Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Take a Survey About Public Transit

The Ability Center of Greater Toledo is collecting statistics about how people use public transit in a seven-county region. You will help by completing an on-line survey.
The Ability Center of Greater Toledo is a non-profit Center for Independent Living serving northwest Ohio. Their mission is to assist people with disabilities to live, work and socialize within a fully accessible community.


The link to the survey is here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_VwqSvrMnRuAMqFG-ImNTGiGfeFkCOTolY3fEAUtnCo/viewform.  Click or cut and paste into your browser.

Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

May is Bike Month!

Before you take your first spring bicycle ride, make sure that your ride is in good, safe, shape with an ABC Quick Check. The following area bike shops are participating in Bike Month and will do a free check for you. 

ABC Quick Check: air, brakes, cranks & chain, quick releases, check out the bike. The handy rider can do the check at home with basic tools. Or stop by one of the following shops for a free quick check. Call for their hours of service.

• The Bike Route – 5201 Monroe St., Toledo | 419-885-3030
• BikeWorks - 5631 Alexis Rd., Sylvania | 419-882-0800
• Elmore Cycle and Fitness - 453 Maple St., Elmore | 419-862-1000
• Fremont Cycle and Fitness - 107 N. Ohio Ave., Fremont | 419-332-4481
• Mountain Man Sports - 2735 N. Reynolds Rd., Toledo | 419-536-0001
• Spoke Life Cycles - 26597 N. Dixie Hwy., Perrysburg | 419-931-9919
• Toledo Bikes! – 1114 Washington St., Toledo | 419-386-6090
• Wersells – 2860 W. Central Ave., Toledo 419-474-7412

Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org

Long- and Short-term Transportation Plans Up for Approval May 6


The TMACOG Transportation Council will vote on two fundamental transportation planning programs at its May 6 meeting. Both the FY 2016-2019 Transportation Improvement Program (the TIP), and the “On the Move: 2015-2045 Transportation Long Plan” are up for approval. The meeting is open to the public.

The TIP is the short range plan that schedules and manages federally funded transportation facilities and services in Lucas and Wood counties. It is updated every two years by TMACOG in cooperation with cities and counties and with federal agencies. The draft TIP is posted here.


The 2045 Plan is the long range plan. Like the TIP, it is federally mandated. The long range plan is a prioritized list of projects, initiatives, and policies that will guide transportation investment in the Toledo metropolitan area (Lucas and Wood counties in Ohio, and southern Monroe County in Michigan). Read more about how the 2045 Plan was created and link to the draft plan here.

Both the TIP and the 2045 Plan involved extensive public input and meetings with transportation stakeholders. The Transportation Council meeting is May 6 at 3 p.m. in the TMACOG Boardroom. All TMACOG council meetings are open to the public.

For more information about the TIP, contact Transportation Planner Lance Dasher, 419.241.9155 ext. 115. For information about the 2045 Plan contact Acting Vice President of Transportation David Gedeon, 419.241.9155 ext. 125.


Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org

Friday, April 24, 2015

TMACOG and SEMCOG in Monroe County

The Monroe Evening News covered a meeting of the Monroe County Commissioners that featured presentations from TMACOG  and SEMCOG, its partner agency in Michigan. SEMCOG is the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. The topic was economic development potential created by widening of I-75 and a new international bridge to Canada.

See the Monroe Evening News story here.


Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Clean Ohio Grants Announced

The Natural Resources Assistance Council (NRAC), administered by TMACOG, has announced its recommendations for the current round of Clean Ohio Fund Conservation Grants in Lucas County. Clean Ohio funds total $1,282,749 for this round. Including local match of $431,000, the projects funded are valued at $1,721,275. (There is a shortfall on the Reynolds Corners project of $7,526). The recommendations are listed in priority order.

1) Metroparks of the Toledo Area – Oak Openings Frankfort
Total Cost: ............ $130,675
Clean Ohio Share: .. $98,000
Local Match: .......... $32,675
Acres Protected: .............. 12

2) Nature Conservancy – Kitty Todd Brick Tract
Total Cost: ............ $101,700
Clean Ohio Share: .. $76,275
Local Match: .......... $25,425
Acres Protected: .............. 16

3) Metroparks of the Toledo Area – Swan Creek
Total Cost: ............ $196,875
Clean Ohio Share: $147,000
Local Match: .......... $49,875
Acres Protected: ................ 9

4) Metroparks of the Toledo Area – Reynolds Corners
Total Cost: ......... $1,292,025
Clean Ohio Share: $961,474
Local Match: ........ $323,025
Acres Protected: .............. 32


Clean Ohio Funds will be used to acquire open space for preservation, either by purchase or permanent conservation easement. For each grant, a minimum 25 percent local match was required.

Since the program was approved by Ohio voters in 2000, more than $9 million has been returned to Lucas County for the preservation of open space. Projects have preserved wetlands, enlarged park areas, and protected rare habitat in the Oak Openings Region. See details of the application and evaluation process on the TMACOG website here.




Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org

Friday, April 17, 2015

Member Thanks

TMACOG extends its thanks to Republic Services for the sponsorship of the April 17 TMACOG Tech session. That program provided Ohio Sunshine Laws training at Owens Community College. Sponsorship allowed TMACOG members and others to get required training close to home. 

Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org

Thursday, April 2, 2015

TMACOG Projects in the News

Train Day Toledo and Bike Month will be topics on news broadcasts airing on Toledo area Cumulus Radio . Bill Gill is Chairman of National Train Day Toledo and Regional Coordinator for All Aboard Ohio. He talked with radio news director London Mitchell about the May 2 Train Day Toledo event. Lance Dasher, TMACOG transportation planner, was invited to talk about Bike Month events which include Bike to School Day (May 6) and Bike to Work Day (May 15).

Alicia Smith, working with TMACOG as the Junction Urban Waters Project Community Liaison will be on Toledo News Now, Saturday morning April 11. She'll be talking about green infrastructure and how Junction Avenue neighbors are working to include beautiful, useful, green spaces in their revitalization plan.

 
Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Wolf Creek Watershed Septic System Education



TMACOG and a group of local partners have begun work on a new project to improve water quality in the Wolf Creek watershed near Lake Erie by providing education about the operation of home sewage treatment systems and other on-site systems. 

Research has shown that bacteria in Wolf Creek has a direct impact on the Lake Erie beaches at Maumee Bay State Park.  Many steps have already been taken to reduce bacteria in the waterway. In recent years, the City of Oregon constructed 11 miles of sanitary sewer lines and eliminated about 600 septic systems. However, in the primarily rural area remaining septic systems cannot be eliminated by connecting to sewers. Older or failing septic systems are thought to be a source of some ongoing bacterial contamination of the watershed. The goal of the new project is to ensure that remaining septic systems are well-maintained and in good repair to reduce off-site sewage discharges.

The educational campaign will include evaluation of home systems and explanation of how the various types of systems work. Part of the evaluation is a dye test. Bright color biodegradable dye is released at the top of the system in the home. Then the property owner or inspector looks to see if the dye has migrated to nearby ditches or waterways. When dye disperses outside of the septic system, the property owner knows that maintenance or repair is needed.


The watershed septic education program addresses households in Oregon and Jerusalem Township that are in the 16-square-mile watershed. Partners in the program include TMACOG, the City of Oregon, Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, and Lucas Soil and Water Conservation District. 

Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments | www.tmacog.org