October 30, 2007 – – At a ceremony in the nation’s Capitol today, Lauren Marchetti, director of the National Center for Safe Routes to School, presented the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) the first annual national “James L. Oberstar Safe Routes to School Award.” U.S. Rep. Oberstar presided at the presentation of the award that bears his name in recognition of his role in creating the federal Safe Routes to School (SR2S) funding program in 2005. This first-ever award recognizes exemplary effort on the part of a state department of transportation in developing and launching the program.

“Every child who walks or bikes to school has a right to be safe,” said Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm. “Everyone benefits from Safe Routes to School programs that encourage children to be active and healthy.”

The federal SR2S program will provide a total of approximately $16 million to Michigan from fiscal year 2005 through 2009, for investment in projects to create and improve infrastructure (sidewalks, marked crosswalks, etc.) to make routes safe, implement law enforcement strategies (police patrols, crossing guards), and begin education and encouragement programs to ensure that parents and students know how to walk and bike safely, and to provide incentives to get kids moving.

State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle said that MDOT could not have achieved this recognition without the core network of state level partners working with the department: the Michigan Departments of Education and Community Health, Michigan State University and Wayne State University, nonprofit groups including the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance, the League of Michigan Bicyclists, and Programs for All Cyclists.

“Our most important partner from the beginning has been and continues to be the Michigan Fitness Foundation/Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness (MFF). MDOT and MFF have worked together on Safe Routes in Michigan since 2003, when MDOT funded MFF to develop Michigan’s Safe Routes to School Handbook,” said Steudle.

The handbook is available to any elementary or middle school in Michigan interested in developing a plan of action to create safe routes for their school. Since announcement of Michigan’s program and handbook in May 2006, over 250 schools in Michigan (more than 5 percent of the state’s elementary and middle schools) have registered to undertake the handbook planning process which, when completed, qualifies schools to apply for funding.

Michael Eberlein, MDOT’s SR2S coordinator, said that the rapid growth of interest in SR2S in Michigan has been very gratifying.

“Our partnership approach at the state level is replicated at the local level by school planning teams that typically include parents and students, teachers and administrators, police agencies and public works departments, health officials and interested citizens. The list goes on. All of these partners have something to contribute in identifying barriers to safe walking and biking, and creating strategies to eliminate them,” said Eberlein.

Typically, these partners bring resources, too, human or financial, since the limited federal funding can’t take care of every need at every school, he added.

From MDOT. Note that this MDOT questionaire asks many questions relevant to cyclists. Please take the time to take it. Thanks!

Do you use the state map? MDOT wants to hear your opinions
Aug 07, 2007

August 7, 2007 – – Even with the growing popularity of Global Positioning System (GPS) units, most motorists carry a map in their glove box. And although yours may be years old, and folded over many times, you probably use your state transportation map often to find your way and discover the great attractions of Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) invites you to share your opinions about the state transportation map through a first-ever online questionnaire, available Aug. 6 through Sept. 7. To access the questionnaire, which takes a few minutes to complete, go to www.michigan.gov/mdot .

The questionnaire examines the features of the map, and how valuable those features are – – such as the mileage chart, location of state parks and hospitals and roadside parks – – and how you use the map.

“The state map is an exceptional value,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. “We want to learn from the residents of Michigan and out-of-state travelers how they feel about the state map and how we can improve it. This feedback will be taken into account as we develop the 2008 state transportation map.”

For anyone without access to a computer, a questionnaire can be requested by calling 877-627-6368. Questionnaires also will be available at Michigan’s 13 welcome centers.

MDOT has published the state transportation map for nearly 90 years. It is printed every year and distributed free of charge at Michigan’s welcome centers and MDOT offices. This year, the map features the magnificent Mackinac Bridge, which celebrates 50 years of service in 2007.

The results of the questionnaire, which asks about 20 questions, will be shared this fall on the MDOT Web site at www.michigan.gov/mdot .

From MDOT…
June 26, 2007 — The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) today announced the release of the state’s 2005-2030 long-range transportation plan (MI Transportation Plan). Two years in the making, the plan is based on an unprecedented amount of public input and guidance from Michigan business, government and customer stakeholders. More than 3,000 people attended public workshops and 2,600 submitted an online questionnaire, while another 3,300 households participated in a telephone survey to share their vision for Michigan’s transportation future.

“MI Transportation Plan will help determine how scarce resources, time and effort will be spent over the next 25 years to make important decisions about transportation choices,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. “This plan is designed to strengthen the link between transportation and the economy now and well into the future. With input provided at every stage of the planning process, the plan is intelligent, inclusive, integrated, international, and socially, environmentally and economically responsible.”

“Michigan residents want more travel choices, and better connectivity between modes. We learned that there is a significant gap between the public’s expectations for transportation in Michigan and our ability to meet those expectations. That is a challenge for this decade and beyond,” he said.

The document was recently submitted to the Federal Highway Administration and is now available on the MDOT Web site at: www.michigan.gov/slrp