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Transportation 
Thu Jan 05, 2012 at 19:54:28 PM EST
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On December 31st, Eric B. posted Michigan's most odious #9: Small mind in the big city about Janice Daniels, the Tea Party Mayor of Troy. The same day, I posted the following entry at Crazy Eddie's Motie News. It's time to share it with the readers of Michigan Liberal.
In my previous post about Troy on Crazy Eddie's Motie News, I discussed the rejection of federal funding for the Transit Center. There was something else in the report from the New York Times I quoted. The transit fight is not Mayor Daniels's first brush with controversy. Earlier this month, it was revealed that she posted a message to her Facebook page last June, after New York State approved same-sex marriage, stating, "I think I am going to throw away my I Love New York carrying bag now that queers can get married there." In an interview, she said she regretted the online comment. This quote plays right into a narrative that opponents of the Tea Party in general and Janice Daniels in particular already have for Tea Party candidates. In fact, combined with the rejection of the money for the transit center, it satisfies many of Nate Silver's criteria for a good political scandal. Let me walk through Nate's questions and their answers for these two outrages.
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Wed May 25, 2011 at 06:47:28 AM EDT
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In America, today, there are three kinds of drivers: those who look at the other gas pumps down at the ol' gas station and think: "Oh my God, I can't believe how much that guy's spending on gas", those who look at their own pump down at the ol' gas station and think: "Oh my God, I can't believe how much I'm spending on gas" - and those who are doing both at the same time.
Naturally, this has brought the Sarah Palins of the world back out in public, and once again the mantra of "Drill, Baby, Drill" can be heard all the way from the Florida coast to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
But what if those folks have it exactly backwards?
What if, in a world of depleting oil resources, the last thing you want to do is use yours up?
To put it another way: why isn't all our oil part of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?
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Tue Nov 30, 2010 at 12:16:50 PM EST
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( - promoted by rich)
**Update: The phones have been ringing off the hook all morning in Senator Bishop’s office. The staff answering the phone have been very pleasant. Please take 30 seconds and make your voice heard.**
Call-in Day for Michigan Rail - Tuesday, Nov. 30! Please call Senator Bishop TODAY, Tuesday, November 30, and ask him to make HB 6484 a top lame-duck priority. A train from Chicago to Detroit in less than four hours? It could be coming, if the Michigan Senate votes for HB 6484! The Department of Transportation has pledged at least $160 million to Michigan to buy and improve railroad track connecting Detroit-Ann Arbor-Jackson-Kalamazoo. That is IF the state provides the required 20% local matching funds. HB 6484 provides that match by allowing state bonds to be used for rail improvement. The new rail bonding authority can also provide critical funds for other local projects such as Woodward Light Rail in Detroit, the Detroit-Ann Arbor Commuter Rail, WALLY (Livingston County) and other pending projects. This bill has received strong bi-partisan support so far and was co-sponsored by five Republicans and five Democrats in the House. The House voted for it, the Governor supports it. Now the Senate must pass it - before they go home on December 2! Ohio and Wisconsin are on the verge of giving back $1.2 billion of federal money for high-speed rail projects. New York, Illinois, Georgia and California are among the many states clamoring for this money. With our struggling economy, we can’t afford to give hundreds of millions of dollars away. This money will not only improve our public transportation, but will also bring thousands of desperately needed, good-paying jobs to Michigan. Rail companies such as Amtrak and CSX are hiring hundreds of workers in other states constructing rail lines and manufacturing train parts. Successful funding and completion of these projects means trains hitting 110 mph on more than 200 miles of track along southern Michigan’s corridor. This is a game-changing opportunity for our state. Republicans and Democrats, labor, local governments, chambers of commerce, and environmental groups are now on the same page; On Tuesday, call Senator Bishop at 517-373-2417 and ask him to please pass the rail bonding bill! Also call your state senator to urge their support, especially: * Senator Randy Richardville at 517-373-3543 (Monroe County, Saline, Pittsfield, Manchester, or Milan) * Senator John Pappageorge at 517-373-2523 (Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Clawson, Madison Heights, Royal Oak, or Troy) Thanks for your support. Let’s get Michigan moving again!!! |
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Mon Oct 25, 2010 at 18:44:07 PM EDT
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Today, a very shocking thing happened...
No the Lions didn't win. Kwame hasn't admitted to lying. Nor has Virg Bernero surged to a 5-point lead.
Michigan, our Michigan, automotive capitol of the world, home of the "just buy a car and put gas in it -- that will fix the economy." THAT Michigan, has finally joined the 21st century.
Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Michigan a $150 million federal grant for high-speed railroad passenger service between Detroit and Chicago.
The grant provides money to purchase tracks and upgrade rail infrastructure along a 135-mile corridor between Dearborn and Kalamazoo. The result will be a trip from Detroit to Chicago in about 3 hours and 45 minutes - shaving 90 minutes off the existing travel time.
Policy and transportation planners across the globe have ranked the Detroit-to-Chicago rail corridor as one of the most viable route in the nation. MDOT has said that it could complete this corridor within 24 months, putting Michigan in the position of doing high-speed rail faster and more cost-effectively than any other region.
The grant application was endorsed by a bi-partisan group of 61 state legislators who signed a letter of support that was delivered to the U.S. Department of Transportation by Congressman Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek.
Here in Michigan, we have been fortunate enough to have strong bi-partisan support for high speed rail. Our congressional delegation on both sides of the aisle understands fully how important this money is to creating jobs and jumpstarting our economy.
Representatives listed as voting for high-speed rail funding includes:
• Mark Schauer -D
• Gary Peters -D
• Candice Miller -R
• Sandy Levin -D
• Vern Ehlers -R
• John Conyers -D
• John Dingell -D
• Fred Upton -R
Let's give these fine folks a hand. And bask in our good news for a while.
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Fri May 22, 2009 at 10:32:06 AM EDT
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It’s great to see that people are starting to think about hybrid vehicles, but so far, they really haven’t been for me.
You know why?
Because for the most part, they have no...style.
The Prius?
If you look at it sideways, and squint, it looks more like a pepita than a car.
The Insight?
They say it’s stylish...but it looks like a Prius to me.
You know what I want?
I want someone to build the biggest, nastiest, most oversized hybrid the world has ever seen.
Something drenched with chrome, with seating for...many, and a convertible top; and maybe, if all my dreams come true: tail fins.
Something crazy.
Something ridiculous.
Something...American.
Well, guess what?
Somebody’s already gone out and had one built—and ironically, that somebody is Neil Young, Canadian.
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Fri May 16, 2008 at 10:58:58 AM EDT
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Every weeknight on Ebling and You, Jack Ebling touches on any and all issues related to Mid-Michigan. Thursday was no exception.
Note: Just click on "talked" below to hear each audio segment.
Jack talked with the UAW's Local 602 President, Doug Rademacher, about the latest agreement between the United Auto Workers and General Motors at Lansing's Delta Township facility.
Jack talked health care with Karen Surdenik and Louis Jones-Keren from Ingham Regional Medical Center about the latest news from Healthwise University.
Jack talked with Jessica Yorko, from the Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council, about the effect of gas prices on local commuters and the upcoming Smart Commute Festival.
Jack talked with Michigan Attorney General spokesperson Rusty Hills, about their project to fight scams against Michigan seniors.
Finally, Jack talked to MSU football legend, John Shinsky, about the 24th Annual Father Mac Dinner to raise money for Shinsky's Mexican Orphnage and Lansing Catholic High School.
Read more about Shinsky, his orphanage and his life story by clicking HERE.
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Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 10:45:00 AM EST
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This time of year, there's one thing that really scares me - driving. It's not the snow, the sleet, the ice, the deer/turkey/wildlife that always seem to aim for my car, or even my fellow drivers who seem to lose all of their driving skills as soon as the weather drops below 40 degrees. It's all those blasted potholes. This year it's gotten even worse. With all the heavy weather, road commissions are running out of salt and picking and choosing which roads get treated. I think about the cost of alignments, new tires, struts and shocks, and the ever expensive axle rods and I feel a financial panic attack coming on. There's no such thing as a cheap auto repair, it's just the nature of the business. Media outlets always seem to budget time and staff towards covering the craters in the road, and some even sponsor "find the biggest pothole contests'. It's a smart tactic actually, slow news day, go for the potholes. They always unite people in their anger and frustration and it's the classic us v. them example. We all fall for it, because, well, who really likes potholes? People blame the weather, blame the law of physics, blame the government for under-funding MDOT and all of the above. To a certain extent, it's all true. DriveMichigan, a group that is made up of various construction trade associations, MDOT, chamber of commerces, and labor unions, would like to see that changed.
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Thu Aug 23, 2007 at 13:28:30 PM EDT
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(From the diaries - promoted by lpackard)
Every year it seems the educational system is forced to sit on pins and needles -- which the parents have to buy because schools cannot afford them anymore -- and wait for budget allocations to come down from on high. This puts schools at a horrible disadvantage, because how does one plan? For the worst? For the best? For a 40-60 split? Will there be time to hire qualified teachers if the money comes through in a last minute deal, or will it be the pink-slip polka?
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