Michigan Environmental Council

Michigan
Environmental Report

Volume 22 . Number 6
December 2004

PURPOSE
Founded in 1980, MEC is a coalition of over 60 environmental, public health, and faith-based organizations with nearly 200,000 individual members. For over 20 years, MEC has provided a voice at the State Capitol. In addition to serving as a clearinghouse of environmental information, MEC develops public policy, educates elected officials and the public, and provides training and support to member organizations.

SUBSCRIBE

OFFICERS

Chairperson
Chris Graham,
Michigan Natural Areas Council

Vice Chair
Vicki Levengood,
National Environmental Trust

Vice Chair
Terry Miller,
Lone Tree Council

Treasurer
Tom Leonard,
West Michigan Environmental Action Council

Secretary
Brian Imus,
PIRGIM

MEC STAFF

President
Lana Pollack

Policy Director
James Clift

Associate Director
Patrick Diehl

Land Programs Director
Conan Smith

Special Projects Coodinator
Brad Garmon

Office Manager
Judy Bearup

Member Services Director
Michele Scarborough

Policy Specialist
David Gard

Policy Advisor
Dave Dempsey

Environmental Campaign Coordinator
Wendi Tilden

ECCO Field Director
Stephanie Anderson

Land Programs Assistant
Ben Stupka

MER Design & Layout
Rose Homa

SEMCOG 2030 Vision Plan lacks one important component: a vision

By Ben Stupka, MEC Land Programs Assistant

With 79% of the $41 billion approved budget blueprint going towards "maintaining and improving roads," including over 500 miles of new roads, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments' (SEMCOG) 2030 Regional Transportation Plan for Southeast Michigan literally derails any opportunity to bring economically beneficial mass transit to southeast Michigan for the next 25 years.

Claiming that the only way for Southeast Michigan's economy to stay competitive is by adding capacity to an already failing system is flat wrong. Study after study has proven that adding capacity only creates more demand and more traffic congestion, and if you doubt it, just visit Atlanta, Los Angeles or Houston. SEMCOG's "vision" for the next 30 years simply projects future growth based on 1950s-era planning techniques that ignore modern issues of regional economic growth, urban sprawl and harmful air pollution.

The Metro Detroit region already has the 6th highest rate of traffic congestion in the nation. It's time for the region to join the 21st Century. To do that, we have to stop promoting outdated "bigger, wider road" policies that fail to address the needs or interests of today's businesses and tomorrow's entrepreneurs. Every successful metropolitan area understands that moving workers throughout the region on a convenient mass transit system is essential for economic success. Colorado voters recently passed a measure to fund a major expansion of Denver's regional transit network to the tune of $4.7 billion.

Across the state and country, more and more business leaders and residents see the value of transit. According to Withlin Worldwide, an international polling firm that has done opinion polls on public transportation issues, "Voters see transit as a way to reduce traffic and air pollution as well as improve the quality of life-not only for themselves, but for the community as a whole. Businesses and cities see transit as a way to bring dollars and revitalize neighborhoods."

In SEMCOG's own 2001 transit study, "Improving Transit in Southeast Michigan: A Framework for Action," it was found that the estimated total capital cost for implementing a comprehensive regional mass transit system for southeast Michigan, with bus, light rail and commuter rail, would be $2 billion, spread over the next 25 years as the system develops. An additional $200 million in operating funds would be required annually. Instead, we're proposing to spend $1.3 billion to widen 11 miles of I-94 in Wayne County, and $1 billion to add one lane to I-75 from M-59 to Auburn Hills. It is these reactive, one-time solution decisions instead of proactive, forward-thinking, long-term solutions that create the land use and transportation problems we see today.
A new train stop or bus station can serve as the catalyst for new businesses, better housing and rising incomes by linking residents to good-paying jobs. SEMCOG has missed the bus.