An outsize role in Transportation Planning
The Transportation Asset Management Council (TAMC) has been in existence since 2002, and has lead a significant change in thinking on the part of Michigan’s road agencies. As can be seen in their mission statement, TAMC tirelessly promotes the ideas and implementation behind transportation asset management, and helpfully provides tools for road agencies to utilize these principles.
The TAMC was formed under Public Act (PA 499 of 2002) to promote the use of asset management practices among Michigan’s road owning agencies; to develop a coordinated, unified effort by the various roadway agencies within the state; and to advise the State Transportation Commission (STC) and Michigan Infrastructure Council (MIC) on statewide asset management strategy.
TAMC is comprised of professionals from county road commissions, cities, a county commissioner, a township official, regional and metropolitan planning organizations, and state transportation department personnel. The Council reports to the Michigan Infrastructure Council and the State Transportation Commission. Council members are appointed to 3-year terms. The Center for Shared Solutions (CSS) is the central data storage agency of the Council and serves as a non-voting member. The activities of the Council are supported by the TAMC Coordinator and MDOT.
The enabling legislation requires the council to set up a process for determining the condition of Michigan’s highways and bridges(PASER) and to develop a strategy so that those assets are maintained, preserved and improved in an efficient and cost-effective manner. PASER thereby allows the state government to determine the funding needs of all of the federal aide eligible roads in the state of Michigan.
Mission Statement:
To develop and support excellence in managing Michigan’s transportation assets by:
• Advising the Legislature, the Michigan Infrastructure Council (MIC), State Transportation Commission, and transportation committees.
• Promoting Asset Management principles.
• Providing tools and practices for road agencies.
• Collaborate and coordinate with the Water Asset Management Council (WAMC)
Michigan’s 2021 Roads & Bridges Annual Report
The Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council (TAMC) has released the Michigan 2021 Annual Road and Bridge Report to the Michigan Legislature.
TAMC, like many entities, felt the impact of COVID-19 across its program areas in 2020. This posed many challenges and opportunities, including the first-ever virtual conference appropriately titled, “Adapt and Overcome.” TAMC capitalized on these online formats to provide greater access to training and education. Even though federal-aid PASER data collection was ultimately suspended, many other core TAMC functions were expanded. Reporting tools and transparency efforts were upgraded with usability enhancements, along with the addition of culvert asset information and legislative map customization. The first round of TAMP submissions required by PA 325 also occurred in 2020.
During 2021, the TAMC rated the pavement condition of the paved federal-aid eligible roads for the fifthteenth consecutive year. "The report reveals further deterioration of Michigan’s federal aid eligible roads as there are more miles rated as poor than fair", stated Johnson. The 2020 condition data indicates 42% of these roads are in poor condition, 36% are in fair condition, and 22% are in good condition; in 2017, the breakdown was 40% poor, 40% fair, and 20% good.
The report also includes data on the condition of all bridges in Michigan. An analysis of the bridge condition data indicates that bridge owners are “losing ground” due to an aging inventory and rising costs for repair and replacement. This year’s report reveals Michigan has 11.3% of bridges rated as “structurally deficient.”, more than any other Great Lakes state.
The 2021 Annual Road and Bridge Report can be viewed, along with other past reports, at www.Michigan.gov/TAMC. This effort was achieved through a cooperative effort of individuals from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), city and village and county road agencies, in coordination with regional planning agencies, and metropolitan planning organizations.