Increased enforcement targets trucks in work zones

by orionontv | Sep 19, 2025 | Transportation

I On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conv Increased enforcement targets trucks in work zones ersation about the Michigan State Police (MSP) deploying added enforcement in freeway work zones. MC Lt. Jason Zylstra of MSP’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) explains why they launched special enforcement in segments with major work like the heavily traveled I-96 in Ionia County. MSP observes that 97 percent of at-fault crashes involving large trucks and buses are caused by driver behavior. Zylstra also discusses: The need for trucks to maintain a proper distance to other vehicles. The dangers of trucks blocking lanes in zipper-merge zones and why law enforcement issues citations for that behavior. Special inspections for tires, equipment and other components of commercial vehicles.

WEEKEND WORK for MDOT (I, M, US roads)

by orionontv | Sep 18, 2025 | Transportation

09/19-09/22/25                                                WEEKEND WORK for MDOT (I, M, US roads)

This is the current weekend construction, in addition to on-going projects in other locations. Always check Michigan.gov/drive for this info and for ALL projects and follow @MDOT_MetroDet.

Multiple work crews may be involved in these closures. WEATHER AFFECTS ALL WORK AND MAY CAUSE DELAYS OR CANCELLATIONS.

I-75:

Oakland – SB I-75, University to Featherstone, 3 lanes open, Sat 9am-Sun 1pm, slope restoration.

Wayne – NB I-75 CLOSED, Schaefer to Clark, Fri 9pm-Mon 5am, incl ramps, bridge work.

Wayne – SB I-75, M-39 to Dix Toledo, 1 LANE OPEN, Sat 6am-Sun 9pm, incl Dix ramp, bridge work.

I-94:

Wayne – WB I-94 RAMP CLOSED to SB US-24/Telegraph, Fri 9pm-Sun 5am, bridge work.

Wayne – EB I-94 RAMP CLOSED to NB US-24/Telegraph, Fri 9pm-Sun 5am, bridge work.

Wayne – WB I-94 RAMP CLOSED to Conner, Sat-Sun 7am-7pm, soil boring.

I-96:

Oakland – EB I-96 at Kent Lake, 1 LANE OPEN, Sat 5am-Sun 5am, pavement repair.

Oakland – EB I-96 at Kent Lake, 2 LANES OPEN, Sun 5am-Wed 5am, pavement repair.

Wayne – WB I-96, Joy Rd to M-8/Davison, 2 LANES OPEN, Fri 9am-Mon 5am, patching.

I-696:

Oakland – EB/WB I-696 RAMPS CLOSED to Orchard Lake, Fri 7pm-Mon 6am, road work.

M-1: (Woodward)

Oakland – NB M-1 at US-24BR/Square Lake, 1 LANE OPEN, Thurs 9 am-Mon 6am, sewer repair.

Oakland – NB M-1 at US-24BR/Square Lake, 3 LANES OPEN, Mon 6am-Fri 5pm, sewer repair.

Oakland – NB M-1, Normandy to 14 Mile, 3 lanes open, Mon-10/10; daily 9am-3pm, S/S all day, road work.

Oakland – SB M-1, Orchard Lake Rd to South Blvd, 1 LANE OPEN, Mon-Wed 9am-3pm, utility work.

Oakland – NB M-1, South Blvd to Auburn Ave, 1 LANE OPEN, Mon-Wed 9am-3pm, utility work.

M-10:

Wayne – SB M-10 RAMP CLOSED to NB I-75, Fri 9pm-Mon 5am, road repair.

Wayne – NB/SB M-10 RAMPS CLOSED to SB I-75/I-96 CD, Fri 9pm-Mon 5am, road repair.

M-19:

Macomb – NB/SB M-19 CLOSED, 25 Mile to 26 Mile, Thu 11am-Mon 5am, pavement repairs.

Macomb – NB/SB M-19, 32 Mile/Division to Big Hand, 1 LANE OPEN, Sat-Sun 5am-7pm, mill/resurface.

M-53:

Macomb – SB M-53, Metropolitan Pkwy to 15 Mile, 2 LANES OPEN, Mon-Wed 10am-2pm, soil work.

M-59: (Highland Rd)

Oakland – EB/WB M-59, Duck Lake to Elizabeth Lake, 1 LANE OPEN, Sun 6am-Sat 9pm.

M-97: (Groesbeck Hwy)

Macomb – NB M-97, 15 Mile to Harrington, 1 LANE OPEN, Sat-Sun 7am-3pm, joint sealing.

M-153: (Ford Rd)

Wayne – EB/WB Ford Rd/M-153, Venoy to Inkster Dr, 1 LANE OPEN, Fri 7pm-Sun 10am, joint sealing.

US-24: (Telegraph)

Wayne – NB/SB US-24 at I-94, 1 LANE OPEN, Fri 9pm-Sun 5am, bridge inspection.

Wayne – NB US-24 RAMP CLOSED to WB I-94, Fri 9pm-Sun 5am, bridge inspection.

Wayne – SB US-24 RAMP CLOSED to EB I-94, Fri 9pm-Sun 5am, bridge inspection.

Final Adopt-A-Highway cleanup of the year starts Saturday

by orionontv | Sep 15, 2025 | Transportation

Final Adopt-A-Highway cleanup of the year starts Saturday

Fast facts:

• The final Adopt-A-Highway of the year is Sept. 20-28.
• Adopt-A-Highway volunteers collected more than 36,000 bags of trash last year.
• Sections of highway are still available to adopt. Go to Michigan.gov/AdoptAHighway for more information.

LANSING, Mich. ­- As sure as the leaves start to turn and fall, thousands of Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Adopt-A-Highway volunteers will fan out across the state to collect litter from Saturday, Sept. 20, through Sunday, Sept. 28.

This is the third and final scheduled pickup period of the year.

The popular Adopt-A-Highway program began in Michigan in 1990. Today, 35 years later, around 2,600 groups have adopted more than 6,000 miles of state highway. Last year alone, these volunteers collected more than 36,000 bags of trash.

Motorists should be on the lookout for the groups as they clean the roadsides beginning Saturday. Safety is a top priority for the program. When working in a highway right of way, volunteers wear high-visibility, yellow-green safety vests required by federal regulations. MDOT provides free vests and trash bags and arranges to haul away the trash.

Adopting a highway is straightforward. Volunteers include members of civic groups, businesses and families. Crew members must be at least 12 years old, and each group must include at least three people. Groups are asked to adopt a section of highway for at least two years. There is no fee to participate. Adopt-A-Highway signs bearing group names are posted along the stretches of adopted highway.

Sections of highway are available for adoption all over the state. Interested groups can get more information on joining the program at www.Michigan.gov/AdoptAHighway.

One more time: Texts about unpaid tolls are scams!

by orionontv | Sep 11, 2025 | Transportation

One more time: Texts about unpaid tolls are scams! As unscrupulous actors continue to impersonate government agencies and target unknowing people with texts about unpaid tolls, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel this week reissued a consumer alert. With that in mind, this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast is a reprise of a conversation in June with J. Michael Skiba, also known as “Dr. Fraud,” a national expert on scams, like those proliferating in Michigan and other states, where text messages tell people they have unpaid road tolls. Skiba is department chair at Colorado State University Global, where he oversees the Criminal Justice Department, including specializations in fraud, financial crime and cybercrime. He discusses the psychology that prompts so many victims of online fraud to engage with scammers on smishing attempts. If you’ve been targeted, the FCC offers many tips. In April, the Michigan Department of Transportation released a video of Director Bradley C. Wieferich urging people not to respond to the texts. LISTEN NOW Listen now at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205. Stay connected by subscribing to Talking Michigan Transportation e-mail updates.

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Train Week kicks off with two railroad safety events

by orionontv | Sep 10, 2025 | Transportation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 10, 2025 MEDIA CONTACT Curtis Stewart Michigan Operation Lifesaver 517-974-1737 Frmn2009@sbcglobal.net See Tracks? Think Train Week kicks off with two railroad safety events across Michigan   ANN ARBOR and ST. JOSEPH, Mich. – Michigan Operation Lifesaver, Inc. and the Michigan Railroads Association will begin See Tracks? Think Train Week (formerly Rail Safety Week) to promote safety around railroad tracks with two kick-off events on Sept. 15. One event will be held in Ann Arbor and the other in St. Joseph. All are encouraged to share rail safety messages on social media using the hashtags #SeeTracksThinkTrainWeek, #StopTrackTragedies and #RailSafetyEducation. Who: Curtis Stewart, Operation Lifesaver state coordinator Jon Cool, Michigan Railroads Association John Reiser, City of Ann Arbor Rick Burn, Operation Lifesaver authorized volunteer Tim Rogers, Operation Lifesaver authorized volunteer Federal, state and local officials Law enforcement officers Railroads Interested public Students Media Ann Arbor Kick-off Event: Monday, Sept. 15, 2025 10 a.m. University of Michigan Department of Public Safety 1239 Kipke St. Ann Arbor, MI. 48104 Note: The event will be at parking lot SC7 (East Stadium Boulevard and Kipke Street) next to the railroad tracks. The Ann Arbor Railroad will have two locomotives parked at the event on display. West Michigan Kick-off Event: Monday, Sept. 15, 2025 7:30 – 9:15 a.m. St. Joseph/Benton Harbor Amtrak Station 410 1/2 Vine St. St. Joseph, MI. 49085 Note: Please plan to join the event for breakfast at 8:10 a.m. after Amtrak train 371 leaves. Background: It happens every three hours in the United States: a person or vehicle is struck by a train. When this tragedy occurs, lives are changed forever. To raise awareness of the dangers of being on or around railroad tracks, See Tracks? Think Train Week (ST3Week) is happening this year from Sept. 15 to 21. This event is being spearheaded by Operation Lifesaver, Inc. in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation and other safety organizations. Activities are being planned each day during the week to share lifesaving messages throughout our communities. By working together on raising railroad safety awareness, we can save lives. ### MDOT: Working with our partners at airports, bus systems, marine and rail to find innovative solutions for Michigan’s transportation systems. Follow MDOT

Experts shed light on transportation funding battle

by orionontv | Sep 9, 2025 | Transportation

Panel of experts sheds light on transportation funding battle On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation recapping a Sept. 4 panel discussion in Lansing featuring a thoughtful discussion among experts from various fields on the need for sustainable transportation infrastructure funding and why it’s such a challenge. John Peracchio, who helped organize the event and moderated the discussion, says he was pleased with the comments of the panelists but hoped for a more robust question-and-answer session that followed. Some key themes: Chad Livengood, politics editor and columnist at the Detroit News, talked about reporting when he was at Crain’s Detroit on subdivisions being built in outer-ring suburbs with no sustainable source of funding for their roads. Lance Binoniemi of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association reiterated the job losses that would result from a lack of increased investment in road and bridge building. Baruch Feigenbaum of The Reason Foundation explained the long-term benefits of switching to a road user charge (RUC) system for funding roads, as some other states have piloted. He has previously talked about the topic on the podcast. Jane McCurry of Clean Fuels Michigan provided perspective on how fees on alternative-fuel vehicles contribute to the road funding mix.