Alex Poirier

The committee reviewed legislative updates regarding the 2015 budget shortfall and transportation funding. Several TIP amendments for MDOT and BMTA projects were approved, including bridge replacements, infrastructure improvements, and bike rack additions. Updates were provided on the Euclid Avenue/Wilder Road Access Management Project and the 2015 Unified Work Program. The committee discussed potential revisions to the BCATS bylaws regarding GPA thresholds and reviewed MDOT/BCATS and BCATS/BMTA MOUs. Additionally, various ongoing local infrastructure and transportation projects were reported, and a reminder was given regarding the job posting for the Bay County Transportation Planning Division Manager position.

The committee discussed updates regarding regional prosperity initiatives and infrastructure asset management. A public hearing was conducted to review and approve various amendments and administrative modifications to the 2020-2023 Transportation Improvement Program. Additionally, the committee received an update on the Great Lakes Bay Region Travel Demand Model, reviewed a draft of the upcoming meeting schedule, and received status reports on several ongoing transportation and infrastructure projects, including street projects, trail development, and signal optimization efforts.

The committee discussed and recommended the approval of several FY 2020-2023 Transportation Improvement Program amendments, including additional funding for the Bay Metro Transit Authority supported by the CARES Act and various road and facility maintenance projects. The committee also conditionally awarded residual JobNet funding to the City of Essexville for a traffic light relocation project. Additional items included project status updates for local road commissions, information regarding a local COVID-19 data dashboard, and discussions on the methodology for upcoming Asset Management PASER ratings.

The committee reviewed and recommended various amendments and modifications to the FY 2020-2023 and FY 2017-2020 Transportation Improvement Programs (TIP) for the Policy Committee's approval, covering projects related to road rehabilitation, bridge replacements, traffic safety, and transit operations. Additionally, the committee recommended the release of the FY 2020-2023 Draft TIP for public comment, reviewed a Chapter 3 Performance Measure Amendment, and received updates on the FY 2020 Unified Work Program and various ongoing regional infrastructure projects.

The 2019-2022 State of Michigan Strategic Highway Safety Plan provides a comprehensive framework to reduce highway fatalities and serious injuries. The plan focuses on four emphasis areas: High-Risk Behaviors, At-Risk Road Users, Engineering Infrastructure, and System Administration, with specific goals to reduce traffic fatalities and suspected serious injuries by 2022.