Meeting Notes - 16 May 2005 - KATS Policy Committee Meeting with Gloria Jeff, MDOT Director, Kalamazoo County Department of Planning and Community Development

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Department of Planning & Community Development

Schoolcraft Area US-131 Planning Committee
US-131 Corridor Master Plan Committee

KATS Policy Committee Meeting with Gloria Jeff, MDOT Director

Kalamazoo County Road Commission

Comments/Discussion Notes from 16 May 2005 Meeting

Background: On May 16, Gloria Jeff visited Kalamazoo. The KATS Policy Committee hosted a meeting at which there were presentations on I-94, US-131/US131BR and US-131 Schoolcraft. John Sych (Kalamazoo County Planning Department), Sally Carpenter (St. Joseph MSU-E), Eric Shafer (St. Joseph County Commissioner), Don Beavers (Village of Constantine) and Loren Warfield (Village of Schoolcraft) made a presentation on the need to improve US-131 to a four-lane, limited-access freeway from the City of Portage to the Indiana border.

The following are comments and discussion notes that followed the presentation:

It is good to see diversity in transportation activities in the Kalamazoo area (roads and transit).
Local funds and local contributions are very beneficial. The City of Portage contributions to the I-94/Westnedage Avenue interchange improvement were acknowledged.
State of Michigan has borrowed on federal transportation funds in an amount of approximately $200 million. $200 million is about equal to its annual draw from the federal government (?).
Once reauthorization of the federal transportation bill takes place, and then MDOT will begin to look at new road projects.
90% of projects are preservation projects while 10% of projects are capacity projects (i.e., new roadways). All projects must be balanced around the state.
The two key criteria for selection of projects are:
          a. Technically sound
          b. Political support
                    Must have both!
Related to US-131, there will be no comprehensive approach. The project will be done in phases due to cost.
Related to US-131, local groups should continue to do what you are doing.
Regarding Constantine and Schoolcraft, MDOT is looking at phases and cannot do the whole corridor.
Part of consideration is your political support.
The phased projects will address minimizing bottlenecks.