (Ortonville Road) to the Oakland/Genesee county line. This project includes resurfacing I-75, repairing 11 bridges, drainage improvements, culvert replacements, signs, and guardrail. Various work will be performed in different locations with different schedules throughout the 15 miles over four years.
This year, northbound I-75 will be milled and resurfaced from M-15 to the county line, with two lanes of northbound and southbound traffic sharing the southbound side of the freeway. Bridge repairs will be performed throughout the project limits along northbound I-75. Work is expected to be completed for the year in late fall.
In 2025, milling and resurfacing will occur on southbound I-75 from the county line to M-15, with traffic sharing the northbound side. Then in 2026, crews will remove the temporary crossovers and perform the remaining miscellaneous activity.
Funding for this project is made possible by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan program to rebuild the state highways and bridges that are critical to the state’s economy and carry the most traffic. The investment strategy is aimed at fixes that result in longer useful lives and improve the condition of the state’s infrastructure.
Based on economic modeling, this investment is expected to directly and indirectly support 1,936 jobs.
by orionontv | Feb 5, 2024 | Transportation
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Why the state is asking citizens how to fund transportation
On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about the road usage charge (RUC) survey conducted to gauge citizen’s thoughts on funding transportation infrastructure.
Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205/14427300-why-the-state-is-asking-citizens-how-to-fund-transportation
Jean Ruestman, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Office of Passenger Transportation, explains how the department sought and won a federal grant to fund the survey and why the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is incentivizing states to gather the information.
Some key takeaways:
- The survey is a research project and not about setting policy regarding the implementation of an RUC.
- This statewide survey is the first step in exploring how RUC, if implemented, might affect people’s modal choices (taking transit, selecting alternative less congested routes, traveling at different times of the day) and in exploring new ways to sustainably and fairly fund and maintain public transit systems, roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure in Michigan.
- One possible funding tool is RUC, or paying based on vehicle miles traveled, which means drivers would pay a few cents for each mile driven versus paying based on how much gas they buy.
- The Legislature adopted legislation in 2022 requiring MDOT to study tolling as an additional or alternative funding method. The Legislature later requested that the department examine RUC.
- Gov. Whitmer’s Growing Michigan Together Council recommended lawmakers examine alternative funding sources for Michigan’s transportation infrastructure.
- No policy changes like this are being debated by the Legislature at this time.
- Many other states are exploring RUC, with some already having implemented similar systems (Utah, Oregon, Virginia, and Hawaii).
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by orionontv | Jan 30, 2024 | Transportation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2024 |
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MEDIA CONTACT
Michael Frezell
517-281-6519
[email protected] |
MDOT launches road usage charges survey
to gauge public interest
Fast facts:
– MDOT is launching a road usage charges survey at www.Michigan.gov/MIRoadCharge.
– The survey will give the public the opportunity to weigh in on possible new ways to sustainably and fairly fund and maintain the state transportation system.
– Respondents will receive a $10 gift card for their participation.
LANSING, Mich. – Starting Jan. 30 through March 1, Michigan residents will have the opportunity to weigh in on the way we all pay for roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure in the state through a new road usage charges survey. Each respondent will receive a $10 gift card for their participation. To participate, go to www.Michigan.gov/MIRoadCharge.
The survey, being conducted by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in partnership with Via Transportation, Inc. (Via) through funding provided through a federal grant, seeks to understand Michiganders’ attitudes toward potential replacements for the state gas tax. While no changes like this are being debated by the Legislature at this time, the statewide survey is the first step in exploring new ways to sustainably and fairly fund and maintain public transit systems, roads, bridges, and other crucial transportation infrastructure in Michigan.
One possible funding tool is road usage charges, which means drivers would pay a few cents for each mile driven versus paying based on how much gas they buy. Charging based on miles driven could make the system fairer for drivers who cannot afford newer, more fuel-efficient cars, while also ensuring that the state continues to have the resources needed to maintain roads in the future as vehicles become more fuel efficient or rely on alternative fuels.
Eligibility:
Respondents must be a Michigan resident aged 18 or older and can take the survey only once. Qualifying survey participants will be invited to participate in a pilot demonstration this fall to help us understand how road usage charges could work in Michigan. If interested, please let us know when completing the survey. By participating in the pilot demonstration, you could be eligible for additional incentives ranging from $75 to $500.
Participants should allow up to two weeks to receive a gift card. Gift cards will arrive by e-mail from [email protected] with the subject “Michigan Department of Transportation sent you a gift card.” If a participant is having issues with the survey, please e-mail [email protected] using the e-mail address that was provided when completing the survey.
Accessibility:
The survey is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese. Participants who require mobility, visual, hearing, written, or other assistance for effective participation should contact Orlando Curry at 517-241-7462 or [email protected]. Forms are located on the Title VI webpage. Requests will be evaluated and honored to the extent possible.
About Via Transportation:
Founded in 2012, Via pioneered the TransitTech category by using new technologies to develop public mobility systems. Via works to fundamentally improve the way the world moves, providing technology in 600 communities and more than 35 countries and counting. Via is supporting MDOT in both survey implementation and pilot technology deployment to explore road usage charging in the state of Michigan.
