 This morning (Mar 5), Points North on Interlochen Public Radio (91.5 FM) had as their guest Jim Lively, who serves as the Chair of the Grand Vision Transit Subcommittee, which is apart of the Grand Vision Transportation working group. Bill Palladino of Krios Consulting was also a guest on the program. Krios Consulting conducted a regional opinion survey for BATA last year.
The topic? Traverse City Buses and regional transit options.
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 Scientists have discovered that plant growth has tripled in the Grand Traverse Bay over the past decade. The Record-Eagle has this story:
"Far more plants have taken root in Grand Traverse Bay compared with a decade ago, a possible sign of ecosystem changes. Local scientists spent hours crisscrossing both West and East bays last summer, where they counted and measured aquatic plant beds along the bottom. Researchers now point to the study's results as a sign the bay's makeup needs constant surveillance.
"The study is intended to provide baseline data to help determine any link between aquatic plant growth, phosphorous cycling, invasive species and avian botulism outbreaks. Aquatic plant growth could be an indicator of shifts in the bay ecosystem. "We found that the number of macrophyte beds in the bay more than tripled," said Sarah U'Ren, program director at the Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay."
But why are there more plants? Read More »
 The Record-Eagle is reporting that the Traverse City Public Housing may add additional housing:
"The city's most prominent public housing facility could expand, though officials must first iron out plenty of details.
"Traverse City's Housing Commission will hold a study session today to discuss building additional housing at the Riverview Terrace site along Front Street. The 10-story complex, built in the mid-1970s, primarily houses elderly and disabled residents.
"Riverview and Orchardview are the Housing Commission's only facilities, and both are always at or near full capacity, commission Director Ilah Honson said. The commission today will begin to determine if more housing is a good idea.
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 The Grand Rapids Press has this story on Michigan's crumbling transportation infrastructure:
"Birgit Klohs, president of the Grand Rapids-based economic development group The Right Place Inc., says the state of Michigan roads makes it difficult to attract business.
“You bring a company in, you put them in a car and the first thing they do is hit potholes,” Klohs said. “We drive roads that are Third World, and that’s supposed to be the impression they have of us?”
"Michigan is near the bottom for per-capita state and local road funding The Reason Foundation's 2007 Report on the Performance of State Highway Systems gave us bad marks for overall performance, urban and rural interstate conditions and condition of bridges."
To read the full article including potential ideas to raise transportation funds (Gas Tax, Mileage Tax, Toll Roads), click here.
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 The Cadillac News has this story on a $150,000 grant to improve Cadillac's Gunn/Seventh streets:
"Cadillac will use the money toward improving .15 miles of Gunn/ Seventh Street to approve access to the city’s industrial parks, City Manager Marcus Peccia said Wednesday. The project calls for street resurfacing, new curbs and gutters, and water/ storm sewer work, he said.
"The total estimated cost of the project is $187,500. The grant stipulates that the city must come up with the remaining $37,500, or 20 percent of the total cost.
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 The transportation blog My Wheels Are Turning (.com) is reporting that the Traverse City Planning Commission will review their 2010 street projects tonight (3/3) at 7pm on the 2nd floor of the Governmental center:
"In an attempt to proactively address infrastructure issues before it’s too late for changes, a la 8th Street, the Traverse City Planning Commission will review the 2010 street projects and their conformity, or non-conformity, to the city master plan passed in 2009.
"The portfolio for Street Projects in 2010 is below. There are 11 projects to be discussed and not all of them are in need of a major re-prioritization. However, a few seem prime for improvement …here are quick responses in need of further evaluation:
- Cass St.: new parking deck going in, is free street parking necessary–> room for bike lanes.
- Maple St.: Can East/West crosswalks be added/improved at Front St?
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 The Record-Eagle has this story on new eateries and stores coming to downtown Traverse City this spring:
"Springtime is moving time in downtown Traverse City, and several businesses will open new storefronts or shift to different locations to gear up for tourism season.
"Downtown property owners said the jockeying for retail slots is off to an early start this year, as tenants bargain for the best deals in a tough economy and landlords troll for takers amid a soft commercial property market.
"It's sort of like our version of musical chairs," said Terry Beia, a partner in Traverse City Development LLC, a group that owns more than a half-dozen downtown properties. "Some merchants are upsizing, some are downsizing and some aren't making it."
To read the full story, including a list of new projects going in downtown, click here.
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 The Michigan Municipal League has this story on how the House Transportation committee is traveling around the state of Michigan to discuss the funding crisis Michigan roads are facing:
"Due to the continued decline in state gas tax and vehicle registration revenue, MDOT will be forced to leave nearly a half a billion dollars of Michigan’s federal gas tax dollars on the table in DC because they don’t have enough matching money to draw down our full allotment. This is the first time in memory that Michigan, let alone any state, will not draw down their state’s share of federal gas tax revenues.
"As a result of this half billion dollar funding reduction, MDOT has announced the delay of nearly 250 road projects in their recently adopted 5-year plan. This link details the projects within each MDOT region of the state that have been shelved.
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 When most people hear about using solar power in Michigan there is usually the response: "But the sun never shines in Michigan."
Apparently, that does not matter when it comes to solar power.
And J.D. Stratton Electric, Inc. is trying to prove that. They have installed a solar system in Glen Lake and have made the power generation data available through their website. (Click here to see it.)
According to their website, even during a typical Michigan winter, solar power is possible:
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 Mynorth.com has this article on "Dirt: The Movie" playing at the Dennos Museum Center this Thursday (Mar 4):
"It’s under our feet and under our fingernails, but what is it? And how did it get there? Inspired by William Bryant Logan’s acclaimed book Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth, find out how industrial farming, mining and urban development have led us toward cataclysmic droughts, starvation, floods and climate change. Dirt is a part of everything we eat, drink and breathe. Which is why we should stop treating it like, well…dirt.
"Community Cinema is a community outreach project of CMU Public Television and the Dennos Museum Center. All films will be shown at 7:00 pm at the Dennos Museum Center free of charge. These screening events are part of the ITVS (Independent Television Service) Community Cinema program. For more on the Independent Cinema series, including upcoming dates and films, visit WCMU.org/TV or www.dennosmuseum.org."
For the full article, click here.
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