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Winters keep the Ohio Department of Transportation so busy, they have a well-circulated joke about it: “If we’re not plowing, we’re patching,” said Matt Bruning, press secretary for the department. 

The state maintains more than 43,000 miles of highway pavement that forms potholes as winter temperatures quickly rise and drop.

The post Ohio roads reflect tumultuous winter weather first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/03/08/ohio-roads-reflect-tumultuous-winter-weather/

Elinor Epperson

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In a medical emergency, people generally want whichever emergency service they call to get to the scene fast, but ambulances in rural areas face special challenges to help residents. 

The biggest obstacle for fire and rescue stations in rural areas is the distance between someone in need and the station. 

The post Rural communities face challenges in providing ambulance services first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/02/22/rural-communities-face-challenges-in-providing-ambulance-services/

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Lacking access to transportation is a significant barrier to employment, especially in rural areas and small towns.

Buses are often late because of construction or traffic, and Keson said the Ludington authority is trying to secure more funding for new dispatch technology.

The post Limited public transit options hinder employment opportunities first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/02/06/limited-public-transit-options-hinder-employment-opportunities/

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Michigan may have a sustainable answer to the contentious issue of fixing its roads: asphalt made from recycled rubber tires.

A partnership between state regulators, Michigan Technological University and county road commissions has been looking for ways to reduce the piles of used tires around Michigan

The post Thousands of tires hitting Michigan roads may someday be in them first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/02/02/thousands-of-tires-hitting-michigan-roads-may-someday-be-in-them/

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A bike ride is meant to be a relaxing and fun way to engage in physical activity. For other riders, bicycling is an essential form of transportation. All bicyclists want to feel safe. 

The post Bicycle accidents increase drastically in Michigan, study says first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/01/29/bicycle-accidents-increase-drastically-in-michigan-study-says/

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A charter captain faces prison and a fine when he is sentenced early next year for violating a Coast Guard order to stop commercial operation of his unlicensed boat on Lake St. Clair.

Benajmin Jones, 39, of Detroit pleaded guilty to a felony charge of deliberately violating a July 2021 Coast Guard order with his 39-foot Sea Ray, PWR TOWER, federal prosecutors said.

The post Charter boat captain faces prison for unlicensed vessel first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/11/27/charter-boat-captain-faces-prison-for-unlicensed-vessel/

Eric Freedman

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As the winter season approaches, counties across Michigan are preparing to handle the inevitable dumping of snow, especially on roadways. 

Technology and processes employed have helped plows become more efficient, said Bradley Wieferich, the director of the Department of Transportation. 

The post Reducing salt use on snowy roads proves challenging first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/11/16/reducing-salt-use-on-snowy-roads-proves-challenging/

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Public transportation is suffering from a lack of drivers in communities across Michigan. 

Clark Harder, the executive director of the Michigan Public Transit Association, said it’s a statewide problem.

The post Michigan struggles to fill public bus driver positions first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/11/01/michigan-struggles-to-fill-public-bus-driver-positions/

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Michigan is set to receive $20.4 million from a federal grant to improve passenger and freight railroads around the state, including a bridge project in Wexford County. 

The Manistee River Train Bridge replacement project is expected to begin in 2025 and be completed in 2027, according to MDOT.

The post Rail link upgrade expected to help northern Michigan businesses first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/10/30/rail-link-upgrade-expected-to-help-northern-michigan-businesses/

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Other proposals that the state Department of Transportation and legislators are looking into include converting some highways into toll roads.

The post Mileage-based road tax ideas could stall out over privacy concerns first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/04/13/mileage-based-road-tax-ideas-could-stall-out-over-privacy-concerns/

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People are happy to pay for such services, even if the cost is higher than a regular bus ride.

The post More transit agencies add door-to-door services and ‘mobility wallets’ first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/04/03/more-transit-agencies-add-door-to-door-services-and-mobility-wallets/

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  By Elaine Mallon This is the second story in a 3-part Great Lakes Echo series on sustainable transport in the region With plans for an all-electric bus fleet by 2035, the University of Michigan will introduce its first four electric buses come next June. The $3.64 million purchase of the four electric buses falls […]

The post Four electric buses will hit University of Michigan’s campus next summer first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/02/22/four-electric-buses-will-hit-university-of-michigans-campus-next-summer/

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The Center for Community Transportation launched a new bikeshare service in November, Ithaca Bikeshare.

The post New bikeshare in Ithaca, New York hops on community biking trend first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/02/21/new-bikeshare-in-ithaca-new-york-hops-on-community-biking-trend/

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An aerospace engineering team at the University of Michigan is researching hybrid-electric aircraft to dramatically reduce carbon emissions. The U-M aviation program will follow a design similar to the way hybrid-electric cars use batteries.

The post The future of sustainable aviation could be electric first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/11/15/the-future-of-sustainable-aviation-could-be-electric/

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Public transit agencies in Michigan are facing post-pandemic ridership and staffing shortages. The Michigan Public Transit Association launched ad campaigns in February to address those needs and has seen many great responses, especially on social media, but the association's members still face hardships, and no one knows if they’ll get all of their riders back.

The post Ridership, staffing challenges face local bus systems first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/06/08/ridership-staffing-challenges-face-local-bus-systems/

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A recently launched bridge bundling program by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is expected to repair up to 78 locally owned bridges that are in serious or critical condition. The repaired bridges could last up to 50 years before needing to be fixed again and could potentially last even longer with maintenance project.

The post Repairs planned to 78 Michigan bridges rated in poor condition first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/05/12/repairs-planned-to-78-michigan-bridges-rated-in-poor-condition/

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Although flying cars aren't currently in the sky, they could be very soon. Michigan legislators have introduced bills that would establish an “Advanced Air Mobility Study Committee” to review current laws that affect the aeronautics industry. 

The post Legislature eyes futuristic ‘highway in the sky’ first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/04/15/legislature-eyes-futuristic-highway-in-the-sky/

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By Hope O’Dell Capital News Service In the age of Uber and Lyft, public transportation is still the only viable option for many Michigan residents. “Sometimes on the weekend, or if you catch the right person, you might be able to grab an Uber, but it’s not regular service like that,” said Kelly Getman-Dissette, the […]

The post Dial-a-ride services struggle with driver shortage first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/14/dial-a-ride-services-struggle-with-driver-shortage/

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The Michigan Public Transit Association has launched an information advocacy campaign to fill hiring needs and increase ridership. The advocacy initiative includes television, radio, billboard and social media campaigns and is expected to continue into May.

The post New advocacy campaign boosts public transit first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/10/new-advocacy-campaign-boosts-public-transit/

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Pedestrian safety in Michigan has taken a hit as fatalities skyrocketed by 17% in 2020, even though fewer drivers were on the road due to COVID-19 lockdowns. 

The post Michigan pedestrian deaths rise, safety laws questioned first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/20/michigan-pedestrian-deaths-rise-safety-laws-questioned/

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As electric vehicle demands grow, one focus of concern is how to make them more environmentally sustainable. 

The post Companies team up to support electric vehicle recycling in Michigan first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/06/01/companies-team-up-to-support-electric-vehicle-recycling-in-michigan/

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Early editions of electric hybrid buses in Michigan proved unreliable. But with the return of the wave of electrification in 2021, has anything changed?

The post Advancements in electric buses making green transit more accessible for rural areas first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/05/13/advancements-in-electric-buses-making-green-transit-more-accessible-for-rural-areas/

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Several thousand miles of hiking, multi-use, equestrian, motorized, fishing access and mountain biking trails across Ohio are mapped in a new app from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. 

The post Ohioans DETOUR on recreational trails with free app first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/05/10/ohioans-detour-on-recreational-trails-with-free-app/

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The Upper Peninsula Energy Task Force is calling for Michigan to invest in more electric vehicle charging stations. 

The post State promotes more electric car charging stations in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/04/19/state-promotes-more-electric-car-charging-stations-in-michigans-upper-peninsula/

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Michigan is spending $30 million to help public companies and private businesses buy low emission freight trucks, buses, tugboats and cargo handling equipment.

The post Michigan offers funds for alternative energy vehicles first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/04/05/michigan-offers-funds-for-alternative-energy-vehicles/

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By Samuel Blatchford Capital News Service Amtrak is trying to get back on track after ridership dropped on Michigan routes over 40% since the pandemic started last March. Amtrak operates three routes in Michigan: The Wolverine, which runs between Detroit and Chicago; the Pere Marquette, which runs between Grand Rapids and Chicago; and the Blue […]

The post Full steam ahead: Amtrak focused on resuming regular service to Michigan routes first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/03/15/full-steam-ahead-amtrak-focused-on-resuming-regular-service-to-michigan-routes/

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Large airports in Michigan such as those in Detroit and Grand Rapids have seen a loss in revenue and passengers since the pandemic began. Small airports in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula are confronting those same problems, but the negative effects are bigger.

The post Small airports suffer big hits amidst pandemic first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/03/12/small-airports-suffer-big-hits-amidst-pandemic/

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Causing 154 deaths and numerous shipwrecks, the Great Lakes storm left lasting changes that enhanced shipping safety. 

The post Impact of deadly 1940 Armistice Day Storm still felt today first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/03/02/impact-of-deadly-1940-armistice-day-storm-still-felt-today/

David Poulson

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Federal funding helped Michigan transit agencies stay in good shape throughout the pandemic. It’s the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1, 2021, that transportation authorities worry about.

The post Michigan transit agencies look to uncertain future as COVID-19 related expenses rise first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2020/12/24/michigan-transit-agencies-look-to-uncertain-future-as-covid-19-related-expenses-rise/

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