During their Board meeting on November 7, 2006, the Washtenaw County Road Commissioners, David Rutledge (Chair), Tim Eder (Vice-Chair) and Fred Veigel (Member), approved a revised five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), as presented by WCRC Transportation Planner, Brian Shorkey.
Since last May, Steve Puuri, Managing Director, Roy Townsend, County Highway Engineer, Ken Nixon, Director of Operations, and other Road Commission staff have been assisting Shorkey in identifying potential projects to include in the updated 2007-2011 CIP. In addition, over the past six months, Shorkey has been soliciting requests and input from township officials on potential road improvement projects to include in the CIP. All potential projects are reviewed for eligibility based on the following criteria: A project must be consistent with an adopted or anticipated component of a county or township plan, a state or federal requirement or a Road Commission approved policy. In addition, a project must add to the value or capacity of the county road network and must constitute a permanent, physical or system improvement in excess of $100,000; or a significant equipment purchase in excess of $100,000, with a useful lifespan of ten years.
The newly updated CIP includes 32 road and bridge projects that will be completed over the next five years; this is five less projects than was incorporated into the 2006-2010 CIP, approved by the Board last February 2006. Total cost of the 32 projects is $59 million; a reduction of $28 million from the previous CIP. There are 37 unfunded projects in the new CIP, totaling $39 million; this is three more unfunded projects than previously listed.
Just a few of the numerous 2006-2010 CIP projects that were accomplished this past year include the Wilbur Road and Judd Road bridge replacements, the removal of the Wallace Road bridge, and three substantial intersection improvements at North Territorial/Mast Roads, Plymouth-Ann Arbor/Earhart Roads, and Textile/Tuttle Hills Roads. Additional road improvements completed in 2006 included the reconstruction of Grove Road, Harris Road and Holmes Road (from Prospect to Rue Deauville), in Ypsilanti Township, and Willis Road, from Hitchingham Road, 1600 feet west of Whittaker Road.
In addition to a number of much-needed Road Commission facility improvements, the revised CIP includes 7 bridge projects, one center-left turn lane, one new road, two widening projects, two non-motorized paths, two roundabouts, four reconstruction projects, nine resurfacing projects, and two signal and intersection improvements.
"We have been able to include a significant number of projects in this Capital Improvement Plan due to the initiative of our Road Commission staff who have successfully identified alternative funding sources," explained Managing Director Puuri.
"Due to our current revenue challenges, which stem from a three-year stagnation in growth of Michigan Transportation Funds - our primary funding source - these necessary road improvements and traffic safety projects would not be possible over the next five years without the added revenue received through federal and state grants. Although the Road Commission must still contribute a sizeable amount of matching funds to receive these grants, we feel this is the only way that the Road Commission can meet the needs our county roads. These grant funds can quickly amass into millions of much-needed dollars that are specifically earmarked for many of the road improvement project incorporated in our Capital Improvement Plan."
The complete 2007-11 Capital Improvement Plan is available for review.