Another construction season is winding down; the familiar orange barrels and work zone signs are beginning to disappear, and roadways and bridges that were closed or had intermittent delays are again open to the motoring public. Yes, it has been a long, challenging, but highly productive construction season for the Washtenaw County Road Commission, and we are pleased to say that our agency has surpassed the goals our Board had established for routine maintenance services, as we accomplished a very ambitious Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
Of course, nothing during the construction season happens
without prior preparation. It takes hard work and dedication by
your road commission employees to ensure that adequate funding is
secured, projects remain on schedule, are well-facilitated, and
are completed as timely and efficiently as possible. All of which
is done with SAFETY foremost
in mind – both for road workers throughout the construction
period, and for the motoring public who will use the reconstructed
roads and bridges for many years to come.
Yes, even long before the first construction crew arrives on at the project site, the WCRC staff has already put forth many hours into the project, and has been diligently working behind the scenes for months – sometimes, even years – in advance, in an effort to identify and secure any funding that may be available in order to move a road project from a “worthy idea,” to the “reality stage” and inclusion in our 5-year CIP, and ultimately to construction.
Much of the money for major road reconstruction and bridge replacement projects is obtained through such state funding sources as the Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF), the Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF), (Categories A, C, D, E & F.), the Local Bridge Program, which is comprised of both state and federal dollars, as well as Governor Jennifer Granholm’s Local Jobs for Today Program, which was allocated to road commissions in 2006-2007 to assure that road agencies continue their capital investment programs in light of diminishing road maintenance MTF revenues.
Also, from the federal government are dollars acquired for road reconstruction projects through the Surface Transportation Program (STP), that will pay for rural and urban projects, as well as High Priority Projects (HPP) grants, such as the $1.6 million that was awarded to the WCRC for the Carpenter Road project in Pittsfield Township, thanks to the special assistance of U.S. Congressman John Dingell.
“With every transportation agency competing for the same outside revenues, obtaining additional dollars is not as easy as one might think. It takes persistence and the diligence of our staff to actively pursue every available funding resource so our needed road improvements can be fully realized,” explained Steve Puuri, Managing Director.
“Our agency has invested a great deal of time and effort
into fostering good working relationships with the various
agencies that administer these state and federal grants; and it is
safe to say that this cultivation has paid off! We have
successfully acquired millions of dollars, especially over the
last few years, to improve our roads, and these are dollars that
we would not otherwise have available if we depended solely upon
our allocation from the Michigan Transportation Fund” Puuri
said.
For this year’s construction projects, the WCRC was able to acquire approximately $25 million additional grant dollars that were added to the agency’s $17 million in MTF funds. In 2007, these grants allowed for the completion of 12 major road improvement projects, 3 bridge replacements, and 11 new traffic signal installations. The grants also helped leverage funding from area developers and local municipalities, which aided in completing another 10 road widening and intersection improvement projects, such as the Maple Road roundabouts project and the Leforge/Geddes intersection improvements, to name just two. In 2008, the WCRC estimates the outside grant and developer funds will be even greater – $35 million!
So, how much outside revenue does the WCRC need to be able to continue improving your county road system?
Below are some typical costs for grant-funded projects, on which the WCRC usually pays a varied percentage for the required match and preliminary engineering:
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Major reconstruction/intersection improvement project (adding turn lanes and signals) = approximately $1 million to $1.2 million (Road Commission covers approximately 40% for construction match and engineering costs)
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Bridge replacement project = approximately $600,000 to $1.5 million (Road Commission pays for approximately 20% of project for construction match and engineering costs)
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Adding signalization to a non-signalized intersection = approximately $150,000/each.
“By leveraging federal and state money and developer dollars, it frees up our MTF discretionary funds so that we can complete additional routine maintenance work, and offer more assistance to townships through our Local Road Program. Without outside dollars, not only would there be less major road improvements to address congestion and developments, but I believe we would see a decline in the amount of preventive maintenance we could accomplish as well,” stated Puuri.
Below are just a few examples of typical maintenance costs paid with state MTF funds by the Washtenaw County Road Commission:
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Grading/gravel application and maintenance for one (1) mile of gravel road = approximately $24,800
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Overlay/resurfacing for one (1) mile of existing paved road (2 lanes) = approximately $60,000
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Sealcoat application for one (1) mile of existing paved road (2 lanes) = approximately $8,000
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Newly paving one (1) mile of gravel road = approximately $1 million
At their November 6, 2007 meeting, the Board of County Road Commissioners is expected to make a final determination on the projects to include in the 2008-2012 CIP, based on the projected, preliminary end-of-the-year and 2008 budgets.
“Our year end budget review will give our Board the final assurance that we can proceed with next year’s CIP as proposed, using grants that have already been awarded. The Board is trying to do what it can to bring in as much outside revenue as possible to Washtenaw County,” Puuri explained.
“Our Board has some difficult decisions to make, but we should know within the next few weeks what we can expect to provide in services and road improvements for 2008,” concluded Puuri.
Contact
If you require assistance with media information, please contact Val Cooper, Public Information Officer, at (734) 327-6675 or via email at: cooperv@wcroads.org.