What's New
The next BCATS Committee meeting will be the Technical Committee, scheduled to meet on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at 1:30 pm at Springfield City Hall, 601 Avenue A, Springfield, MI 49037.
FY 2023-2026
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP)
REQUEST FOR COMMENTS ON
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
Amendment #3
THE BATTLE CREEK AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY (BCATS) HEREBY GIVES NOTICE of opportunity for public involvement in the 3rd amendment to its Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for fiscal years (FYs) 2023-2026 (10/1/22–9/30/26), consisting of the following proposed actions:
1) Adding 2024 preliminary engineering (PE) and construction (CON) phases for durable pavement marking application on 1.09 mile of I-94W from Stone Jug Rd to Renton Rd by the Michigan Dept of Transportation (MDOT). Total estimated costs PE $450, CON $36,900; both 90% Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program, 10% State of Michigan Betterment “M” funds.
2) Modifying the CON phase budget of the City of Battle Creek’s 2023 Capital Ave mill & resurface with ADA ramp upgrades, from Rebecca Rd northward to VanBuren St, total $1,770,000, to reduce the local share of $874,453 (49.4%) from the City of Battle Creek, to $321,255 (18.15%). The total Fed Surface Transportation Program (STP) share is set to the maximum 81.85%, $1,448,745;
3) Adding a joint Calhoun County Road Dept (CCRD) & City of BC 2023 resurfacing of North Ave from Roosevelt northward to Morgan. Total estimated cost $543,677, 81.85% Fed STP, 18.15% local ($54,328 CCRD, $44,349 City of BC);
4) Moving the CCRD’s resurfacing of S Wattles Rd, from B Dr N to G Dr N, from 2025 to 2023. Total estimated cost $2,024,999, 81.85% Fed STP, 18.15% CCRD;
5) Adding the City of Springfield’s 2023 resurfacing of Harmonia Rd, from Evergreen to Helmer. Total estimated cost $659,743, 81.85% Fed STP, 18.15% City of Springfield;
6) Adding 2023 capital improvements for Battle Creek Transit, including a shop truck with plow, roof repair, mobile column lift/vehicle hoist, two administrative vehicles, and miscellaneous maintenance equipment. Total estimated cost $485,500, 80% Fed STP, 20% State of Michigan Comprehensive Transportation Fund (CTF);
7) Adding 2025 resurfacing of Skyline Dr, from Columbia Ave to Hill-Brady Rd, by the City of BC. Total estimated cost $604,765, 81.85% Fed STP, 18.15% City of BC; and
8) Adding 2025 resurfacing of B Dr N, from 6½ Mile Rd to Beadle Lake Rd, by the CCRD. Total estimated cost $610,874, 81.85% Fed STP, 18.15% CCRD.
Further details of the above listed changes, and other projects in the TIP, can be provided upon request and may also be found online at www.bcatsmpo.org. Public comment on this TIP amendment is encouraged (and preferred) by e-mail to bcats@bcatsmpo.org, or within the BCATS public meetings in December (Technical Committee 12/7/22 and Policy Committee 12/14/22); call ahead or check BCATS’ home page at www.bcatsmpo.org for details on attending and participating in those meetings. Comments will be accepted thru Policy Committee action on December 14th. Direct questions and/or comments to: BCATS, 601 Avenue A, Springfield, MI 49037; phone 269/963-1158, fax 269/963-4951, e-mail bcats@bcatsmpo.org.
AMENDMENT #2 - September 2022
The second amendment to the current TIP was addressed by the BCATS Committees in September, with local approval 9/28/22 at Policy Committee. The amendment package was transmitted to MDOT for State review and forwarded to Federal officials for final review and approval, granted 10/19/22, for the included projects to proceed as amended. The amendment consisted of the following proposed actions:
1) Increasing the total construction (CON) phase budget of the City of Battle Creek’s FY23 Capital Ave mill & resurface with ADA ramp upgrades, by 53.7% to $1,770,000. The increase reflects the new inclusion of the section from Fairfield to Weeks, establishing the project limits as the contiguous segment of Capital Ave from Rebecca Rd northward to VanBuren St, as well as general inflated costs. Total Federal Surface Transportation Program $895,547; total City of Battle Creek $874,453; and
2) Increasing the total CON budget of the Michigan Dept of Transportation’s FY23 bridge rehabilitation at M-96 (Columbia Ave) over I-194/M-66, by 31.7% to $3,498,460. The increase is mainly due to underestimate of original budget, increase in unit prices, bringing up to standard the ramp terminals, additional work to improve superelevation and cross slope, and crown adjustment. Total Fed Interstate Maintenance & Fed Surface Transportation Program $3,138,822; total State of Michigan Betterment “M” funds $329,821; total City of BC $96,057.
FY 2023-2026
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP)
Complete TIP Document Available HERE
FY23-26 TIP Project List from document with Maps
The FY 2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the BCATS area was unanimously approved by both BCATS' Technical and Policy Committees on May 11th and May 25th respectively. The full document was transmitted July 1st to MDOT for State review and was forwarded to Federal officials for final review and approval, granted 9/19/22. The new TIP will go into effect on October 1, 2022, the first day of FY23. The list of projects selected for the FY23-26 TIP was also transmitted July 1st to MDOT through JobNet, the State's online database program for managing transportation improvement projects, and is also now Fed-approved for the selected projects, particularly those planned for FY23 implementation, to proceed after October 1st. The establishment of the new TIP for FY23-26 with FY24-26 projects added to FY23 projects carried over from the previous TIP is considered Amendment #1 to the FY23-26 TIP.
The new TRANSPORTATION CONFORMITY DETERMINATION REPORT associated with the development of the BCATS 2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program was finalized and is available to view below:
Questions about the Report can be directed to BCATS at bcats@bcatsmpo.org.
FY 2020-2023
The 17th Amendment to the current TIP was addressed by the BCATS Committees in August, with local approval 8/24/22 at Policy Committee. The amendment package was transmitted to MDOT for State review and forwarded to Federal officials for final review and approval, granted 9/7/22, for the included projects to proceed as amended.
The initial Request for Comments on this Amendment, as published in the Battle Creek Enquirer 8/3/22, identified proposed action to add a FY22 transit project for the Marian Burch Adult Day Care to replace one vehicle with a Small (<30'), Light-Duty Bus, 138 in. wheelbase, w/lift, gas engine, at a total cost of $56,360 (80% Federal Transit Administration Section 5310 - Elderly & Disabled, 20% State Comprehensive Transportation Fund).
Subsequent to publication of that notice, an additional project was identified by MDOT's Rail Division for amendment by BCATS, and was announced to be added to this amendment in a public notice Request for Comments published in the Battle Creek Enquirer 8/10/22. The project will enhance the current road resurfacing project on M-37 (Helmer Rd). In spring 2023, the Grand Trunk Western Railroad will be upgrading the active warning devices at the railroad crossing on M-37 (Helmer Rd) just south of Avenue A in the City of Springfield. The total project cost is $84,975 ($76,478 Federal, $8,498 State).
At its May 2022 meetings the BCATS Technical and Policy Committees reviewed and unanimously approved the sixteenth amendment to BCATS' Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for fiscal years (FYs) 2020-2023 (10/1/19–9/30/23). This amendment to the current TIP consists of thirteen actions outlined in copy of the text of the public notice announcing the amendment and copy of page 2A from the 5/6/22 Battle Creek Enquirer where it was published, available here. The amendment package was transmitted to MDOT for State review and forwarded to Federal officials for final review and approval, granted 6/22/22, for the included projects to proceed as amended.
At its February 23, 2022 meeting the BCATS Policy Committee unanimously approved the fifteenth amendment to BCATS' Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for fiscal years (FYs) 2020-2023 (10/1/19–9/30/23), consisting of eleven actions outlined here. The amendment package was transmitted to MDOT for State review and forwarded to Federal officials for final review and approval, granted 3/29/22, for the included projects to proceed as amended.
BCATS' FY 2023 Unified Work Program (UWP) is available to view at this link. The BCATS Committees acted upon the FY 2023 UWP document in May. The locally approved document has been forwarded to MDOT for submittal to the federal funding sources for final approval.
2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan
BCATS' 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan has been completed and was approved by the BCATS Policy Committee on February 23, 2022. The full 222-page document can be viewed here, or view the Executive Summary here.
FY 2020-2023
BCATS' FY20-23 TIP was approved by BCATS' Technical and Policy Committees in January 2022 to be amended with the changes listed below numbered 1-9. Following BCATS Policy Committee formal approval on 1/26/22, the amendment was transmitted to MDOT for review and then on to the Federal Highway Administration which issued its final approval on 2/8/222. All the projects listed below can now proceed as amended.
1) Increasing the 2022 construction phase (CON) total estimated cost, by 27.4%, of Michigan Dept of Transportation (MDOT) bridge rehabilitation on the I-94BL (Michigan Ave) bridge over I-94, due to refined cost estimates. Updated total CON budget $1,185,000 [90% Fed Interstate Maintenance (IM), 10% State of Michigan Betterment "M" funds];
2) Increasing the 2022 CON total estimated cost, by 25.2%, of MDOT Capital Preventive Maintenance (CPM) on the I-94 bridges over Riverside Dr, due to refined cost estimates. Updated total CON budget $1,134,000 (90% Fed IM, 10% State "M");
3) Increasing the 2022 CON total estimated cost, by 39.6%, of MDOT CPM on the I-194/M-66 bridges over I-94, due to refined cost estimates. Updated total CON budget $2,449,366 (90% Fed IM, 10% State "M");
4) Abandoning the $50,000 right-of-way (ROW) phase (due to elimination of any real estate work), and changing the primary job scope of CON to Bridge Replacement (from Road Rehab), for MDOT’s 2022-25 bridge replacements and milling & asphalt resurfacing on I-94 from Helmer Rd eastward to M-311. Total CON budget $118,950,020 [$9,000,000 Fed IM, $109,950,020 State Rebuilding Michigan Program (RBMP)];
5) Adding 2023 CPM by MDOT on road segments of M-37 in Bedford Twp, and of M-66 and M-78 in Pennfield Twp. Total CON budget $830,000 (81.85% Fed Surface Transportation (ST), 18.15% State "M");
6) Adding 2023 tree removal & clearing along 2.4 miles of 1 Mile Rd from M-89 northward to U Dr N, by the Calhoun County Road Dept (CCRD). Total CON budget $173,000 [90% Fed Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), 10% CCRD];
7) Adding 2023 installation of recessed wet reflective centerline & edgeline pavement markings on 1.5 miles of Morgan Rd from North Ave eastward to M-66, by CCRD. Total CON budget $52,669 (90% Fed HSIP, 10% CCRD);
8) Adding 2023 installation of an overhead flashing beacon at the Helmer Rd S/Potters Dr intersection, by the City of Battle Creek. Total CON budget $30,000 (80% Fed HSIP, 20% City BC); and
9) Increasing the 2022 CON total estimated cost, by 23.8% (due to expected cost escalation over three years of project work and addition of ramps at Old US-27), of MDOT CPM on 6.2 miles of I-94 from I-94BL (Michigan Ave) eastward to 17½ Mile Rd. Updated total CON budget $6,250,000 (90% Fed IM, 10% State "M").
FY 2020-2023
BCATS' FY20-23 TIP was approved by BCATS Technical and Policy Committees to be amended in September 2021 with the following changes :
1) Adding a 2022 Calhoun County Road Dept (CCRD) project to resurface Beadle Lake Rd from B Dr N northward to I-94. Total budgeted amount $290,422 [$156,329 Fed Highway Infrastructure Program (HIP) COVID Relief, $74,321 Fed HIP regular, $59,772 CCRD];
3) Reducing the construction phase budget of MDOT’s planned 2022 milling and two course asphalt resurfacing with sidewalk ramp improvements on M-37 (Helmer Rd/Bedford Rd) from Dickman Rd northward to Creekview Dr, by 18.3% to $5,570,000, due to updated cost estimate; and
4) Confirming preliminary engineering to run from May/2022 to Feb/2025, and construction in Mar-Dec/2025, for MDOT’s $2.7M sign replacement activity on most non-freeway State trunklines in Calhoun County, extending the project into the next FY23-26 TIP.
Amendment #12
BCATS' FY20-23 TIP was amended locally in May 2021 with changes outlined in a public notice in the Battle Creek Enquirer on Wednesday, 5/5/21 (pA4), and viewable here. Notification of Federal approval was received 5/27/21. The amendment consisted of the following changes:
1) Deleting the City of Battle Creek’s planned 2021 replacement of the signalized intersection of North Ave and Emmett St with a roundabout, at a total estimated cost of $956,940 [$600,000 Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), $257,713 Fed Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ), and $99,227 City];
2) Adding a 2021 Battle Creek Transit (BCT) project for bus stop shelter relocations and fixed-route redesign, marketing/outreach, and fare subsidies for “clean air” (high ozone) days. Total budgeted amount $322,141 [$257,713 Fed CMAQ (from deleted North Ave/Emmett St roundabout project), and $64,428 State of Michigan Comprehensive Transportation Fund (CTF)];
3) Adding a 2021 BCT project to replace up to 25 bus stop shelters. Total budgeted amount $375,000 (100% Fed Highway Infrastructure Program - COVID Relief, notice in BC Enquirer incorrectly listed additional $93,750 State CTF); and
4) Deleting the preliminary engineering phase (PE), as determined not needed, from the Michigan Dept of Transportation’s 2021 Durable Pavement Marking Application on State trunklines in the BCATS metropolitan planning area. PE phase $450, construction phase $36,000; both 90% Fed HSIP, 10% State of Michigan Betterment “M” funds.
Amendment #10
BCATS' FY20-23 TIP was amended locally in January 2021 with changes outlined in a public notice in the Battle Creek Enquirer on Thursday, 1/7/21 (pA4), and viewable here. Notification of Federal approval was received 3/19/21. The amendment consisted of the following additions:
1) FY21 transit capital assistance for Battle Creek Transit to continue a Mobility Management model to coordinate countywide transportation & implement a centralized dispatch system between multiple providers. Total budgeted amount $82,500; 80% Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 (Elderly & Disabled), 20% State of Michigan Comprehensive Transportation Fund (CTF);
2) FY21 transit operating assistance for Battle Creek Transit to continue a New Freedom effort to operate demand response service for seniors, persons w/ disabilities, and the general public beyond the existing fixed route hours and boundaries. Total budgeted amount $459,990; 50% FTA Sec5310 (Elderly & Disabled), 50% Local - City of Battle Creek; (% split corrected to 50/50, from 80/20, and non-Fed $ corrected to Local, from State, from version of notice published in newspaper)
3) FY22 local safety project of Calhoun County Road Dept (CCRD) for tree removal along 5.4 miles of county roads: H Dr S from 6 Mi Rd eastward to 7½ Mi Rd, 12 Mi Rd from B Dr S southward to I Dr S, and 7 Mi Rd from K Dr S southward to Newton/Burlington townships line. Total budgeted amount $439,776; 90% Fed High Risk Rural Roads (HRRR), 10% CCRD;
4) FY22 local safety project of CCRD for installation of overhead flashing beacons at intersection of U Dr N and 1 Mi Rd in Bedford Township. Total budgeted amount $27,372; 90% Fed HRRR, 10% CCRD; and
5) FY21 preliminary engineering (PE) for the Michigan Dept of Transportation’s planned FY24, $4.5M reconstruction of the Battle Creek rest area building on eastbound I-94 between Helmer & Capital. Total budgeted amount for PE $520,000, 100% State “M” funds - Michigan Betterment.
(the original document of the current TIP, which was approved by the BCATS Policy Committee on June 19, 2019, and by federal funding sources on Sept. 26, 2019, is available online HERE in electronic "pdf" format
The FY 2020-2023 Transportation Improvement Program was approved by federal funding sources and went into effect as of October 1, 2019.