Talking Michigan Transportation

Latest Episodes:

Jeff interviews Chad Livengood, senior editor at Crain’s Detroit Business. Sep 26, 2019

Show notes

On the latest edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Jeff interviews Chad Livengood, senior editor at Crain’s Detroit Business.
They talk about Chad’s in-depth reporting on transportation policy in Michigan and the decades-long struggle for funding to shore up roads and bridges and put the state on equal footing with our Great Lakes neighbors and the rest of the country. How this would be possible with Gov. Whitmer’s Fixing Michigan Roads Fund proposal.
Fixing Michigan Roads Fund:
https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9620_91685---,00.html
Other topics include:
— How Michigan lawmaker term limits, the nation’s most restrictive, stall progress on public policy, especially vital investment in infrastructure;
Commentary: Want to fix roads? Start with the damn term limits: https://www.crainsdetroit.com/voices-chad-livengood/commentary-want-fix-roads-start-damn-term-limits
— How land-use and transportation policies are intertwined, as Livengood observed in a June 9 story. From the story: Outer-ring suburban townships, which get no state direct aid for roads, approve residential housing sprawl — and then dump the cost of infrastructure onto cash-strapped counties;
As outer-ring suburbs grow, they bring demands for road growth — how can we afford it?
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/crains-forum/crains-forum-outer-ring-suburbs-grow-they-bring-demands-road-growth-how-can-we-afford
Alternative road-funding methods that come and go.
As Michigan highways deteriorate, should we consider toll roads? - mlive.com
https://www.mlive.com/news/2010/02/road_toll_tax_use_fee_mainbar.html
— The half-century struggle for a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) in Southeast Michigan to link the city of Detroit and surrounding counties as many metropolitan areas do, including many with lesser populations, across the country. For a story posted Sunday, Sept. 22, Chad features a broad selection of voices discussing it from myriad points of view across the region. He also explored the challenge of people making the decision about public transportation relating to those who actually use it, as summed up by Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist: “If you've never been reliant on public transit, you don't understand the difference between waiting eight minutes for a bus and waiting 30 minutes. You don't understand what it means to have a baby stroller that you have to collapse to get on the bus. You don't understand how hard it is.”
Revived push for RTA millage in SE Michigan: https://www.crainsdetroit.com/crains-forum/new-leadership-oakland-county-revived-push-get-transit-millage-ballot

Meet veteran MDOT project manager, Mohammed Alghurabi Sep 19, 2019

Show notes

On the latest Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, MDOT Director of Communications Jeff Cranson talks with Mohammed Alghurabi, a veteran project manager. Mohammed talks about his career path and his decades-long work on what is now the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
Mohammed also discusses:
— his work as project manager on the M-6 freeway in Ottawa and Kent counties;
— and how work as a project manager requires a great deal of communication and relationship building.
#welcomingweek
Links
https://www.gordiehoweinternationalbridge.com/en
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-6_(Michigan_highway)

A visit from Brad Wieferich, director of MDOT’s Bureau of Development Sep 12, 2019

Show notes

This week’s guest:
Brad Wieferich, director of MDOT’s Bureau of Development, which includes the design, real estate and permits sections. Wieferich talks about the cost of road-building materials and the process of estimating construction projects.
He also talks about MDOT’s robust asset management program and addresses two other perennial questions:
— Do Michigan road builders use the best materials?
— Why does it seem a road that saw work recently is under construction again?
Links:
Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council
https://www.michigan.gov/tamc/MDOT bridge slide
https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9620-339743--,00.html

2019 Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk Sep 04, 2019

Show notes

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, MDOT Communications Director Jeff Cranson hosts conversations with Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) Executive Secretary Kim Nowack and MBA Chairman Shorty Gleason about the 2019 Annual Bridge Walk this past Labor Day.
— Kim Nowack,* who was named head administrator of the MBA in July, is pleased with participation** and the safety of the 2019 Annual Bridge Walk.
— The conversation also touches on the ongoing education and communications efforts since major changes were required for the event starting in 2017.
https://youtu.be/lFR_HOE7NKw
— Later, Shorty Gleason talks about why this year's Annual Bridge Walk was special for his family.*** Shorty’s father was an iron worker who helped build the Mackinac Bridge.
See a time lapse video of the 2019 Annual Bridge Walk:
https://youtu.be/rfiZAOA_9fs.*
https://www.mlive.com/news/2019/09/thousands-cross-the-mackinac-bridge-for-62nd-labor-day-walk.html**
https://www.mlive.com/news/2019/09/thousands-cross-the-mackinac-bridge-for-62nd-labor-day-walk.html***
https://twitter.com/jdcranson/status/1168536094314573824?s=21

Conversation with MDOT Director Paul Ajegba Aug 25, 2019

Show notes

This is the inaugural edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast. Jeff Cranson, MDOT director of communications, talks with MDOT Director Paul Ajegba about his path to the department and passion for transportation.
This week:
Director Ajegba’s focus on alleviating congestion and improving safety and travel times with innovations like the Flex Route on US-23 north of Ann Arbor.
The need for more transportation funding in Michigan and how MDOT and industry will respond. The mobility preferences of future generations — cycling, rail, transit, connected and automated vehicles — and how to adapt.
The director’s first annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk and expectations for the second year of the new configuration.

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