Bulletins

Engineering

Fraudulent USDOT Faxes/Email Resurface

As we have advised you in the past to beware, recently several MITA members have received what appears to be official letters (and emails) from the USDOT requesting specific bank account information. Although they are very official looking on USDOT Procurement Office letterhead, we have confirmed with the USDOT’s Office
Legislative

MITA Seeking a Handful of Political ‘Pavement Pounders’

As you know, MITA worked very hard last year in lame duck to pass legislation providing an additional $1.5 billion per year in transportation funding.   The transportation funding system is in the midst of collapse, and due to the election cycle, 2009 is probably our only chance in the next
Legislative

U.S. House Passes Federal Stimulus Package

The U.S. House of Representative passed the federal stimulus package this week that would provide a $30 billion boost for roads and bridges across the nation and an added $8 billion in wastewater and drinking water projects. In addition, the stimulus package would provide: •    $1.5 billion for rural wastewater
Legislative

Federal Stimulus Could Provide Much-Needed Economic Boost for Michigan

There have been many reports recently about a federal stimulus package that would invest heavily in infrastructure.  Details have been slow to emerge, but there is talk about as much as $1 billion of new highway money for Michigan this year, as well as several hundred million dollars for wastewater
Engineering

Designing Pedestrian Facilities for Accessibility

On February 4, 2009, the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) is hosting a class developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) that will explain how the guidelines and policies of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) are applied to the
Legislative

Key Accomplishments in 2008

MITA PAC had numerous great accomplishments in 2007. Click here to read about MITA’s efforts towards success.
Legislative

URGENT CALL TO ACTION: MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

A three-year effort to increase transportation investment in Michigan all comes down to a single day— this Thursday, the final day of debate for the lame duck session. Policymakers are considering a transportation investment plan that would provide an additional investment of $1.5 billion per year.  In short, the legislation
Legislative

Transportation Funding Plan Clears Preliminary Hurdle

With time running out to gain legislative approval for a major state transportation-funding overhaul, the Michigan House took a step forward Thursday night by approving legislation that would allow for the debate to stay alive. The actual bills that were approved were stripped of all pertinent language.  However, the maneuver
Engineering

MDOT Announces New Design Package Evaluation Process

MDOT recently initiated an on-line reporting system to receive feedback on the content and quality of the plan and proposal packages.  This electronic portal is intended to be the “feedback loop” by which contractors and engineers provide constructive comments that will result in improvements in the next generation of project
Legislative

URGENT LEGISLATIVE ACTION REQUIRED

House bills that would raise $1.5 billion a year in new transportation money must be passed by the Michigan House of Representatives TODAY or else face a significant delay. The only vehicle bills for the transportation proposal are in the House, meaning the House must act today. The primary bills
Engineering

MDOT Moves to Revised Prompt Payment Provision

Starting with projects let in the January 2009 letting, MDOT will incorporate a revised Special Provision for Prompt Payment in all project proposals. MITA worked with MDOT in developing this new special provision which revises some requirements of the previous prompt payment provisions that were believed to be inconsistent with
Membership

Solvency Tax Explained

Recently, several MITA members received letters from the MI Unemployment Insurance Agency notifying them that a “solvency tax” would be added to their 2009 unemployment tax rate due to a negative balance in the state’s Unemployment Trust Fund.