RPO Models: Michigan

The 14 regional development organizations (known locally as regional councils of government) in Michigan have partnered with the state Department of Transportation (MDOT) for regional transportation planning for over 30 years.

They have worked in partnership with MDOT to assist in fulfilling federal planning requirements and the state’s Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS). Starting in 2002, the regions were asked to partner in the state’s Transportation Asset Management Program.

The asset management program is a joint effort of the state DOT, county road commissions, municipalities and the regional councils. The 14 regions are provided approximately $1 million each year to conduct an inventory of all public roadways in the state, including 39,000 miles of federal-aid eligible highways. This amount is in addition to the $500,000 funding allocation for the regional transportation planning activities for the rural areas of the state.

Since the inventory data is used in the distribution of state and local project dollars, the inventories are performed by a joint inspection team that must include a state DOT, road commission and regional council representative. The involvement of municipalities is optional.

The teams travel in state vans with laptops equipped with Roadsoft software and GPS technology. The crews rate the conditions of each roadway based on a Paser rating between 1 and 10. The process helps state and local officials make funding decisions based on the needs and conditions of the transportation system, rather than politics. It is also an innovative partnership model between state, regional and local agencies.

For more information, see:

Michigan Association of Regional Councils Web site