A Frank Discussion with the Road Commission for Oakland County and the DDA

The Commerce Township DDA has received questions from area citizens regarding road widening and the development of new roads. Bob Shimmin, Chairman of the DDA board, recently spoke with Brian Blaesing, Director of Planning and Development for the Road Commission for Oakland County, who answered the questions. The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) is the county-level road agency made up of local road professionals. The agency has served the needs of Oakland County for more than 80 years. We believe its important to share Mr. Blaesings answers with you.

Q: What are the steps that must happen before a road is widened?

A: There are five major steps to widening a county road:
First, is to identify the funding by amount and source (or agency). This can take several years of talking and budgeting.
Second, we must get commitments for those funds by drafting agreements or contracts with each agency involved, and then obtaining official signatures. This can take many months as we go through various boards and councils for approval.
Third, is Preliminary Engineering or P.E. This starts with a detailed field survey of conditions. Next we draw preliminary plans. Then we conduct an Environmental Assessment, host public involvement meetings and an official Public Hearing. Finally, we need federal concurrence on our findings, and once acquired, we are allowed to complete final construction plans.
Fourth, we acquire the land necessary to assemble the road right-of-way in which the road will be constructed. This could involve one or up to 50 parcels, all of which need to be appraised and negotiated. Some must be legally condemned by a court of law.
And lastly, we send out the plans and accept bids from contractors. We take the low bid, hire that company, sign a construction contract, and have the road built — under our watchful eyes, of course.

Q: How long does it usually take to build a new road?

A: Although it is hard for the motoring public to accept, building a new road or widening an old one, takes from 4 to 6 years after funding is identified. As mentioned previously, funding can take 3–5 years alone, as there is never enough money. On big jobs, it’s not unusual for the environmental work, the Right of Way, and the Construction to each take two years to complete.

Q: How does the DDA secure funds for roads (widening or building)?

A: For Commerce Township or the DDA to get road funding, they need to work through the Road Commission, the qualified public agency, to apply for the 80% federal or state funds needed to make a road widening affordable. Road funding is awarded three years in advance and applications are taken only once a year. That means in Jan. '05 the Oakland county federal aid funding committee will select projects for funding in 2008. Additionally, since the Road Commission competes with all the cities and villages for the limited funds, there are typically requests for $180 million in project costs but only about $20 million available. Thus, your chances of getting funded are not favorable. Of course, if you do get the 80% funding, the Road Commission will pay 10% more, and Commerce Township or the DDA is expected to pay the remaining 10%.

Q: What local, state and national government organizations need to be involved in the process and why?

A: The good news is that, although Southeast Michigan Council of Government, Michigan Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration are all involved, the process of road funding is so well established, that once you get through the Oakland County Federal Aid Task Force which evaluates and ranks all the project submissions and awards the federal funds, your interaction with the other agencies is very little. The Road Commission handles those bureaucratic procedures for the townships because all the roads in the township are under our jurisdiction.

Q: What role can or do citizens play in the process?

A: Citizens can assist, or obstruct, the advancement of road projects. They can encourage or request their local officials to both include adequate township dollars in the budget to match the federal aid and to submit project applications through the Road Commission. They can also appear at public hearings and express their opinions of why the project is needed and how it will improve the quality of life for area residents. There also those who oppose these projects who quite often become the “vocal minority.” Their comments can in fact jeopardize projects.