Last week, the Michigan Transportation Commission adopted the final versions of the Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) 2022-2026 Five Year Transportation Program (5YTP) and the Michigan Mobility 2045 Plan (MM2045), also known as the State Long-Range Transportation Plan.
The 5YTP contains a list of road and bridge projects, as well as information on public transportation, rail, and aviation programs, which the MDOT will focus on through 2026. The document also connects MDOT’s long-term needs and goals set in the state’s long-range plan with shorter-term goals for asset management and expectations for available state and federal revenues.
With more than $15.2 billion in anticipated state and federally funded investments slated for 2022-2026, the MDOT expects to begin construction on many road, bridge, safety, operations, and maintenance programs over the next five years.
Between July 26 and Aug. 27, the MDOT held a 30-day public comment period on the 5YTP, receiving nearly 200 comments from more than 180 individuals via email and social media. During the public comment period, the department also raised awareness of the 5YTP comment opportunity through social media, engaging more than 3,000 people in some form, including likes, shares, retweets, and comments.
The 5YTP includes $12.3 billion for the Highway Program and $2.9 billion for public transportation.
The MM2045 defines the future of transportation in Michigan on a long-term scale. The plan was developed through the opinions of a large and diverse group of Michigan residents and stakeholders, the department said, and provides the foundation for Michigan to deliver a mobility network that is safe, efficient, future-driven, and adaptable.
The 25-year plan is the first of its kind to incorporate an overall vision of the state’s transportation system and its rail and freight systems. The plan also incorporates a vision for the state’s transit strategy. The combined plans will provide the state with a streamlined multimodal vision of transportation in Michigan across all modes, the department said.
The plans will be posted on the MDOT website and the MM2045 website.