April 28, 2009 -- The Michigan Asset Management Council will sponsor the annual Michigan Transportation Asset Management Conference, Tuesday, May 19, at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing. The conference will once again provide a forum for state and local officials to examine the relationship between asset management, pavement management and road funding.
Attendees will learn about Michigan's new federal aid preventive treatment guidelines, how utilities influence transportation project selection, and how townships can effectively communicate a local road maintenance plan. Also on the agenda are a panel discussion of where elected officials fit into the asset management process and a discussion led by representatives of the city of Ferndale highlighting the expected and unexpected benefits of asset management.
"In these tight budgetary times, asset management principles are more valuable than ever to state and local agencies," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "This annual conference is an excellent way for cities, villages, road commissions and others to exchange success stories, strategies and best practices."
The Michigan Asset Management Council includes representatives from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Michigan Municipal League (MML), the Michigan Association of Counties (MAC), the Michigan Townships Association (MTA), municipal and regional planning organizations, and the County Road Association of Michigan (CRAM).
Transportation asset management is a process of managing public assets, such as roads and bridges, based on the long-range condition of the entire transportation system. The Michigan Asset Management Council, created in 2002 by the Michigan Legislature, promotes the concept that the transportation system is unified, rather than separated by jurisdictional ownership. The council's mission is to recommend an asset management strategy to the State Transportation Commission and the Michigan Legislature for all of Michigan's roads and bridges.
To register for the conference, contact the Local Technical Assistance Program at 906-487-2102. Seating is limited; early registration is encouraged. More information about the conference is available online at www.michiganltap.org/TAM2009.
MDOT: Working to improve our state roads and bridges.
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