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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 1974.10.15 - 15311Misc. 6873 By Mrs. Moffitt IN RE: REPORT ON MASS TRANSPORTATION SYMPOSIUM To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: REPORT ON MASS TRANSPORTATION SYMPOSIUM OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS September 4, 1974 AD Hoc Committee for Mass Transportation Symposium Lillian V. Moffitt, Chairman James W, Dunleavy Fred D. Hough -ten James Mathews Lawrence R. Pernick Donald C. Quinn, Jr. E. Frank Richardson The Oakland County Board of Commissioners, in cooperation with Oakland University, held a Mass Transportation Symposium for elected off- icials and decision makers in Oakland County on September 4, 1974, at the Commissioners' Auditorium, This was the first Mass Transportation Symposium for decision makers at the local level, to be held in the United States. Miscellaneous Resolution # 6728 to hold the Symposium was passed by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on June 6, 1974, and an Ad Hoc Committee was appointed by the Chairman of the Board. The Committee consisted of the following members: Commissioners James Dunleavy, Fred Houghten, James Mathews, Donald Quinn, E. Frank Richardson, Lawrence Pernick, and Lillian Moffitt, Chairman. Members of the staff assigned to work with the Committee were Shan Topiwalla, Technical Advisor, Planning Department; Gordon Hobbs, Federal Coordinator; and Tony Guyer, Board of Commissioners. The purpose of the Symposium was to: (1) inform local officials and decision makers in Oakland County of the public transportation plans, policies, and funding priorities at the federal, state, and regional levels of govern- ment; (2) to enable informed local participation in the solution of mass transportation problems; and (3) to inform the administrators of the federal, state, and regional agencies of the problems and concerns of our local municipalities. Top administrators of government agencies responsible for mass trans- portation at the various levels of government were invited to be guest - speakers. They were requested to make their presentations within the context of concerns at the local level and also to include in their presentation the specific questions developed by the Ad Hoc for each of the agencies. Of the eight speakers invited, only two could not participate, Frank Herringer, Chief Administrator of U.M.T.A.; and Governor Norman Erbe (former Governor of Iowa), Chairman of Federal Regional V. Council, Mr. Herringer designated Dr. Harvey (Chicago) to serve as a substitute speaker, and Governor Erbe designated Alexander White as his substitute speaker. The panel presentations were made in the morning from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon, and during the afternoon session the panelists responded to written questions from the Symposium participants. Joe Weaver, Special Projects Director of WJBK-TV 2, served as moderator, and the topics of discussion were as follows: An Overview of the Federal Regional Council Alexander P. White, Chairman Intergovernmental Relations Task Force Federal Regional Council - Chicago Federal Policies, Funding and Mechanics of Obtaining Federal Funding for Mass Transportation Development Dr. Thomas Harvey, Regional Representative Urban Mass Transportation Administrator The Role of the Department of State Highways & Transportation in Transit Development and the Proposed $1.1 Billion State Transportation Bond Issue. John P. Woodford, Director Department of State Highways & Transportation State of Michigan The State of Michigan Policies and Guidelines for Public Transportation Rockwell T. Gust, Chairman Public Transportation Council State of Michigan Southeast Michigan Transportation Authority's Plan and Proposals for High Level and Intermediate Level Transit for the Region. Ross Childs, Acting General Manager Southeast Michigan Transportation Authority. Development of Transit Network within the Framework of Regional Planning' Michael Clusac, Executive Director Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. Some Observations on Public Transit Development in the Region. Richard R. Wilcox, Chairman Oakland County Board of Commissioners. Approximately 187 persons attended the Symposium; 40 local munici- palities were represented; 20 service organizations were represented; and 3 companies involved in manufacturing public transit vehicles were re- presented. Many favorable comments were received regarding the timeliness of the subject and the outstanding manner in which the entire seminar was handled. Joe Weaver, who served as the moderator of the Symposium, was particularly helpful in contributing to the smoothness of the program, and for the - excellent television coverage. IMPACT AND BENEFITS: The symposium provided timely information on mass transportation proposals, plan S and policies to local units of government. An overview on the complex funding issue by Federal, State and Regional representatives provided a needed context for evaluating the regional transit proposals and transit implementation strategy. The symposium enabled County officials in establishing direct communication links with transit fund allocation decision makers at Federal and State levels. An alternate and cheaper option of implementing transit service, present by Chairman Wilcox, generated a meaningful debate and has the potential of enormous benefits for the entire region. The County's role as a technical advisor and analyst of complex proposals is eminently needed and welcomed by all local units of government. It was evident from the symposium that the role local units of government should play in transit development is not defined or even recognized at regional and State levels. It would not be beneficial to let higher levels of government equate regional agencies with local government. We should see that a meaningful decision-making role is established for local units of government. This is a challenge we, as Board of Commissioners, should undertake. MASS TRANSPORTATION SYMPOSIUM October 15, 1974 STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENSE INCOME Board of Commissioners Allocation for Mass Transportation Symposium 167 registrants @ $6.50 Accounts receivable (6) Refunds $2,500.00 1,085.50 39.00 $3,624.50 8.40 $3,616.10 TOTAL INCOME - $3,616.10 EXPENSES Food Service - Addison Oaks 172 lunch/coffee 0 $4.60 $ 791.20 Rental for Tent 439.00 Brochure, Program of the day & Chairman's address & name plates printing. Duplication of invitation letters and postage for brochure mailing and speaker letters Oakland University Conference Department Administrative Charge: 167 registrants 0 $1.50 207.50 40.00 250.50 $1,728.20 TOTAL EXPENDITURE - $1,728.20 UNEXPENDED FUNDS BALANCE $4887.90 Board of Commissioners Budgeted Amount $2,500.00 Board of Commissioners Net Cost 612.10