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Saginaw Metropolitan Area Transportation Study - Transaction Newsletters: Summer 1993
SAGINAW METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY TRANSACTION NEWSLETTER Summer 1993 Saginaw Valley Rail Trail The Saginaw County Parks and Recreation Commission is proposing the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail which is approximately 10.5 miles long, with trailheads at Lumberjack Park (in the Village of St. Charles) and at Paine's Junction (in James Township). This particular segment of tracks has been abandoned for approximately 20 years and is currently owned by two parties, Central Michigan Railway and the Michigan Department of Transportation. The asphalt trail will support pedestrians, joggers, runners, wheelchair users, strollers, bicycles, cross-country skiing, snowshoes and other non-motorized uses. A separate adjacent brush trail will provide recreational opportunities for horseback riding. Motorized travel, including snowmobiling, will be prohibited on this trail. Funding for this project will come from three primary sources. The Saginaw County Parks and Recreation Department has recently applied for a grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Trust Fund, which if received will provide 75% of the necessary funds to acquire the railroad right-of-way. After the right-of-way has been purchased, the County will apply for a Transportation Enhancement Grant through the Michigan Department of Transportation. 75% of the funds for construction and development of the trail would come from this grant. Local matching funds would be donations from the area businesses, families and individuals set up through the Saginaw Community Foundation. Q: Will adjacent property owners be adversely affected by the development of the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail? A: Adjacent property owners often express concerns over loss of privacy, loss of property value and a reduction in their overall quality of life. The evaluation of the Burke-Gilman Trail's Effect on Property Values and Crimes, states that adjacent property owners feel the trail has "little if any effect on crime and vandalism". The report also states that there was no evidence that the trail decreased property values. Another evaluation of the Burke-Gilman trail reports, "almost two-thirds of residents felt the trail increased the quality of life in the neighborhood...Not a single resident surveyed felt the trail should be closed...Two of the residents surveyed indicated that they had been leaders in the group opposing the trail, and that they now believe the trail is the best thing that has happened to the neighborhood." Note: The Burke-Gilman trail is an urban trail located in Seattle, Washington. Q: Will I be liable if a trailway user leaves the trailway and gets injured on my property? A: No, under P.A. 26 1993, landowners are protected from civil suit by those who are injured while on the land of another for purposes of either exiting or entering a public trail, except when the landowner is guilty of "gross negligence or willful and wanton misconduct." Q: Will local citizens have an opportunity for input into decisions on how the trailway is developed and used? A: Several concerned individuals will be invited to serve on the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail Advisory Committee. The committee will aid in the development of the master plan, and discuss related issues. Q: How will trail users cross Swan Creek since the bridge is out along the railroad right-of-way? A: A new bridge will be constructed over Swan Creek to accommodate trail users. Q: When the trail is developed, will hunting be allowed? A: Hunting is not permitted in any of the Saginaw County Parks, and will not be permitted on the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail. In addition, the development of the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail will not change hunting regulations on private property. According to state law, "No person may discharge a firearm within a safety zone, or hunt for or shoot any wild animal...within a safety zone...Safety zones are defined as all areas within 450 feet of an occupied dwelling or an associated building." Q: How will the trail be policed? A: Law enforcement will be handled as it is in the other County Parks, by the County Sheriff's Department. The Department has already been contacted about the trail, and representatives did not feel it would create any special problems. Typically, local law enforcement agencies receive fewer complaints about use of a right-of-way after a trail is developed than before. Q: Will the Saginaw County Parks and Recreation Department install any fences along the right-of-way? A: Trespass has been a very minor problem along rail-trails, but if there might be problems at a certain location, the Department will work with the landowner to solve it. Fences may be installed if necessary to insure the safety of trailway users or the safety and security of adjacent homes, crops, livestock, and equipment. Q: How can the trail be safely built next to farms where pesticides are sprayed on crops? A: In order to insure that the trail users are protected from dangerous chemicals, we may post signs and temporarily close parts of the trail on days when crops are being sprayed. Q: How can the State and County afford to spend money to buy rights- of-way and build trails? A: Funding for trailway acquisition, development and operation comes from funding sources that are dedicated to recreation and/or trails, and not from general tax revenues. For example, the Michigan Constitution dedicates part of the oil and gas revenue from oil drilling on State lands to the acquisition of land for recreation and protection of natural features, and to the development of recreation facilities. Michigan voters overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment in 1984 to make this dedication. The result was the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. Trailways projects must compete against other recreation and resource protection projects for these funds. Other State and federal laws dedicate certain fuel taxes, and oil and gas development revenue, to trails and recreation. Local funds for the trail will come from voluntary donations, not the County General Fund. 1992 Annual Review of Urban Saginaw The SMATS staff has recently completed the 1992 Annual Review of Urban Saginaw. This report contains over 300 pages of information on Saginaw County. Detailed tables of population, housing, social, labor force, commuting, income and poverty characteristics from the 1990 Census are included. Transportation, environmental, and other economic data are also listed in this report. Copies of this free publication are available at the Saginaw County Planning Department, Room 209 of the County Courthouse. Transportation Improvements Program The Transportation Improvements Program (TIP) is a listing of the transportation projects for the next five years which will receive State or Federal funding. The TIP will be reviewed at the June Policy Committee and Planning Commission meetings. The public is welcome to attend. If you are interested in what projects will be going on in the next few years or want to know more please feel free to contact the SMATS office at 790-5284. Meeting Schedules The public is welcome and encouraged to attend any or all of our technical and policy committee meetings. The Planning Commission meetings are also open to the public and we encourage concerned citizens to attend. The following schedule is a listing of the meeting times and locations. Please contact the SMATS office if you would like to receive an agenda in the mail. 1993 Planning Commission Meetings June 15 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 200 July 20 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 200 August 17 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 200 September 21 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 200 October 19 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 200 November 16 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 200 December 21 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 200 1993 Technical Committee Meetings July 22 10:00 a.m. (Locations September 23 10:00 a.m. Will Vary November 18 10:00 a.m. Please Call SMATS) 1993 Policy Committee Meetings June 10 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) August 12 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) October 14 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) December 9 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) Saginaw Metropolitan Area Transportation Study Saginaw County Planning Department 111 S. Michigan Ave. Room 209 Saginaw, MI 48602 (517) 790-5284 SAGINAW METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY TRANSACTION LETTER Fall 1993 2015 Long Range Plan The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) requires the Saginaw Metropolitan Area Transportation Study to complete a 2015 Long Range Plan before October 1, 1994. The plan will address all modes of transportation, mobility issues, and propose cost feasible projects to minimize congestion and delay. The following is a brief outline of the 2015 Long Range Plan (LPR): I. Executive Summary II. Introduction III. Long Range Plan Goals and Objectives IV. Sub-State Plan Coordination V. Public Participation/Information Program VI. Socio-Economic Projections VII. Existing Transportation Services VIII. Coordination with ISTEA Management Systems IX. Travel Forecast Model Development X. Transportation Deficiency Analysis XI. Fiscal Analysis XII. Plan Development Process Public Participation Plan The federal government wants transportation decisions to be more responsive to state and local needs. The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) continues the recent trend of federal legislation that moves the decision making authority away from the federal government and closer to the citizens. ISTEA requires public participation in the development of all long range transportation plans. The following section outlines the process to be used in developing the SMATS 2015 Long Range Plan. Current Program The purpose of the Saginaw Metropolitan Area Transportation Study's (SMATS) Information Program is to identify and seek input from multiple perspectives throughout the transportation planning process and the selection of resulting transportation projects. There are several means to obtain this input: SMATS committee meetings Saginaw County Metropolitan Planning Commission meetings Other governmental meetings Special meetings Newspaper ads, including SMATS Annual Report Direct mailings of the TransAction Newsletter Press releases to newspapers and electronic media Proposed Program It is proposed that the mechanisms listed above will be continued during the development of the L.R.P. To facilitate timely development of elements of the plan, several items will need to be expanded or enhanced as follows. Technical Committee The Technical Committee's membership can be broadened to represent various interest groups. Technical Committee meetings are always open to the public. The SMATS Technical Committee will be designated to function as the oversight committee for the development of the Long Range Plan. This will require meeting at least once monthly, rather than the current schedule of every other month. Policy Committee The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) is insistent about the public's access to all facets of the transportation planning process. Dates and times of Policy Committee meetings will be publicized to increase the chances that citizens may join the Committee members for their discussion of the Long Range Plan elements. The pleasant atmosphere surrounding these meetings has contributed greatly to the excellent working relationships between the various agencies which participate in SMATS. The Committee will meet monthly during 1994, instead of every other month. TransAction Newsletter The TransAction newsletter will need to be published quarterly, with issues coinciding with development of draft sections of the Long Range Plan. Plan findings, recommendations and schedules of public meetings will be included in each issue. SMATS staff will continue to encourage addition of new people to the TransAction mailing list. Press Releases Press releases will be issued to describe each phase in the development of the Long Range Plan. Opportunities for obtaining more detailed information and for providing input to the planning process will seek to follow up with local media to make sure that this material is used and accurately presented. Display Advertising Some display advertising will be employed at critical points in the planning process to seek input from local interested parties. This will include a survey of local attitudes and perceptions about transportation issues. Also, the 1994 version of the SMATS Annual Report will be devoted to the development of the Long Range Plan. Opportunities for public input will be emphazied by this report, and public response to it will be monitored by the SMATS staff. Outreach SMATS staff will attempt to identify and contact special interest groups in the community to assure their opportunity to have input. These would include such organizations as environmental groups, school districts, and advocacy groups for disadvantaged populations such as low-income, elderly or handicapped persons. These groups will receive a direct mailing which describes the planning process and will be added to the mailing list for the TransAction newsletter. If you would like more detailed information on the Public Participation Plan or the 2015 Long Range Plan please feel free to contact the SMATS office at (517) 790-5284. Meeting Schedules The public is welcome and encouraged to attend any or all of our Technical, Policy, and Planning Commission meetings. If you would like to receive an agenda and be placed on the mailing list please contact the SMATS office. 1994 Planning Commission Meetings January 18 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 206 February 15 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 206 March 15 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 206 April 19 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 206 May 17 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 206 June 21 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 206 July 19 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 206 August 16 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 206 September 20 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 206 October 18 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 206 November 15 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 206 December 20 7:00 p.m. Courthouse Rm. 206 1994 Technical Committee Meetings January 27 10:00 a.m. (Locations February 24 10:00 a.m. Will Vary March 24 10:00 a.m. Please Call SMATS April 28 10:00 a.m. at (517) 790-5284) May 26 10:00 a.m. June 23 10:00 a.m. July 28 10:00 a.m. August 25 10:00 a.m. September 22 10:00 a.m. October 28 10:00 a.m. November 17 10:00 a.m. December 22 10:00 a.m. 1994 Policy Committee Meetings January 13 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) February 10 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) March 10 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) April 14 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) May 12 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) June 9 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) July 14 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) August 11 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) September 8 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) October 13 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) November 10 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) December 8 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) SAGINAW METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY TRANSPORTATION NEWSLETTER Late Summer 1994 The Saginaw Metropolitan Area Transportation Study is federally mandated to revise its Long Range Transportation Plan (LPR) as a result of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. The LPR looks ahead 20 years at the transportation needs of Saginaw's metropolitan area. This plan is being revised with input from federal, state and local government levels and must be completed by October 1, 1994. Local elected officials will make decisions about how to prioritize spending of transportation dollars for road construction, road improvements and the building of any new roads. Policy decisions must also be made about other forms of transportation --- for example --- buses, trains, planes and bicycles. In addition, the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments identifies Saginaw, Bay and Midland counties as "nonattainment- incomplete data" for the purpose of conformity with the national air quality standards. The LRP must support efforts to decrease hydrocarbon emissions. Public participation is a vital ingredient in the revision of the LRP. Transportation officials must have some sense of the public will if a comprehensive plan is to be developed that addresses regional transportation needs. Please complete the following survey and return by August 15, 1994 to: Saginaw Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (SMATS) 111 S. Michigan Ave. Room 209 Saginaw, MI 48602 I. There are several options to be considered in developing a transportation plan. Rank these options in order of importance. "1" being the most important and "7" being the least important. _________ a. Maintaining and resurfacing existing roads. _________ b. Building new or wider roads to reduce traffic congestion. _________ c. Making buses more convenient to use. _________ d. Redesigning roads, traffic signs and signals to improve traffic safety and reduce accidents. _________ e. Improving shipping of goods by air, rail, water or truck. _________ f. Reducing energy consumption and air pollution from motor vehicles. _________ g. Enhancing alternative forms of transportation including pedestrian walkways and bicycle paths. II. Limited financial resources are available to maintain and improve our transportation system. This requires that some difficult choices be made about how to best invest these dollars in our transportation system. Review the pairs of options below and circle the one in each pair that is most acceptable to you. A. 1. Maintaining the quality of transportation in existing or older urban areas OR 2. Building new roads and expanding transit service in less urban areas. B. 1. Investing in special equipment on regular bus routes to assist senior citizens and disabled individuals OR 2. Providing door-to-door service for senior citizens and disabled individuals using special small buses. C. 1. Widening roads to relieve traffic congestion OR 2. Provide more buses, van/carpooling to reduce traffic congestion. D. 1. Investing in traditional road improvement such as road widening OR 2. Investing in high technology road improvement such as computerized traffic signal systems E. 1. Reducing air pollution by limiting travel, driving less, increasing use of transit and carpools OR 2. Reducing air pollution by testing automobiles in alternate years and making needed repairs. F. 1. Accepting a scaled down transportation plan (with more congestion, potholes, etc.) for the region as a result of limited dollars OR 2. Providing more money for an improved transportation plan through increased user fees or taxes. III. Please list any specific problems in the Saginaw area's transportation system that you would like to see addressed by the Long Range Plan or other efforts. ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Public hearings will be held to provide an opportunity to comment on elements of the 2015 Long Range Plan. The meetings will be held: * Public Hearing on Deficiencies and Proposed Alternatives of the 2015 Transportation Network Tuesday, August 16, 1994, 7:00 p.m. at the Saginaw County Governmental Center, 111 S. Michigan Ave. Room 417, Saginaw. * Public Hearing on the Draft SMATS 2015 Long Range Plan Tuesday, September 21, 1994, 7:00 p.m. at the Saginaw County Governmental Center, 111 S. Michigan Ave. Room 417, Saginaw. For more information, or to obtain a copy of related written material, please feel free to contact the SMATS office at (517) 790-5284. Written comments are always welcome. The following survey has been designed to solicit your input in the metropolitan transportation planning process. Since the LRP will help to shape future decisions regarding the allocation of limited federal, state and local dollars, your preferences need to be identified in order to create a plan which reflects public input. Saginaw Metropolitan Area Transportation Study Saginaw County Planning Department 111 S. Michigan Ave. Room 209 Saginaw, MI 48602 (517) 790-5284 SAGINAW METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY TRANSACTION NEWSLETTER Fall 1994 PAYING FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS Prior to the passage of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), the implementation of long range transportation plans was not constrained by potential revenues available to transportation providers at the state and local level. The financial forecasting requirements of ISTEA have now significantly enhanced, not only the development, but the usefulness of the long range plan in guiding transportation decisions. In the 2015 Long Range Plan (LRP), the identification of future transportation system needs and their solutions must be constrained by projected available revenues. These revenues are forecasted for the 20 year planning horizon, and are derived from user fees and taxes available to the State of Michigan, county road commissions, cities and villages. It is assumed that over the LRP period of twenty years, future revenue and costs, adjusted for inflation, will be similar to current levels. Thus, future revenue available for capital programs (adjusted for inflation) will be similar to current levels. In this manner, current funding levels available for projects can be used as a benchmark for comparison with future projects and program costs. The chart on the following page presents the anticipated road construction projects which will be included in the financially constrained 2015 LRP. Please note unfunded constructed projects will be listed in an appendix to the LRP. Click HERE for graphic. Air Quality Analysis In addition to transportation projects being fiscally constrained by potential revenues available, the projects are subject to an air quality analysis. This analysis must show that hydrocarbon emissions for the Tri-County area reduced over the next twenty years. Meeting Schedules The public is welcome and encouraged to attend any or all of our Technical, Policy, and Planning Commission meetings. If you would like to receive an agenda and be placed on the mailing list please contact the SMATS office. 1994 Planning Commissions Meetings September 20 7:00 pm Courthouse Rm. 417 October 18 7:00 pm Courthouse Rm. 200 November 15 7:00 pm Courthouse Rm. 200 December 20 7:00 pm Courthouse Rm. 200 1994 Technical Committee Meetings September 22 10:00 am City Of Saginaw Water Filtration Plant October 18 10:00 am Tittabawassee Twp. Hall November 17 10:00 am Saginaw County Courthouse December 20 10:00 am Bridgeport Twp. Hall 1994 Policy Committee Meetings* September 8 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) October 13 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) November 10 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) December 8 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) *Please note the Policy Committee meets over lunch. The public is welcome to join those present for lunch at their own expense, For more information, or to obtain a copy of related written material, please feel free to contact the SMATS office at (517) 790-5284. Written comments are always welcome. Saginaw Metropolitan Area Transportation Study Saginaw County Planning Department 111 S. Michigan Ave. Room 209 Saginaw, MI 48602 (517) 790-5284 SAGINAW METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY TRANSACTION NEWSLETTER Summer 1994 2015 LONG RANGE PLAN The SMATS staff and communities are working diligently on completing the 2015 Long Range Plan before October 1, 1994. Several of the elements of the 2015 Long Range Plan are mentioned below. Goals and Objectives The 2015 Long Range Plan Goals and Objectives are now completed. Each of the SMATS committees has carefully reviewed and then approved the goals and objectives which will be included in the plan. If you wish to receive a copy of the goals and objectives, please feel free to contact the SMATS office at (517) 790-5284. Measures of Effectiveness The committees have been also established measures of effectiveness for the goals and objectives in the 2015 Long Range Plan. The measures of effectiveness establish criteria to determine if the goals and objectives set forth in the 2015 Long Range Plan have been accomplished. Public comment on the measures of effectiveness is welcome at any time. Socio-Economic Projections The SMATS staff and committees are also developing socio-economic projections which will be used in generating a computer traffic model that predicts future transportation deficiencies. The inside page of this issue displays both 1990 and 2015 socio-economic data. This township level data will be allocated to traffic analysis zones (TAZ) and then utilized in the computer traffic model. Click HERE for graphic. If you would like more detailed information on the 2015 Long Range Plan please feel free to contact the SMATS office at (517) 790-5284. Meeting Schedules The public is welcome and encouraged to attend any or all of our Technical, Policy, and Planning Commission meetings. If you would like to receive an agenda and be placed on the mailing list please contact the SMATS office. 1994 Planning Commission Meetings July 19 7:00 pm Courthouse Rm. 200 August 16 7:00 pm Courthouse Rm. 417 September 20 7:00 pm Courthouse Rm. 417 October 18 7:00 pm Courthouse Rm. 200 November 15 7:00 pm Courthouse Rm. 200 December 20 7:00 pm Courthouse Rm. 200 1994 Technical Committee Meetings July 28 10:00 am Buena Vista TWp. Hall August 25 10:00 am Saginaw County Road Commission September 22 10:00 am City of Saginaw Water Filtration Plant October 28 10:00 am Tittabawassee Twp. Hall November 17 10:00 am Saginaw County Courthouse December 22 10:00 am Bridgeport Twp. Hall 1994 Policy Committee Meetings* July 14 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) August 11 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) September 8 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) October 13 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) November 10 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) December 8 Noon Holiday Inn (Saginaw) *Please note the Policy Committee meets over lunch. The public is welcome to join those present for lunch at their own expense.
