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April / May 2011
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FEATURE____________________________

Regional Transportation Summit: April 8

The 2011 Transportation Summit will re-introduce the ODOT Deputy Director for our region, and will feature workshops on complete streets and road repair on a budget. Transportation planners and engineers*, community leaders, economic development professionals, contractors, and others interested in regional transportation are invited to attend the 2011 Transportation Summit, Friday, April 8, 8 a.m-2 p.m. at the Grand Lobby of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza. Registration and the complete agenda are online here . ..more

Public Meeting: Areawide Water Quality Management Plan
Any interested citizen is invited to attend a public meeting to review the most recent proposed updates to the region’s Areawide Water Quality Management Plan (the 208 Plan). This plan details how communities and agencies in our region agree to build and maintain sewer and sanitary systems to protect water quality.

Public Meeting: 208 Plan
Thursday, May 5, at 6 p.m.
TMACOG Boardroom
300 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Suite 300, Toledo

The final plan will go the TMACOG Environmental Council in May. See the existing plan, proposed changes, and details of facility planning areas here. Contact Kurt Erichsen with any questions or comments: 419.241.9155 ext. 126.

Our region’s 208 Plan covers Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, and Wood counties in Ohio; and Bedford, Erie, and Whiteford townships of Monroe County, Michigan. The plan is updated frequently. A plan that everyone agrees with is particularly important in Ohio because the Director of the Ohio EPA must deny permits that conflict with the plan.


TRANSPORTATION_______________________

National Train Day in Toledo
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Thousands of people from around the region are expected to visit Toledo’s Amtrak station on Saturday, April 30 for our region’s annual celebration of trains and train travel. The open house starts at 9:30 a.m. and will conclude at 4 p.m...more

TMACOG Bike Week 2011 Events

There’s a good reason why May is National Bike Month. The end of ice and snow and the first warm days are when most people who enjoy self-propelled transportation pull their bikes out of storage and get ready to ride.During the annual TMACOG Bike Week, TMACOG reminds drivers to look out for cyclists, and always share the road. We also highlight some of our area’s bike riding facilities (large PDF), distribute maps and guides, and encourage people to use bicycles to commute to work or school...more

New Committee: Transit & Rail
TMACOG is seeking regional representatives to serve on a newly expanded committee – the Public Transit & Passenger Rail Committee.  Its mission is to delve into the issues of providing bus, van and rail service in the region. With rising gas prices, a growing elderly population, and expanding suburbs, providing public transit is more necessary and more challenging. Thoughtful leaders, citizens, and business representatives are invited to serve on this committee.  It will report to the TMACOG Transportation Council and provide recommendations for the regional transportation plan. The first meeting is Wednesday, May 18. To inquire, contact Diane Reamer-Evans 419.241.9155 ext. 117, or David Gedeon, ext. 125.

Wabash Trail Achievement Honored
During a visit to U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur’s office in Toledo on March 7, Rhonda Border-Boose of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy presented a Project Award for the Wabash Cannonball Trail to Keith Earley, Lucas County Engineer, and Ron Myers, County Traffic Operations Engineer...more

ENVIRONMENT__________________________

Rain Gardens for Stormwater Control
The first principle of stormwater management is to treat stormwater as close as possible to where it falls. Keeping stormwater out of a built structure of sewers and pipes is cheaper and can be an asset to the natural environment
...more

Flood Rate Insurance Maps to be Finalized
The Lucas County Preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRM) will be final on August 16, 2011.

Over the last several years, flood maps for coastal areas have been updated using modern mapping technologies and charting historical and recent weather records. More accurate information about the likelihood of floods will help homeowners decide how much flood insurance they should have.

Watching the Rivers Run
In northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, springtime is often flood time, particularly when a lot of snow melts quickly. We have tools that we can use to monitor floodwaters and prepare...more

Wolf Creek Restoration Plan
TMACOG’s Wolf Creek Committee approved a restoration plan on March 8 to address the problem of bacteria at Maumee Bay State Park. Swimming advisories due to the high bacteria levels have been frequently posted at the Park’s Lake Erie beach. Studies have shown that Wolf Creek/Berger Ditch is a significant source of bacteria and nutrients to the lake. Many steps have been taken to reduce the amount of contaminants reaching the water – including repair of septic systems and extending sewer service to parts of the watershed. ...more

NEWS__________________________________

Communications Director Peggy Ricard -- 25 Years of Service to TMACOG


Twenty-five years ago, Peggy Ricard was hired at TMACOG as a drafting intern in the cartography department to update the 2010 Long Range Transportation Plan and rail inventory maps. At that time, she worked with the Leroy mechanical lettering set, X-Acto blades, zip-a- tone and Chart-Pac lettering. ....more

Member Highlight
Home Builders Association of Greater Toledo

It takes more than a couple carpenters to build a house. Members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Toledo include builders and contractors, developers, designers, attorneys, bankers, and others. The home building industry was hit hard by the economic downturn but members of the HBA are committed to staying on top of changes in their industry. Membership in TMACOG is one way the HBA stays informed...more

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Upcoming
Events
Transportation Summit
Friday, April 8
8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Grand Lobby of the
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza