Tuesday, June 16, 2009

MDOT Limits Roadside Grass-Cutting. When it comes to Michigan's freeways, cost-cutting is in and grass-cutting is out. To save as many greenbacks as possible, the Michigan Department of Transportation is making fewer trips to state roadways to mow the slopes, trim trees and pare bushes. According to Shreck, MDOT's maintenance budget is $300 million, which includes salting and plowing, repairing potholes, fixing guardrails, maintaining drains and mowing the freeways. To save money, MDOT -- which owns or is responsible for nearly 9,600 miles of Michigan's 119,500 miles of roads as well as 4,400 bridges -- will cut once or twice a summer versus three or more in normal years. Besides the financial savings, there is another upside, according to Heidi Coates, development and marketing director of "The Greening of Detroit," a group that has promoted urban agriculture and horticulture in southeastern Michigan for the past two decades. "More naturalized areas along the freeways is far better for the birds and bees, plus it looks prettier, even if it is unintentional," Coates said. "We love our manicured lawns here in Michigan, but those berms aren't supposed to look like golf courses. We could gradually switch over to a more naturalized look, utilizing wildflower stands and greenery that grows naturally on the plains, like poppy and buffalo grasses. "It takes a lot of time and money to mow the grass and it would take time to switch over, but in the long run it would cost less to maintain it." A number of states have recently decided to cut back on their mowing, including Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. Because there are no federal regulations concerning roadside landscaping, states can mow -- or not -- as they please along the 12 million acres of federal highway corridors they maintain across the United States. Shaggy slopes and weedy medians are becoming more common in Oakland County, according to Craig Bryson, spokesman for the Road Commission for Oakland County. "We're reducing all aesthetic maintenance when it comes to the medians, along the roads and on the slopes of the freeways," said Bryson. He pointed out that the road commission maintains 2,700 miles of county highways as well as 230 miles of MDOT roads. Under ordinary circumstances, the road commission cuts grass along their own roadways up to 10 times a summer and MDOT trunk lines three times a season. "We've roughly cut the number of cutting in half," Bryson said. "Those numbers could change a bit depending on the weather: fewer cutting when it's dry and a bit more if it's rainy." According to Bryson, the reduction in maintenance means those funds can be used in other areas. "We can shift those funds over to safety issues such as repairing traffic signals or replacing speed limit signs," he said. "We are always concerned about safety, so we will continue to trim trees and bushes for sight distance." For the full article, see Tom Greenwood, "Michigan cuts roadside mowing; MDOT hopes to save $30 million with fewer trips to groom green space", Detroit News, June 15, 2009. [Red Tape Blog] 12:12:24 PM     Health Care Reform The topic of health care reform is everywhere. It's on the TV, the radio and the conversation is even happening in your living room. We're in for some big changes-maybe. Personally, I think it's a good idea to look for ways to improve the system. This weekend I was talking about health care reform with an older man that I know. Before he was old enough for Medicare coverage, he didn't have any health insurance. Because he had no health insurance, he lived in terrible pain every day because he needed knee replacement surgery, but couldn't afford the price tag: $30,000 per knee. When he turned 65 he had the surgery and now he's a new man : mobile, productive, pain free. So he's one person, but don't we all know someone who has suffered either physically or financially? I'm lucky because my employer helps with heath insurance costs. I still pay a lot for health insurance each month, but I've got it good compared to so many people in this country. Here's my biggest concern about health care reform : I'm afraid that the voices of the people won't be heard - so speak up. If you think we need health care reform in our country, let the President know. Share your story and ideas for improving our health care system with the Department of Health and Human Services and also contact your representatives in congress and tell them how they can reform the health care system to better serve you. - Joanne [Gov Gab: Your U.S. Government Blog] 12:11:22 PM

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