This fall, legislators in Lansing will take up the question of where Michigan should get its energy in the future. Nina Ignaczak spoke to experts across the sector to find out what they think Michigan's energy landscape will look like in 20 years.
MDEQ Director Dan Wyant discusses the EPA's new proposed carbon rule and Michigan's plan to address it.
Michigan may be great at recycling beverage containers, but that's where the Mitten State's recycling fame ends. A new state-led effort is hoping to change that by making it easier to recycle and building local markets so we can keep money -- and jobs -- out of the landfill.
Regional transit got a boost last week as both the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti City Councils unanimously approved the City of Ypsilanti’s request to join AATA/TheRide, prompting the organization to formally rename itself the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority. "The City of Ann Arbor and City of Ypsilanti are economically and culturally linked and the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority serves as a better platform for improving transit in and between the county's two largest cities," says Ryan Buck, Director of the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study. Since the April dissolution of the Washtenaw Ride, a failed attempt to establish a county-wide transit authority, AATA has focused on expanding service within the county’s "urban core" communities, including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Saline, and Pittsfield Township. The addition better positions the agency to make improvements like increased frequency on more routes and expanded weekend and evening hours, according to Don Kline, Marketing Coordinator for TheRide. "With a stronger and better connected Urban Core, Washtenaw County is on a path towards a brighter future which benefits everyone, not just riders," says Kline. Source: Don Kline, Ryan Buck Writer: Nina Ignaczak
Though the details of how and when aren't quite clear, there is the sense that a cohesive and coherent regional transportation plan may finally come to Southeast Michigan. So, how does Washtenaw County fit into the equation? Transportation editor Nina Ignaczak digs in.
DTW has been hailed far and wide as a world-class airport. Ground transportation to and from its terminals, however, have long been criticized as less than adequate. Last year Ann Arbor decided to address this shortcoming with AirRide, a daily public bus service that now averages nearly 1000 riders per day.
With southeast Michigan's Regional Transit Authority underway and M1-Rail about to break ground, a crowd of over 150 transit advocates had considerable cause for a buoyant mood as they strolled the stately gardens and ballroom of the Grosse Pointe War Memorial at Transit Riders United's second annual Regional Transit Awards dinner on May 21st. "Developing a quality regional transit system is a marathon, not a sprint," said Megan Owens, TRU's Executive Director. "It's important to pause and recognize progress, and the people who are making a difference." The Citizen Activist of the Year Award went to Neil Greenburg, whoseFreshwater Railway website depicts a fictional Michigan rail system. Greenberg, a self-taught professional transit cartographer and operations consultant, developed the site to garner support for transit by offering a visual experience of the possibilities. Tools to rally public support are needed now more than ever, according to Greenberg. "It's too early to say 'Mission Accomplished'," he said. "We are at the beginning, not the end." Michele Hodges, who until recently served as Executive Director of the Troy Chamber of Commerce, won the Corporate Transit Champion Award forengaging business, education, and labor leaders in the successful fight against former Troy mayor Janice Daniel's attempt to reject federal funding for the Troy Transit Center. The Unsung Hero Award went to former legislator Marie Donigan, who worked to establish the RTA and make state laws and funding sources friendlier to transit. Donigan continues her transit advocacy work, recently helping to coordinate a 2-day Metro Detroit Transit Workshop. Dennis Schornack, Senior Strategic Advisor to Governor Snyder, won Most Effective Public Servant Award for his work shepherding the RTA legislation through the political process. A Transit Employee of the Year Award went to Detroit Department of Transportation bus driver Michael Childs, who was nominated by a rider for being on-time with a big, welcoming smile every day, despite an increased workload owing to recent cuts in DDOT funding and service. Ann Arbor Transit Authority's new AirRide program, which now provides daily round-trip service between Ann Arbor and Detroit Metropolitan Airport, won the Exemplary Innovation Award. The TRU board sprung two surprises: a Transit Opportunities Award for the entire RTA Board, and an Above and Beyond Award for Owens for her work at TRU. Winners were selected by a panel of 4 judges, including Clark Harder, former legislator and Michigan Public Transit Association Executive Director, Heather Carmona, chief administrative officer of M1 Rail, Sue Zielinsli, managing director of Sustainable Mobility & Accessibility & Research & Transformation at the University of Michigan, and Polly Sedewa, transit activist and past TRU board member. Writer: Nina Ignaczak
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