Public Invited to Review & Provide Feedback on Air Quality, Environmental Justice, and Environmental Mitigation Reports for Regional Long-Range 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan
The public is invited to comment on the draft analyses for Environmental Justice and Air Quality for the 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) at a virtual public meeting hosted by the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (Tri-County) via Zoom teleconference on August 12th from 5:30-7 p.m. This meeting will also serve as the kick-off for the public comment period running from August 12th-26th until the approval of these analyses by Tri-County's Board of Commissioners at their August 26th meeting.
This public meeting and comment period are your opportunities to review and comment on the analyses completed for potential environmental and social impacts of transportation projects included in the 2045 MTP, titled Moving Mid-Michigan. This long-range vision and future blueprint for our region’s transportation system includes these analyses to examine and address the potential impacts of MTP projects based on several factors and/or regulations that support the fulfillment of our regional transportation goals.
The draft Air Quality Report is intended to ensure that regional emissions resulting from new MTP projects will not negatively impact the tri-county region’s ability to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. These standards establish the criteria and procedures for transportation agencies to demonstrate that air pollutant emissions from the proposed MTP projects conform to the state’s air quality goals and prevent projects from worsening air quality conditions beyond what is budgeted for the region.
The draft Environmental Justice Analysis identifies populations and geographical areas where residents have traditionally not been involved in the planning process or have been negatively impacted by transportation decisions. This analysis considers minority, low-income, elderly, disabled, carless, and Limited English Proficiency populations and determines if any proposed projects in the 2045 MTP may have disproportionately adverse impacts on these populations' health, accessibility, mobility, or delivery of services.
In addition, an Environmental Mitigation Analysis is also being included for public review along with the Air Quality and Environmental Justice documents. This analysis identifies environmentally sensitive resources in the region and provides guidelines to mitigate negative impacts of proposed transportation projects in the 2045 MTP on our natural environment. Seven resources were defined for the purpose of this study, including water features (lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams), wetlands, flood zones, woodlands, parks and recreation areas, cemeteries, and historic sites.
Each of the draft reports can be viewed at movingmidmichigan.org/documents. For more information on how to participate and RSVP to the virtual public meeting, visit movingmidmichigan.org/events. Public comments can be submitted at any time by visiting mitcrpc.org/public-comment, or can be made during any public meetings on our calendar at mitcrpc.org/meetings.
TCRPC is committed to open and accessible events. Contact clerk@mitcrpc.org to request interpretation services, accommodations for persons with disabilities, and assistance with additional needs, including use of the Telecommunications Relay Service, in advance of the meeting.
To learn more about Tri-County's opportunities for public involvement and how we make use of your feedback in our planning activities, view our Public Participation Plan.
