Spring weight restrictions on state roads expanding Monday in Lower Peninsula

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2020
CONTACT: Dan Weingarten, MDOT Office of Communications, 906-250-4809
                      WeingartenD@Michigan.gov

Spring weight restrictions on state roads expanding
Monday in Lower Peninsula

February 28, 2020 -- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and local agencies are enacting additional annual spring weight restrictions to protect roads.

            Effective 6 a.m. Monday, March 2, weight restrictions will be imposed and enforced on all state trunkline highways within the following area of Michigan:

            - Highways north of a line on M-43 in the city of South Haven east to US-131 in Kalamazoo County, then south to I-94 in Kalamazoo County and east to I-69 in Calhoun County, then north to Lansing and continuing east on I-69 to Port Huron in St. Clair County.

            - Highways south of a line on M-55 from the US-31 intersection in Manistee County east to M-66 in Missaukee County, then north on M-66 to M-55 in Missaukee County, then east on M-55 to the intersection of US-23 in Tawas in Iosco County.

            All state trunk lines between these two lines will have weight restrictions imposed and enforced. State routes typically carry M, I, or US designations. State routes typically carry M, I, or US designations.

            In the restricted areas, the following will apply:

            - On routes designated as "all-season" (designated in green and gold on the MDOT Truck Operators Map), there will be no reduction in legal axle weights.

            - On routes designated as "seasonal" (designated in solid or dashed red on the MDOT Truck Operators Map), there will be a posted weight reduction of 25 percent for rigid (concrete) pavements and 35 percent for flexible (asphalt) pavements.

            - All extended permits will be valid for oversize loads in the weight-restricted area on the restricted routes. Single-trip permits will not be issued for any overweight loads or loads exceeding 14 feet in width, 11 axles and 150 feet in overall length on the restricted routes.

            County road commissions and city public works departments put in place their own seasonal weight restrictions, which usually, but not always, coincide with state highway weight restrictions. Signs are generally posted to indicate which routes have weight restrictions in effect.

            For weight restriction information and updates, call 800-787-8960, or you can access this information on MDOT's website at www.Michigan.gov/Truckers, under "Restrictions." All-season routes are designated in green and gold on the MDOT Truck Operators Map, which is available online. You also may sign up to receive e-mail alerts.

Trucking companies located in New Jersey and Canada can obtain information by calling 517-373-6256.

Annual spring weight restrictions start Monday to protect Michigan's roads

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020
CONTACT: Dan Weingarten, MDOT Office of Communications, 906-250-4809
                      WeingartenD@Michigan.gov

  Annual spring weight restrictions
start Monday to protect Michigan's roads

February 21, 2020 -- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and local agencies are enacting spring weight restrictions, an annual move to protect roads.

            Effective 6 a.m. Monday, Feb. 24, weight restrictions will be imposed and enforced on all state trunkline highways within the following area of Michigan:

            - Highways north of a line on M-43 in the city of South Haven east to US-131 in Kalamazoo County, then south to I-94 in Kalamazoo County and east to I-69 in Calhoun County, then north to Lansing and continuing east on I-69 to Port Huron in St. Clair County.

            - Highways south of a line on M-46 in Muskegon County from US-31 Business Route in the city of Muskegon east to US-131, then north on US-131 to M-46 and east to I-75 near Saginaw, then north on I-75 to M-25 near Bay City and continuing east on M-25 to M-46 in Port Sanilac in Sanilac County, including the entire Thumb region. All state trunk lines between these two lines will have weight restrictions imposed and enforced. State routes typically carry M, I, or US designations.

            When roads that have been frozen all winter begin to thaw from the surface downward, melting snow and ice saturate the softened ground. During the spring thaw, the roadbed softened by trapped moisture beneath the pavement makes it more susceptible to damage. This also contributes to pothole problems already occurring due to this winter's numerous freeze-thaw cycles.

            In the restricted areas, the following will apply:

            - On routes designated as "all-season" (designated in green and gold on the MDOT Truck Operators Map), there will be no reduction in legal axle weights.

            - On routes designated as "seasonal" (designated in solid or dashed red on the MDOT Truck Operators Map), there will be a posted weight reduction of 25 percent for rigid (concrete) pavements and 35 percent for flexible (asphalt) pavements.

            - All extended permits will be valid for oversize loads in the weight-restricted area on the restricted routes. Single-trip permits will not be issued for any overweight loads or loads exceeding 14 feet in width, 11 axles and 150 feet in overall length on the restricted routes.

            MDOT determines when weight restrictions begin each spring by measuring frost depths along state highways, observing road conditions, and monitoring weather forecasts. Weight restrictions remain in effect until the frost line is deep enough to allow moisture to escape and the roadbeds regain stability.

            County road commissions and city public works departments put in place their own seasonal weight restrictions, which usually, but not always, coincide with state highway weight restrictions. Signs are generally posted to indicate which routes have weight restrictions in effect.

            For weight restriction information and updates, call 800-787-8960, or you can access this information on MDOT's website at www.Michigan.gov/Truckers, under "Restrictions." All-season routes are designated in green and gold on the MDOT Truck Operators Map, which is available online. You also may sign up to receive e-mail alerts.

            Trucking companies located in New Jersey and Canada can obtain information by calling 517-373-6256.

State of Michigan Launches 2020 Census Website

LANSING – In preparation for the 2020 Census, the state of Michigan has launched a new website to provide information and resources to Michiganders.

Live as of Tuesday, Jan. 14, the website will be available throughout the census-taking season so residents can have their questions answered, keep up to date on the latest census news and obtain a better understanding about the importance of the census. The website includes a list of frequently asked questions and an interactive map of hard to reach areas, among other things.

To find more resources about the census or to get involved, go to www.michigan.gov/census2020.

The website is one piece of a larger effort to ensure that every Michigander is counted. In particular, the “Count Me In” campaign seeks to let Michigan residents know that responding to the census this year is convenient, confidential and critical to the future of our state.

Residents can fill out the census in multiple languages online, by phone or on a paper form. All answers are completely confidential.

By law, the data can be collected for statistical purposes only and cannot be used against a person. The Census Bureau cannot share or publish any household-specific census data, even to other government agencies.

Ensuring an accurate count of Michiganders is important because roughly $30 billion in federal funding for public safety, schools, housing, health care, and more, as w ell as one congressional seat, are at stake for Michigan.

The census count will shape Michigan’s social infrastructure for the next decade.

ICYMI: Applying for Rural Broadband Funding Through the USDA's ReConnect Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has begun taking applications for the second round of $550 million in ReConnect Program funding.  Connected Nation hosted a webinar February 5th to help local units understand how YOUR area can leverage this program to connect more homes and businesses. 

Officials explained how the ReConnect program works, answered questions about applying, and provided tips on how to improve your chances of being awarded funding.

A recording of the webinar is available to watch at your convenience here:

https://connectednation.org/blog/2020/02/06/webinar-the-usda-answers-your-questions-on-funding-for-rural-broadband/

In Student Housing, Off Campus or With Parents, College Students Count in 2020 Census

A freshman living on campus in student housing. A junior varsity athlete sharing an off-campus house with teammates. A senior living solo in an off-campus apartment.

Even though many residents of a typical American college town might move away after they graduate, they have to be counted while they live there. 

College towns across the country depend on students’ responses to the census. The reason: Census results help determine how much federal funding communities will receive over the next 10 years.

“Young college students may be going off on their own for the first time, and when they see a postcard or a census worker and are asked to take the census, they may not understand that they’re supposed to take it where they’re living.” 

— Evan Curtis, state planning coordinator and co-chair of the Utah Complete Count Committee

Read the full story here.

MATS Issues FY 2019 Annual Obligation Report

MIDLAND, Mi., December 17th, 2019- The Midland Area Transportation Study (MATS) has released its Annual Report, showing increased Federal funding obligated in the MATS area for Fiscal Year 2019, for roads and transit.  State and Local funds are included in the report for reference.  

The 2019 MATS Annual Report:

·         Shows that overall Federal investment in the MATS area is down significantly from FY 2018, returning to slightly below historical levels.

·         Federal funding decreased from 31 to 4.4 million dollars, with roads and bridges being the largest beneficiary, largely due to the completion of the new M-20 Bridge.

·         Overall transportation funding totaling $10.2 million was invested into the MATS area transportation network.

·         Transit obligations have returned to historical levels, at 1.5 million.  This is partially due to several new buses purchased by local Transit agencies.

According to MATS Director Maja Bolanowska, these obligations "are small MPO surface transportation, safety, rural roads, transit operating and transit capital funds.  They allow many projects to be completed each year. All these categories of funding represent federal gas tax revenues coming back to the local community”. 

The entire document can be found HERE.

Dial-A-Ride to Expand Saturday Bus Service Hours

November 25, 2019 – Dial-A-Ride, the City of Midland’s curb-to-curb demand response bus service, has announced an expansion to its Saturday bus service hours. Effective Saturday, December 7, Dial-A-Ride bus service will be available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Saturdays for rides within the Midland city limits.

The change, which will provide bus service one hour earlier than the previous 9 a.m. start time on Saturdays, comes in response to passenger requests for earlier Saturday ride times and will streamline start times for DART’s weekend bus service hours. DART provides bus service on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Phone service hours will remain unchanged and are as follows:

• Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

• Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Sunday, no phone service hours

For more information, please call Dial-A-Ride at 989-837-6940 or visit www.cityofmidlandmi.gov/dart.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao Announces Major New Initiative to Support Rural Transportation Needs

ST. LOUIS, MO – U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao today announced the creation of a major new initiative to support transportation needs in rural America. The initiative, known as the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) Initiative, will analyze the Department’s discretionary funding and financing opportunities to ensure nationwide outcomes for rural communities’ transportation infrastructure. Secretary Chao made the announcement during her remarks at the annual meeting of the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in St. Louis, Missouri. 

“Rural America, which has a disproportionately high rate of fatalities and is historically neglected, needs to have its transportation needs addressed,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao.

Rural communities and their transportation networks have been instrumental in building and supplying urban areas throughout our nation’s history, carrying people from city-to-city and carrying freight from bedrock American industries such as agriculture, mining, forestry, and manufacturing.  Yet rural transportation infrastructure has significant challenges. Over 70% of America’s road miles are in rural areas. While one-fifth of Americans live in rural areas, rural America’s traffic fatalities are disproportionately high, totaling 46% of fatalities in 2018. Further, of the nation’s bridges that are posted for weight limits, 90 percent are in rural areas.

The new ROUTES Initiative will address these challenges by assisting rural stakeholders in understanding how to access DOT grants and financing products, and developing data-driven approaches to better assess needs and benefits of rural transportation projects. This builds on the Department’s Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) Loan Program’s Rural Project Initiative, which offers lower project-cost thresholds for loan eligibility, subsidized interest rates, and the coverage of fees to encourage use of the credit program for infrastructure projects in rural areas. The Department will engage rural transportation stakeholders at events over the coming year to educate project sponsors about the funding and finance opportunities at DOT, as well as to receive their feedback.

Secretary Chao also announced the formation of a rural transportation infrastructure council, the ROUTES Council, to lead the way on this initiative. This new internal deliberative body at the Department will identify critical rural transportation concerns and coordinate efforts among DOT’s different modal administrations. The Council will initially review public comments and create a rural resources handbook, holding its first meeting in November 2019.

Learn more about the ROUTES Initiative here.