RuralTransportation.org

Resource Library
Michigan

The Rural Context For Transportation Consultations

Michigan is the 22nd largest state in the U.S. in land area, 8th largest in population, and 14th most densely populated. However, approximately 38 percent of Michigan's population and jobs, and 95 percent of the land, is non-urban. About 79 percent of its roads are rural. Federally owned lands amount to less than 13 percent of the state's land area.

Michigan is a slowly growing state, as measured by population, with the fastest growing rate of employment. The portion of the state's jobs in the uniquely rural agriculture and mining sectors is small (4 and less than one percent, respectively). Most jobs in Michigan's rural areas are in sectors also common in urban areas: construction, transportation & utilities (12 percent); manufacturing (26 percent); business & trade (26 percent); and services & government (33 percent).

Demographically, Michigan's non-urban population is predominately white (97 percent). The proportion of the non-urban adults who did not graduate from high school ranks near the middle, when compared with other states, as does the proportion who did graduate from college. The 11 percent of Michigan's non-urban people who are poor is lower than many other states. About 41 percent of the state's non-urban population is in non-working age groups (29 percent 18 years or younger, and 12 percent 65 years or older).

Governmentally, Michigan is complex. The state has 83 counties, a fairly large number compared to many other states. The state also has 534 municipalities and 1,242 towns or townships for a total of 1,776 sub-county divisions. This is the 7th highest number of sub-county governments of all the states. Michigan also has 11 federally recognized Indian tribes.

In addition, the 1997 U.S. Census of Governments has identified 40 independent, special-purpose governments in Michigan that have transportation responsibilities. This number is higher than in most other states. These special-purpose governments include 20 for airports, 2 for water transport, and 18 for transit. Michigan also has 59 other public transit providers serving rural areas and an additional 39 organizations that provide specialized transit services to elderly and disabled populations in those same areas.

Michigan has 14 regional councils that cover approximately 100 percent of the state, and 12 MPOs. These regional units help to coordinate the other local governments and play a direct role in rural transportation programs as described below.

Of Michigan's 117,520 miles of roads, approximately 8 percent are state-controlled, while none are federal. Of the total miles of rural roads, 9 percent are state, 87 percent are county, none are township, and 4 percent are municipal and other.

Processes For Consultation And Cooperation With Local Officials In Non-Metropolitan Areas

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) oversees a transportation planning process that is conducted under a policy framework established by the State Transportation Commission. MDOT develops a 20-year State Long Range Plan (SLRP), a policy-oriented document that guides transportation investment decisions and improvement strategies for both the state and transportation providers. The state is also divided into 3 sub-state areas for which Sub-State Area Plans were developed, providing more detailed information on long-term regional needs and priorities. The SLRP and Sub-State Plans guide the development of the Five Year Program and the 3-year Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The entire transportation planning process is conducted through a consultative process.

MDOT has seven regions and has established Transportation Service Centers throughout the state. There are 14 regional planning organizations, some coterminous with MPOs, which receive federal and state planning funds from MDOT. All 14 regional planning organizations have a majority of local elected officials as delegates. Additionally, MDOT has established Rural Task Forces (RTFs). RTFs are administered by MDOT and have significant responsibilities for transportation programming in non-metropolitan areas.

To assist in developing the long-range plan, MDOT established a Customer and Provider Advisory Committee, representing varied groups who use transportation as well as organizations that provide transportation services. This committee leads the effort to consider statewide transportation issues and reach a consensus on a series of statewide transportation goals, objectives, and actions to help achieve those goals. During development of the SLRP, over 100 public meetings and technical briefings were held at various locations throughout the state. Through this consultative process, system-wide transportation improvements, including inter-modal connections, were identified and prioritized. Development of the three sub-state area plans included extensive public involvement and interaction with county road commissions, city and township governments, public transit operators, regional airports, rail freight operations, maritime operations, and non-motorized advocates.

Programming decisions for the Five Year Program and the STIP involve local officials in a variety of ways. MDOT delegates decisions to the RTFs for federal projects on the locally owned rural federal-aid road system. Federal aid is distributed to rural task forces based on a set formula. Before the task forces' annual meetings, there must be public meetings to which all local officials are invited. MDOT makes decisions on other projects. To guide those selections, MDOT regions maintain contact with local governments. MDOT regional offices and TSCs interact with county road commissioners, city and township governments, and the public regarding transportation programs, projects, and issues, including prioritization of projects for federal and trunkline projects. MDOT is also represented at local meetings, such as township, county, and city council meetings, to respond to local issues, funding issues, and needs for coordinating state and local projects. MDOT has hosted various Transportation Summits throughout the state to serve as educational forums for its external customers while building rapport with local elected officials and introducing MDOT's Five Year Program. Local elected officials, local road agencies, and community officials are among those participating in the Summits.

The consultative process also includes transit providers, rail and bus companies, and all other transportation interests. Regional planning agencies are directly involved in coordination of regional transit systems, and are represented on the committee responsible for update of the Michigan Aviation System Plan. Indian Tribal officials are involved as participants in the rural task force process. If state projects serve or adjoin Tribal land, Tribal officials are consulted early in project development. Consultation is also conducted on BIA-funded projects. Likewise, if state projects serve or abut federal lands, federal land management agencies are consulted early in project development. Consultation also occurs on federal discretionary-funded projects. Rural officials from developing areas within MPO boundaries are represented and involved as members of the MPO Technical and Policy Committees. In planning regions that include urban areas, the MPO is often also the regional planning agency. Rural areas outside, but adjacent to, an MPO boundary are included in the non-metropolitan regional planning process.

The consultative process also includes land use and economic development issues. Local units of government control land use in Michigan. MDOT is regularly involved in local land use and economic development decisions. The SLRP includes goals for land use coordination and economic development.

MDOT consults with local officials in a variety of other ways throughout the year. The TSCs were created to ensure continuous and cooperative participation with the community in which they are located. They are strategically located to provide easy public access - there is at least one center within an hour's drive from every Michigan citizen. TSC staff attend and participate in local RTF meetings in order to be made aware of local priorities and issues as well as to share information concerning MDOT projects. The RTFs have encouraged local elected officials from different disciplines to work together to improve transportation for the region and state. Additionally, the 14 regional planning organizations assist MDOT in providing an annual update of mailing lists of persons and organizations in the region who are interested or exert some influence on transportation issues for all modes. These mailing lists have provided valuable opportunities for local elected officials and the public to be involved in the transportation planning process.

During the selection and prioritization of federal-aid projects on the locally owned systems, transit representatives, along with staff from the regional planning agencies, local elected officials, and the public, identify and provide input concerning transit needs funded by the Surface Transportation Program (STP) and the Michigan Economic Development Fund, Category D (TEDF-D) funds. MDOT's Bureau of Urban and Public Transportation, Passenger Division, has project managers assigned by county to coordinate and oversee the federal- and state-funded transit programs and projects. Several regional planning agencies receive Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants to assist in cross-county transit activities.

Rural transportation is funded from federal, state and local funds. MDOT receives federal funds and uses the funds for planning, engineering, and construction of federal-aid projects in rural areas, and also passes federal funds to transit agencies, regional planning agencies, private non-profit agencies, and state universities for planning, research, and direct provision of services. Counties and cities also receive and use federal funds for engineering (occasionally) and construction of roads and for transit services. Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) receive federal funds for urban planning. State statute requires that federal aid be split 75 percent to the state and 25 percent to local units of government. State funds for transportation are distributed by formula to the state, counties, and cities for planning, engineering, construction, maintenance, and operations of road and transit systems. State-generated taxes for transportation are allocated by formula, with 39.1 percent to the state, 39.1 percent to the counties, and 21.8 percent to the cities.

Michigan uses these practices:

State Hearings: During the development of the SLRP, several public meetings and technical briefing meetings were held at various locations throughout the state.
State Processes for Interactive Exchange of Views with Local Officials: MDOT has hosted various Transportation Summits throughout the state and particpates in local meetings and RTFs.
Roles of RPOs: The regional planning agencies and the RTFs are involved in transportation planning and programming.
Roles of MPOs Outside their Metropolitan Planning Boundaries: In planning regions that include urban areas, the MPO may also be the regional planning agency. Rural areas outside, but adjacent to, a MPO boundary are included in the regional planning process.
Allocation of Transportation Funds and Responsibilities: Federal aid is split 75 percent to the state and 25 percent to local units of the government. State-generated taxes for transportation are allocated by formula between state, counties, and cities. RTFs make federal-aid project selections for locally owned systems.
State Policy-Making and Advisory Bodies: The Customer and Provider Advisory Committee; State Transportation Commission.
Other Practices: TSCs were created to allow on-going contact between MDOT and local governments. MDOT is also represented at local meetings, such as townships, county, and city council meetings, to respond to local issues, funding issues, and needs for coordinating state and local projects.

Return to the top

National Association of Development Organizations Research Foundation
400 North Capitol St., NW, Suite 390, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 624-7806 • Fax (202) 624-8813 •info@nado.org
www.nado.org