Talking Michigan Transportation

After a long hiatus, Michigan is again implementing ramp metering, which helps regulate the flow of traffic from ramps onto busy freeways. It will be used on the I-96 Flex Route portion in western Oakland County.On this week's Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Sarah Gill, operations engineer for the Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT) Metro Region, talks about how it will work and the history of ramp metering in Michigan. Gill explains the key reasons for implementing ramp metering, which include improving merging, reducing crashes and reducing travel times. An MDOT how-to video offers guidance on the concept.Next week's episode will delve farther into the topic and include conversations with a traffic safety engineer with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), who will talk about how successful the concept has been in the rapidly growing Denver area. You'll also hear a national perspective from the director of safety and mobility at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a check-in with Joann Muller, the Detroit-based transportation correspondent for Axios.Muller explains the thinking behind General Motors officials' announcement to invest $4 billion in the U.S. and move some vehicle production back from Mexico.She also offers some insight she gained in reporting on negotiations between the U.S. and China over rare earth magnets, underscoring the need for the U.S. to develop a long-term strategy.Also discussed: The likely result of easing regulations that have held back commercial drones in the U.S. 

On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation 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.

As road work continues across Michigan, police are on high alert for speeding and distracted drivers causing crashes during backups. On this week's Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about efforts engineers take to balance mobility and safety during active road work. Lindsey Renner, division administrator for Construction Field Services at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and a former supervisor of the Work Zone Safety section, explains the challenges. Among innovative methods in use are rumble strips to alert people as they approach a work zone, speed trailers and law enforcement employing a Ghost Rider program to identify distracted drivers. Renner also talks about the zipper merge as a means of encouraging drivers to alternate when work requires a lane to be closed. Other relevant links: MDOT Work Zone SafetyMichigan.gov/MDOT/Travel/Safety/Road-Users/Work-Zone-SafetyThe Zipper Merge Explained With Kidsyoutu.be/TLAISm1XuHQOperation Ghost Riderbridgemi.com/michigan-government/ghost-riders-lookout-distracted-drivers-michigan 

On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with a trunkline pavement strategy specialist about how the work in his area helps inform investment decisions. Tim Lemon, who works in the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Bureau of Transportation Planning, talks about how pavement condition is measured and how the data is used.  He explains that remaining service life (RSL) is MDOT's primary pavement condition performance measure, which indicates the number of years before the pavement is anticipated to reach poor condition. It reflects the anticipated time in years that a pavement section can continue to provide acceptable levels of service, considering factors such as distress, structural integrity, ride quality, and functionality. He also explains that while state trunklines (I, M and US routes) don't account for the majority of road miles in the state, they carry 53 percent of total traffic and more than 75 percent of commercial traffic in Michigan. 

Congressional leaders of various infrastructure committees have shown some interest in adopting a multi-year surface transportation reauthorization bill, offering departments of transportation and contractors some certainty, well ahead of the current act's expiration in 2026. Susan Howard, policy and government relations director for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), returns to the podcast to share what she's hearing in conversations on Capitol Hill. Late last month, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves released a budget reconciliation proposal. Howard explains what that means, where the conversations will move from here and what the reduction in work force at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and other U.S. Department of Transportation agencies could mean.

On this week's episode of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about states studying or piloting road usage charges (RUC).John Peracchio, a strategic adviser on intelligent transportation systems and mobility, and member of the Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification, talks about key takeaways from a recent conference of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA), where RUC programs were a key topic.  Also discussed is what has been learned from other states and what it means that a proposal in the Michigan transportation budget would fund an RUC pilot. Hawaii has been especially aggressive in implementation, and Peracchio explains the unique nature.  As an advocate for increased funding for public transit, Peracchio also discusses how RUC could be structured to help.

Earth Week 2025 came with a positive development for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) on efforts to implement a pilot program for analyzing wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) and learn ways to design safer crossings.Amanda Novak, a resource specialist in MDOT's Bay Region, returns to the podcast to talk about a recently awarded $476,000 federal grant and how it will be put toward the pilot program. She previously spoke about the grant on the podcast in September 2024.While we think of white-tailed deer most commonly when it comes to WVCs, other species to be considered include elk, moose, black bear, wild turkey, pine marten, eastern massasauga rattlesnake and Blanding's turtle. As laid out in the project abstract for the grant, the number of WVCs in Michigan continues to increase annually, worsening risks and costs to drivers. For example, white-tailed deer alone account for more than 55,000 WVCs and cost motorists an average of $130 million per year in Michigan. Additionally, WVCs are a major threat to many wildlife populations in the state, including documented impacts on several threatened and endangered species. Projected increases in tourism, housing development and climate change effects are likely to exacerbate WVC effects on motorists and wildlife in Michigan.

On this week's Talking Michigan Transportation, another conversation with Bill Hamilton, a senior analyst at the Michigan House Fiscal Agency (HFA). The HFA is a nonpartisan agency that helps the Michigan House of Representatives in developing the state budget.  Hamilton explains that the HFA has 15 analysts specializing in specific budget areas, typically departmental budgets. He also talks about overall Michigan transportation budget, which supports roads and bridges for 615 road agencies.  Also discussed: the Act 51 distribution formula. He explains that while the act dates to 1951, it has been amended a number of times over the years. This includes a breakdown of the distribution of money from the Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF) and the three buckets where money flows: the State Trunkline Fund (STF), county road agencies, and cities and villages.

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 central segment of I-696.  The work, which began in March and will continue through most of 2027, 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. The conversation also includes an update on MDOT's second flex route, this one on I-96 in Oakland County. The project is nearing completion as crews prepare for the use of ramp metering to regulate the flow of traffic to the freeway. A video explains the benefits of the flex route and ramp metering.

A few days after a massive ice storm rocked northern lower Michigan, many thousands remain without power while crews from power companies, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and other state and local agencies continue the cleanup and rebuilding process.Bill Wahl, MDOT North Region associate engineer for operations, who is coordinating department efforts, joins the podcast to provide an update on the recovery.Also joining is James Lake, MDOT North Region media relations specialist, who assists the Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) with communications. He talks about why falling ice necessitated closing the bridge three times in three days, including a record 30-hour period.Wahl and Lake grew up in the region and neither has seen anything like this ice storm and the resulting destruction. Wahl recounts utility workers who had been on power-restoration projects following hurricanes in the Southeast saying the scenes are as bad or worse as anything they've seen.Wahl says crews from several counties to the south, including Kent, Ottawa, Mason, Missaukee, Muskegon, Roscommon, Iosco and Wexford, were helping to clear roads.While the Mackinac Bridge re-opened Thursday morning, April 3, after a 30-hour closure, officials will continue to closely monitor conditions for falling ice. The MBA posted a video message on X from Bridge Director Kim Nowack about the falling ice, along with some photos from the bridge. More videos of falling ice that prompted the current closure were also posted on X. The bridge has closed roughly 30 times in the past 30 years, and the average closure duration is several hours. More frequently asked questions about falling ice and other topics are available on the MBA website. 

On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a repeat appearance by Joann Muller, the Detroit-based transportation correspondent for Axios. She talks about how tariffs are affecting the auto industry, how automakers are reacting and what the future might hold.Muller also shares insights from reporting on a new design for aircraft (a blended wing body airframe) that Delta Airlines and California-based Jet Zero say could make for net-zero emissions flying by 2050.Lastly, she talks about driverless Uber vehicles in Austin, Texas, and other developments in the evolution of automated vehicles. Muller also previews a new newsletter she's launching, Axios Future of Mobility.

Jason Gutting joins the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast this week to talk about his role as director of MDOT's Bureau of Field Services.As talks heat up between Michigan lawmakers and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer over various road funding proposals, the discussion again turns to paving standards and practices.Gutting talks about standards and specifications for paving materials and how MDOT engineers confer with counterparts from across the country; innovations in road building, winter maintenance and operations; and ongoing challenges because of inflation and supply chain pressures since the pandemic began.  Gutting was previously the administrator of the Construction Field Services (CFS) division. He also worked in Operations and was the construction contracts engineer for CFS as well as the construction engineer and an assistant construction engineer at the MDOT Lansing Transportation Service Center (TSC).  Other references in the podcast: Gov. Whitmer's Rebuilding Michigan programwww.Michigan.gov/MDOT/Projects-Studies/Rebuilding-Michigan-ProjectsMDOT winter road maintenance www.Michigan.gov/MDOT/Travel/Safety/Road-Users/Winter-Safety

On this week's Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations with state Sen. John Damoose and Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) Chairman Patrick “Shorty” Gleason about legislation to shore up protections of the bridge from trespassers. The Senate voted unanimously on March 13 in support of Senate Bill 71, which now heads to the House. This comes three years after some troubling incidents on the bridge involving people climbing a tower or otherwise trying to access the bridge to take photos, and another involving a bomb threat that closed the bridge on a busy weekend and disrupted travel for many hours. The MBA took the rare step at the time of adopting a resolution supporting the key facility designation. The Michigan House of Representatives passed a bill, sponsored by then-state Rep. John Damoose, 99-6, in 2022, classifying the Mighty Mac and several other vital structures in the state as key facilities. The legislation later stalled in the Michigan Senate. Now, the Senate has reported out, unanimously, the new bill, sponsored by now state Sen. Damoose, which is narrower in focus, applying strictly to the Mackinac Bridge. The designation means trespassing on the bridge would be a felony offense. 

On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, an update from Ryan McMahon of Cambridge Mobile Telematics, a Massachusetts-based firm that tracks data from drivers, participating voluntarily with their insurance carriers, to analyze statistics and driver behavior. McMahon spoke on the podcast previously, including a few months after Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the law making it illegal to use a hand-held electronic device while driving.His analysis includes data on distracted driving in Michigan broken down by county. His firm is reporting updated numbers that show meaningful strides in the right direction. McMahon also cites preliminary data showing a reduction in crashes in Michigan in 2024.

On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Sam Krassenstein, chief of infrastructure and Department of Public Works deputy director, for the City of Detroit. Krassenstein talks about many things, including the challenges of right-sizing streets built to accommodate more vehicles in an era before freeways were built, how safe mobility and accessibility play into the recovery of the city's neighborhoods, and the innovative thinking going into the I-375 and US-12 (Michigan Avenue) projects.Last May, Sen. Gary Peters invited Krassenstein to testify before the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight and Ports on the subject of community solutions to the roadway safety crisis.Krassenstein explains why this is so important as part of those efforts to right-size some streets and make for safer crossings.

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.

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 provided.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 gap that ASCE identified in the 2021 Report Card.

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.

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 central 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.

On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Mike Kapp, who directs the Michigan Department of Transportation's Office of Economic Development (OED). Kapp explains the origins of the office and how its various programs provide benefits to communities across the state. He also breaks down the six categories that make up the program. Later, Kapp talks about the office's 2024 accomplishments, including distributing $23.1 million in Category A grant funds, which: Generated $4.5 billion in private investment,Supported 4,414 jobs, andResulted in $262 in private investment for every public dollar. See all of the OED's accomplishments online.

On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Margaret Barondess, a manager in the Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT) environmental section who is retiring from state government, reflects on her career. More than 50 years ago, Congress adopted the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Barondess, who worked for MDOT for 33 years, explains how the act informs planning for transportation projects in Michigan and department efforts to at once protect our air, waterways, wildlife, and plants and minimize inconvenience to travelers. While critics of NEPA have argued for scaling back the need for environmental impact statements, supporters tout NEPA's role in saving money, time, lives, historical sites, endangered species and public lands while encouraging compromise and cultivating better projects with more public support. Barondess also talks about the challenges and rewards she and her team have experienced in recent years, including the success protecting some threatened species on a segment of I-75 in Monroe County with a corridor conservation action plan. 

On this week's episode of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Brad Wieferich, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation, talks about his background overseeing development and design of road projects and the challenge of balancing mobility and safety. With strong winds churning up lake-effect snow on Michigan's western lakeshore, police agencies have reported dozens of crashes. Despite ongoing messages from law enforcement and safety advocates, drivers often fail to drive to the conditions. Wieferich talks about what officials learned from a study conducted after a 193-vehicle pileup on I-94 near Galesburg resulted in the Michigan State Police issuing 58 citations.  Also discussed:The Legislature, following about half of all states, approved bills allowing for the use of safety cameras in work zones. Wieferich explains the benefits.Challenges in transportation going into 2025.

As lower Michigan braces for the first significant snowfall of the seasons, we're reprising a Talking Michigan Transportation episode from when the department launched a program to name snow plows. This episode features a conversation with Iain McDonald of Transport Scotland, about their program to name the plows, or “gritters” as they call them. Later, MDOT's Nick Schirripa joined the conversation to talk about some of the creative names people submitted for plows here.

On this week's Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Timothy Gates, associate chair for undergraduate studies of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan State University, talks about a new report on the use of seat belts and hand-held devices by Michigan drivers.The report shows 92 percent of front-seat occupants in Michigan wear seat belts, down from 92.4 percent in 2023 and 92.9 percent in 2022.Gates talks about the demographic breakdown within those numbers, which show younger male drivers are less likely to wear seat belts. He also discusses the different kinds of drivers who populate the roads in the wake of the pandemic, as remote work remains the norm for more white-collar workers.Also discussed: speeding continues to be a problem post-pandemic, Gates says. 

On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about mental health challenges for people who build and maintain roads and bridges. Gregg Brunner, chief engineer and chief operations officer at the Michigan Department of Transportation, spoke about the issue last month on a panel convened by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.As someone who has spent a career focusing on the safety of the transportation system and work zones, Brunner said his interest in making improvements was piqued as he pored through crash reports and visited the scenes. He learned of the toll crashes, especially where road work is occurring, takes on the workers. Members of the panel shared some chilling statistics, including: Overall, suicides in the U.S. increased to 49,300 in 2023, up from 48,183 since just 2021. In the construction industry, 5,000 workers died by suicide in 2022, which climbed to 7,000 by 2023. By contrast, the industry loses an estimated 1,000 annually to construction site incidents.In Michigan, a construction worker is now 12 times more likely to die by suicide rather than due to an on-the-job injury.There is a 75 percent remission rate for mental health and even substance abuse issues if one stays engaged six months to a year in a treatment plan. Also discussed: The Michigan Senate recently adopted legislation to allow the use of safety cameras in work zones to monitor vehicle speeds and initiate citations for those exceeding work zone speed limits. On a previous episode of the podcast, Juan Pava, Safety Programs Unit chief of the Bureau of Safety Programs and Engineering at the Illinois Department of Transportation, talked about the success of a similar program there. 

On this week's 200th edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Bill Milliken Jr., vice chairman of the Mackinac Bridge Authority and son of the state's longest-serving governor.Milliken talks about the honor and responsibility of serving on the Authority, including his role as chairman of the finance committee as they look to future needs and ensure appropriate revenue streams will be there.He also shares his history with the Annual Bridge Walk and recalls walking with his father when he was governor. Gov. Milliken still holds the record for the fastest crossing among governors participating in the walk: 46 minutes, 50 seconds in 1971.The Milliken history with the Mackinac Straits crossing concept predates the bridge's construction by more than a decade. His grandfather, James T. Milliken, while serving in the state Senate, discussed the need for a bridge with then-Gov. Chase Osborn in the 1940s.

On this week's Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a return visit by Brian Travis, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) project manager on the I-96 Flex Route in western Oakland County, which is wrapping up soon. The innovative project, allowing for the use of shoulders as travel lanes during peak travel times, is MDOT's second use of Flex Route concept. In 2016 and 2017, contractors built the first phase of a Flex Route, a $125 million investment on US-23 north of Ann Arbor. A project is underway for a second phase, at an estimated cost of $162 million, to extend the US-23 Flex Route from north of 8 Mile Road to I-96.  Travis says the Oakland County project is on schedule and three lanes should be restored in each direction within a few days of this recording on Oct. 24, 2024. He also touts the safety and efficiency benefits the added capacity during peak travel hours will provide and explains that contractors came very close to the targeted cost of $270 million.  Travis also explains why traffic will resume on three lanes soon, but the shoulders will not be available for use until early 2025. 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 improves the condition of the state's infrastructure. 

On this week's Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Ryan Mitchell, marking the one-year anniversary of the Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT) Office of Major Projects.  The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) categorizes major projects as those with a price tag of $500 million or more.   Mitchell helped establish and refine the alternative delivery and critical project delivery programs of numerous U.S. transportation agencies, including the state transportation departments of Nevada, Texas, Alaska, and now Michigan. In our conversation, he explains the various types of alternative delivery of projects and the benefits. Other links and references: Innovative contracting at MDOT www.Michigan.gov/MDOT/Business/Contractors/InnovativeContracting    MDOT's Modernize 75 project www.Modernize75.com/ 

On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about the extraordinary efforts that culminated with the opening of a new and improved bridge near Edenville.Jack Hofweber, manager of the Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT) Mt. Pleasant Transportation Service Center, reflects on the heavy rains and floods that breached dams and ravaged roads and bridges in several counties in 2020, just weeks after many people went into lockdown because of the pandemic.In what meteorologists concluded was a 500-year event, the flooding that resulted from up to 7 inches of rain in Midland, Saginaw and surrounding counties damaged homes and property, forced more than 10,000 people to evacuate and most spectacularly destroyed one power dam and severely damaged another.One year after the floods, an MLive drone video captured the changes.On Monday, Oct. 7, MDOT Director Bradley C. Wieferich, elected officials, contractors and labor groups celebrated the opening of the new bridge, as highlighted in this video.With climate change and sustained high water creating headaches for shoreline communities across the state and officials from several state agencies planning for more, the challenge of planning and building more resilient transportation infrastructure, especially during an ongoing period of underinvestment, remains acute.Other relevant links:https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-bay-city/2020/05/how-a-spring-rainstorm-became-a-500-year-flood-event-in-mid-michigan.html https://www.michiganradio.org/post/governor-expands-state-emergency-declaration-include-arenac-gladwin-and-saginaw-counties 

This week's Talking Michigan Transportation podcast picks up on themes in a Detroit Free Press story detailing creative efforts by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) to stem the proliferation of deer in the state's southern regions.Ed Golder, public information officer at MDNR, explains the challenges and how wildlife officials are tackling them. This includes some important changes in 2024 hunting regulations.The problem, as outlined in the story:While the state just recently started requiring hunters to report deer harvests, the results are stark: Hunters reported killing 30,000 fewer deer in 2023 than the year before, an 11 percent decrease, according to the state.In a letter to hunters last year, Chad Stewart, MDNR's deer, elk and moose management specialist, urged a greater antlerless harvest.Podcast image courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a follow-up to the previous episode highlighting efforts to protect people and animals with creative wildlife crossings on roads.Amanda Novak, a resource specialist in the Michigan Department of Transportation's Bay Region, helped spearhead the grant application and explains the importance.As laid out in the project abstract for the grant, the number of wildlife vehicle collisions (WVCs) in Michigan continues to increase annually, worsening risks and costs to drivers. For example, white-tailed deer alone account for more than 55,000 WVCs and cost motorists an average of $130 million per year in Michigan. Additionally, WVCs are a major threat to many wildlife populations in the state, including documented impacts on several threatened and endangered species. Projected increases in tourism, housing development and climate change effects are likely to exacerbate WVC effects on motorists and wildlife in Michigan.Podcast photo courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, the first installment of two focusing on ways to enhance the safety of animals, and human drivers, with wildlife crossings. In Part I this week, a conversation with Tim Johnson, a landscape connectivity specialist with the Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) Conservation Initiative.Going back some three decades, Canadian transportation and wildlife officials have collaborated on ways to build safe crossings to protect both animals and humans in Alberta. A system of 38 underpasses and six overpasses and fencing on 82 km of the Trans-Canada Highway in Banff National Park are also part of the longest ongoing wildlife crossing research and monitoring program in the world.Johnson explains how the crossings work, how different animals use them and, especially, why these are just as beneficial to humans as the animals.The hope is that Michigan officials can learn from the success from western officials as state officials pursue a federal grant for crossings here. Michigan State Police say more than 58,000 deer-related crashes occurred in the state in 2022. That's a 13 percent increase from 2021, a decade high. Repairs from those crashes could be just as high.In Wyoming, a $24.3 million federal grant awarded in 2023 was the largest made from the U.S. Department of Transportation's first tranche of $109 million for a novel Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program. Wyoming will use the money to fund the bulk of the $37 million construction project that will involve fencing 30 miles of the highway, building six or so new underpasses and a wildlife bridge for skittish antelope that won't go through a tunnel.Podcast photo courtesy of Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. 

On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Detroit News editor and columnist Chad Livengood about his reporting on misperceptions and contradictions surrounding the development of electric vehicle battery production facilities.As his Aug. 31 column observed:All of this transition to electrification is backed by huge government subsidies — just like China does with its auto industry — so the Michigan-based domestic auto industry doesn't move more production to Mexico or offshore.While EV adoption has not occurred at the pace expected by U.S. automakers, investments in plants to produce the batteries continues at the same time Michigan and other states make progress on supporting new charging infrastructure through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) process.Other relevant links:https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterlyon/2024/04/28/why-america-remains-a-forbidden-land-for-chinese-carmakers/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/15/business/economy/china-electric-vehicles-biden-tariffs.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&ngrp=ctr&pvid=EA2E2D4F-A518-4BE7-A02D-690443CDEC23

This week's edition of Talking Michigan Transportation is a reprise of a 2020 conversation with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer about her Rebuilding Michigan plan. Now four years into the program, the Michigan Department of Transportation continues to improve many of the state's busiest roads and bridges.Key links: http://michigan.gov/RebuildingMI  https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/State-of-the-State/2021 

On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Joann Muller, a Detroit-based reporter for Axios covering all things mobility, talks about electric vehicle (EV) sales, progress on developing charging networks, consumers buying smaller vehicles, and her experience with a new device that converts a conventional bicycle to an e-bike.According to a new report, sales of battery-powered models across America are up compared to the rest of the industry. The boost has been spurred on by price cuts, tax breaks and other incentives aimed at encouraging Americans to go electric.New technology allows for an e-bike conversion. From the story: With pedaling assistance from a simple friction drive system, it's less complex and a lot cheaper than a fully electric bike.

Despite Michigan's hands-free driving law being in place for more than a year now, police are still seeing drivers holding their phones or other devices in vehicles. The practice is especially troublesome where road work is going on.On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations with a construction engineer facing the challenge of working with contractors to rebuild roads in a timely manner while maintaining mobility for the public. First, Tanya Pawlukiewicz, MDOT's Grand Region construction engineer, talks about a number of crashes that have occurred in a work zone on a major project on I-96 in Ionia County. Later, Michigan State Police Sgt. Bradley Campbell talks about what he and his colleagues are seeing and hearing along the I-96 corridor and the effectiveness of Operation Ghost Rider.One conclusion: Despite aggressive public awareness campaigns, expansive media coverage and other efforts, many people don't know about the hands-free law. On a recent day, Campbell says four of nine drivers stopped for using their phones told troopers they were ignorant of the law. 

On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Troy Hagon. For 16 years, Troy has worked in the Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT) Office of Government Affairs, the past six as director.Troy will be leaving MDOT soon to become the deputy director of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC).During the conversation, Troy reflects on his work in the Michigan Legislature prior to coming to MDOT. He also recalls some good memories of his work at the department and the need to continue efforts to find a long-term, sustainable solution to Michigan's decades-long under-investment in transportation infrastructure. 

Bridge Michigan reported this week on some troubling statistics in Michigan that show that police are not making as many arrests for drunk driving and crashes caused by impaired driving are on the rise.Among key findings:Drunk driving arrests in Michigan have dropped 28 percent since 2014, while fatal alcohol- and drug-related crashes have risen 40 percent.Experts attribute the rise in crashes to fewer police officers and less traffic enforcement, leading to more dangerous driving behavior.In 67 of Michigan's 83 counties, drunk driving arrests have declined, mirroring a national trendOn this week's Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Daniel Zimmerman, senior director of government relations and policy for the Washington, D.C.-based Governors Highway Safety Association, talks about the problem.One initiative that perhaps holds promise for solutions stems from a bipartisan provision in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Section 24220, Public Law 117-58, IIJA) signed into law in 2021. The provision requires a new national safety standard for passive, advanced impaired driving prevention systems in new vehicles.

By now, you may have seen a photo taken high above the Detroit River of two iron workers, one from Canada and one from the United States, shaking hands to mark the completion of the deck on the Gordie Howe International Bridge.  On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with those iron workers, Jason Huggett of Canada and Casey Whitson of Michigan. Both are second-generation iron workers. Jason's father helped build the twin span of the Blue Water Bridge linking Port Huron, Michigan, with Sarnia, Ontario. Casey's father worked on the Renaissance Center in Detroit as well as Joe Louis Arena.They talk about what working on this once-in-a-lifetime project means to both of them and how honored each of them was to participate in the handshake. They each spoke about it to the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority after the handshake: Said Huggett: “I said it was about time we got to shake hands after seeing each     other from a distance for almost two years, it was really something special. That handshake means a lot to my family, my two sons and my father, who helped build the twin span for the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia.”  And Whitson: “We would see each other, but we were far, across the river, apart for all these months working. To actually get to be able to meet each other and shake hands and say hello is really cool. It's the biggest moment in my career and I now share something with my father, who helped build the Renaissance Center in Detroit.”  

As road work continues across Michigan, police are on high alert for speeding and distracted drivers causing crashes during backups. On this week's Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about efforts engineers take to balance mobility and safety during active road work. Lindsey Renner, division administrator for Construction Field Services at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and a former supervisor of the Work Zone Safety section, explains the challenges. Among innovative methods in use are rumble strips to alert people as they approach a work zone, speed trailers and law enforcement employing a Ghost Rider program to identify distracted drivers. Renner also talks about the zipper merge as a means of encouraging drivers to alternate when work requires a lane to be closed. Other relevant links: MDOT Work Zone Safetywww.Michigan.gov/MDOT/Travel/Safety/Road-Users/Work-Zone-SafetyThe Zipper Merge Explained With Kidshttps://youtu.be/TLAISm1XuHQOperation Ghost Riderhttps://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/ghost-riders-lookout-distracted-drivers-michigan

On this week's Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Mohammed Alghurabi, a long-time MDOT senior project manager being honored this week by the Engineering Society of Detroit.Alghurabi is best known in recent years for his work in southwest Detroit communities to prepare for building the Gordie Howe International Bridge linking Michigan and Canada. However, he's also managed other big projects, including the building of the last freeway added to the state trunkline system, M-6 (Paul B. Henry Freeway) in Kent and Ottawa counties.Now his portfolio includes a project to modernize and improve connectivity on urban corridors in Detroit and Grand Rapids, working closely with officials from both cities:US-12 (Michigan Avenue) west of downtown Detroit, based on a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study.US-131 through the city of Grand Rapids, also the subject of a PEL study. Alghurabi shares his experience building trust with residents, business owners and others affected by the work on the various projects.  

On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Ryan McMahon of Cambridge Mobile Telematics, a Massachusetts-based firm that tracks data from drivers, participating voluntarily, to analyze statistics and driver behavior. McMahon last spoke on the podcast in November, a few months after Michigan Gov. Whitmer signed the law making it illegal to use a hand-held electronic device while driving.The news was less sanguine then, but now his firm is reporting updated numbers that show meaningful strides in the right direction. Some key figures cited:In the first month after the Michigan law was signed, distracted driving went down nearly 12 percent.The next month, it was 13.5 percent lower.The gains then diminished but are headed in a positive direction again.Podcast image by bobtheskater from Pixabay.

On this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about legislation that would appropriate economic development funds for community-based programs, including public transportation.This week's guest, Jared Fleisher, who leads government affairs and economic development for Rock (Dan Gilbert's family of companies), explains why he's passionate about the proposed bills and their potential to enhance qualify of life across Michigan and attract and retain talent.On Tuesday, June 4, Fleisher testified in support of the bills before the House Economic Development and Small Business Committee. He framed the issue as an economic development imperative as Michigan is among states struggling to grow its population. Others supporting the legislation include Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter, the Michigan Municipal League, Traverse Connect, Mass Transportation Authority Flint, Market Van Buren, The Rapid, Renovare Development, the Michigan Public Transit Association, Transportation Riders United, SMART, and International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324.Also discussed:How public transportation has helped transform Grand Rapids, with The Rapid's many options including the state's first bus rapid transit lines.Investments in infrastructure like bus rapid transit and M-1 rail spur development.

On this week's Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations about the past, present and future of MDOT's Transportation Diversity Recruitment Program (TDRP). The 10-week program allows students to work alongside other on-the-job training program participants, internal staff and external professionals who provide engineering, technical, inspection, and project management services for state road and bridge projects. First, James Jackson, who coordinates the program for MDOT, talks about what the students can expect. This is the eleventh year of the program. Later, Donte Harris, a three-time intern, now working for the electric vehicle charging startup company it's electric in Detroit, talks about how the TDRP program helped him.

As lawmakers in the Legislature continue negotiations for the state's Fiscal Year 2025 budget, one addition specific to transportation involves a $5 million appropriation for a pilot program to assess replacing traditional fuel taxes with a mileage-based road usage fee.This week's Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features another conversation with Baruch Feigenbaum, senior managing director of transportation policy for the Reason Foundation. Feigenbaum has done extensive study on the need for long-term changes to funding policy for roads and bridges. He's also testified before legislative committees at the federal level and in several states.He recently told Michigan lawmakers that a fuel tax is akin to “a rock star on his farewell tour” as increased fuel efficiency diminishes returns on fuel taxes.

Note: This episode originally posted on Aug. 14, 2023.On this week's podcast, Michael J. Coren, the Washington Post's climate advice columnist, talks about his recent reporting (subscription) on the cost of filling a vehicle's fuel tank versus charging an electric vehicle (EV) battery. The answer, he explains, is less straightforward than it seems. He writes, “Just calculating the cost of gasoline versus electricity is misleading. Prices vary by charger (and state). Everyone charges differently. Road taxes, rebates and battery efficiency all affect the final calculation.” Other references and links:Finding on tailpipe emissions and EVshttps://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2023/08/07/new_epa_tailpipe_standards_call_electric_vehicle_promises_into_question_970708.htmlPew research on Americans' perceptions of EVshttps://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/07/13/how-americans-view-electric-vehicles/Energy Innovation study of the cost to fill uphttps://energyinnovation.org/publication/how-much-does-it-cost-to-fill-up-an-electric-vehicle-vs-a-gas-powered-car/ The early adopter era is over for EVshttps://www.axios.com/2023/08/09/electric-cars-adoption-rates 

On this week's Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation with Julie Clark, chief executive officer at the Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (TART) Trails.Clark talks about how she and her family made their way from North Carolina to Traverse City and embraced the northern Michigan outdoors.TART is among many organizations around the state with leaders working with local, state and federal government agencies, as well as foundations and private donors, to grow Michigan's trail network. In 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released statistics estimating that outdoor recreation accounted for $862 billion in economic output (consumer spending), 1.9 percent (or $454 billion) of gross domestic product (GDP), and supported 4.5 million jobs. In Michigan, outdoor recreation in 2021 contributed $10.8 billion to the state economy, as well as supported 109,000 jobs and $5 billion in wages.

Late last month, a Michigan Senate committee advanced legislation to enable the use of automated technology to enforce speeding laws on segments of roads under construction. Pennsylvania became the latest to join dozens of other states employing the technology, with positive results.This week's Talking Michigan Transportation podcast revisits the issue with conversations with two advocates for safer work zones.First, Rob Coppersmith, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA), talks about how his experience in the underground and road construction industries have informed his views and passions for the protection of workers.Later, Juan Pava, Safety Programs Unit chief, Bureau of Safety Programs and Engineering at the Illinois Department of Transportation, talks about his state's pioneering role in implementing the use of cameras to deter drivers from speeding in work zones.Michigan House Bill 4132 passed the lower chamber in June 2023 with bipartisan support and received similar support in the Senate Transportation Committee last month.Key points:  In 2006, Illinois became the first state to authorize the use of automated traffic enforcement programs to enforce speed limits in highway work zones, with implementation coming a few years later. The enabling legislation provided a legal framework for photo enforcement of speed limits in highway work zones. In summer 2022, some Michigan lawmakers, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials, leaders in labor organizations, and the road building industry witnessed demonstrations on Michigan freeways on how the technology works.  

This week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast focuses on National Work Zone Awareness Week. An event in Midland on Monday, April 15, will kick off the week with officials from the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Michigan State Police and several industry advocates and others.First, Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, who will deliver keynote remarks at the event, joins the podcast again to talk about the need for motorists to slow down and be alert in work zones. Later, Andy Dauksts, who is the head of business development and outside sales for Give ‘Em a Brake Safety, a Grand Rapids-area firm, talks about why this issue is so important to him and his colleagues.

This week's edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features explanations about how Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials prioritize road projects. MDOT Chief Operations Officer Gregg Brunner talks about the factors that go into selection and how planners and engineers strictly adhere to asset management principles. With National Work Zone Awareness Week approaching, Brunner also talks about how the safety of workers factors into maintaining mobility during road construction. Also discussed: the bills adopted in the Michigan House of Representatives and later voted out of the Senate Transportation Committee that would allow Michigan to join several other states in employing innovative technology to detect vehicles speeding in work zones. On a previous episode, Juan Pava, the Safety Programs Unit chief in the Bureau of Safety Programs and Engineering at the Illinois Department of Transportation, talked about how enforcement has been effective there in offering better protection for workers.