This week was fairly active on the transportation front in Lansing.  In addition to the Michigan visit by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Governor Granholm signed the MDOT budget and the first piece of legislation from the Transportation Funding Task Force (TF2) report moved out of House committee.  Within the Governor's letter approving the state Transportation Department budget, there are a couple of items worth mentioning.  The Governor did veto (again) language that would have required the department to perform a cost allocation study for monies that the Department of Treasury charges MDOT for gas tax collection efforts.  A study along these lines has been pursued as a way to ensure that there is an accurate accounting for the spending of all road dollars.  Language related to the development of Complete Streets policies by the department and local road agencies was included in the budget, but the Governor's letter indicated that she views this langage as purely advisory and non-binding on the department.  The TF2 bill that moved out of the House Transportation committee on Thursday deals with Asset Management programming.  House Bill 4962, sponsored by Rep Richard Ball, expands the scope of the existing Transportation Asset Management Council to include all public roads, pavement, ancillary elements and utility location.  The bill goes on to create a new, similar Transit Asset Management Committee whose goal is to provide MDOT and the transit industry with statewide reporting and information on the condition of transit infrastructure.  This bill and other TF2 legislation are expected to see further House and Senate action as we move into the Fall.
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