Talking Michigan Transportation

Tim Lemon, a trunkline pavement strategy specialist at the Michigan Department of Transportation, dives into the complexities of road maintenance. He explains the concept of remaining service life (RSL), a critical measure for predicting pavement durability. Tim highlights how trunklines are vital for traffic flow, carrying a significant portion of Michigan's traffic despite accounting for fewer road miles. He also discusses innovative assessment techniques for pavement conditions and the financial challenges posed by rising inflation on road maintenance.

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.

John Peracchio, a strategic adviser on intelligent transportation systems and a member of the Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification, discusses road usage charges (RUC) and their potential in Michigan. He shares insights from a recent international conference, highlighting Hawaii’s innovative RUC implementations. The conversation touches on balancing technology with public understanding of RUC, the need for educational outreach, and how such funding could enhance public transit in Michigan, especially for vulnerable communities.

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. 

Joann Muller, a Detroit-based transportation correspondent for Axios, dives into the current challenges facing the auto industry due to tariffs and how automakers are adapting. She discusses cutting-edge advancements in automated vehicles, specifically driverless Uber trials in Austin. Muller also highlights Delta Airlines' innovative blended wing body aircraft, which aims for net-zero flying by 2050. Finally, she teases her new newsletter focused on the future of mobility, exploring the evolution of transportation.

Jason Gutting, Director of MDOT’s Bureau of Field Services, shares his expertise overseeing Michigan's road construction and maintenance. He discusses the challenges of inflation and supply chain issues in road building. Gutting delves into the importance of adhering to national standards and the innovations in paving materials. He also emphasizes the critical evaluation of new construction materials and the complexities of winter maintenance, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions to ensure motorist safety.

State Senator John Damoose, who is spearheading protective legislation, and Patrick "Shorty" Gleason, Chairman of the Mackinac Bridge Authority, dive into crucial discussions about safeguarding the iconic Mackinac Bridge. They highlight recent incidents, including trespassing and bomb threats, that prompted the need for stricter laws. The duo also reflects on the bridge's significance to Michigan's infrastructure and economy as they push for making bridge trespassing a felony, ensuring safety for future generations.