Our goal is to keep Michigan's motorists safe, informed, and mobile. That is why MDOT offers many ways to help ease the stress of commuting by providing information that commuters want and need as they make daily travel decisions.
Did you know that millions of people visit the Great Lakes State every year? Whether you are from out of state or right here in Michigan, we want to ensure your travel throughout Michigan is informative, comfortable, and fun.
At MDOT, safety is paramount. It is our goal to improve overall safety for all road users, internal staff, contractors performing work on roads, and emergency responders.
Every year, MDOT produces an updated version of the state transportation map. The department also produces numerous geographic information system maps to assist commuters, tourists, and businesses.
In Michigan, there are three publicly-owned and operated bridges: Mackinac Bridge, Blue Water Bridge, and International Bridge. There are also two privately-owned and operated border crossings: Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.
A vibrant and sustainable multimodal transportation system is vital to Michigan's future economic viability and competitiveness. From aviation to public transportation, rail, freight, and marine, MDOT is involved in all modes of transportation.
MDOT's Office of Business Development (OBD) manages external civil rights programs, such as the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, the On-the-Job Training Program, and the Small Business Program, and ensures compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, equal opportunity requirements for contractors, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
MDOT is committed to ensuring that projects, programs and services are performed without discrimination, under Title VI.
Contractors and vendors who work on federally assisted projects are required to establish and carry out policies to assure that applicants are employed and that employees are treated during employment without regard to their race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, national origin, age, or disability.
Resources for minorities, women, and other socially/economically disadvantaged persons.
The Bureau of Bridges and Structures is responsible for statewide policy, procedure development, and execution to ensure all bridges and structures are designed, constructed, maintained, and operated to ensure safety.
MDOT provides funding for competitive grant and loan programs primarily, but not exclusively, for state and local road agencies for the greatest impact on economic development and job creation.
MDOT's Highway Programs focus on the development and management of the department's roadsides, environmental efforts and policies, and federal-aid highway information.
The Bureau of Transportation Planning develops and implements a comprehensive transportation planning process which results in investments that are consistent with the policies of the State Transportation Commission.
Research Administration supports and promotes innovative research that encourages safe, sustainable and cost-effective transportation solutions throughout Michigan.
MDOT provides technologies and partnerships in order to make the transportation system safer and less congested.
MDOT has ongoing government-to-government communication with 12 federally recognized sovereign tribal governments whose lands are situated within Michigan.
The Office of Communications works with the media to inform the public of MDOT's mission, policies and practices in a positive, consistent and credible manner. The office is responsible for media relations, social media, and website development.
Public participation is integral to efficient, effective and responsive transportation decisions. At MDOT, we want to ensure your voice is not only heard, but makes a difference in moving Michigan forward.
Transportation Reality Check takes on transportation myths and misconceptions, and explains why MDOT does things the way they do.
Resources for the development of quality transportation project documents and services.
Resources for specialized engineering and technical support for construction staff.
Resources for prequalification, bid letting, contract awards, and payments.
Resources for consultant advisories, prequalification information, contracts, and proposals.
Resources for grant and economic development opportunities and project coordination.
Resources for local governmental agencies that regularly require access to state right of way.
Resources for MDOT real estate standards, policies and procedures, and training.
Resources for general work zone mobility guidelines for engineering and technical staff.
Resources for rules, guidelines, restrictions, and permits to safely transport goods.
MDOT's goal is to support the implementation and use of GIS software and hardware through innovative solutions that solve spatial problems and support more informed decisions about Michigan's transportation infrastructure.
The technical training (TT) course schedule lists the various technical training courses offered through the Office of Organizational Development during the construction off-season months for the local agencies and consultants.
The Internship Program offers undergraduate and graduate students interested in civil engineering and construction management careers, valuable experience by working with professional field staff.
TRAC engages high school and middle school students in solving real-world problems, such as designing bridges or analyzing the environmental effects of building a highway.
The MDOT Transportation Career Pathways Program is committed to helping you build a fulfilling and rewarding career in the transportation industry, even if you're not entirely sure where to start.
MDOT's Engineer Development Program (EDP) is a rotational program that provides new engineers experience in multiple work areas while being assigned a senior-level mentor.
The HBCU TDRP is a unique partnership between MDOT and Michigan colleges and universities to offer on-the-job training to undergraduate students pursuing degrees in engineering or transportation-related careers.
The Veteran Internship Program assists honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces as they transition into the civilian workforce.
Engineering Week videos and lesson plans are all-inclusive resources to show early elementary to high school students the career of civil engineering at MDOT.
At MDOT, we are here to help. If you can't find what you are looking for in our popular topics, frequently asked questions or website search, give us a call at 517-241-2400 or fill out our contact form.
MDOT's seven region offices each handle transportation-related construction, maintenance and programs within the region's geographic boundaries.
Governmental Affairs represents MDOT's interests as new or amendatory legislation is developed or moving through the legislative process.
Commissions and councils provide a public forum for policy development and implementation.
Policies help the department implement its mission of serving and connecting people, communities, and the economy through transportation.
Allows MDOT's regions and engineers to expand their knowledge on how Michigan freeways are operating over time and how they compare to each other.
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The economic benefits of the FY 2025 – FY 2029 Passenger Transportation Program have been evaluated using the Transportation Economic Development Impact System (TREDIS). TREDIS is specifically designed for transportation-related economic analysis, making it uniquely suited to assessing the impacts of projects like the Passenger Transportation Program.
The TREDIS model considers the broad economic landscape but places particular emphasis on factors critical to transportation projects. Its assessments, in this case, are based on employment projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and economic outlook data for the U.S. and Michigan sourced from the Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics (RSQE) at the University of Michigan.
The TREDIS Transit System Value Tool allows MDOT and Michigan transit agencies to conduct an economic benefit analysis (EBA) of the impact of Michigan transit agencies on their local communities, in a specified region, or in the state. The Transit System Value Tool leverages Michigan transit agencies’ operational and capital spending data from PTMS (Public Transportation Management System), as well as data related to safety, transit modes, alternative modes, and transit emissions, gathered from MDOT’s 2022 Ridership Survey and factor research.
The Economic Benefit Analysis (EBA) for the Passenger Transportation Program assesses the benefits derived from public transportation investments by evaluating their role in maintaining and improving the transportation network, thus functioning as economic catalysts for job creation and business development statewide. These investments are crucial for enhancing the quality, reliability, and accessibility of public transportation systems, ultimately promoting economic growth, and reducing traffic congestion. Additionally, the investment stimulates economic activity among local suppliers and businesses where transit workers contribute their income.
The table and chart below showcase the economic benefits of a $5.2 billion investment in the Passenger Transportation Program as part of the FY 2025 – FY 2029 Five-Year Transportation Program. This includes federal, state, and local operating revenues, as well as federal and state capital invested in Intercity Bus Services, Local Bus Operations, and capital costs covered through apportionments to urban areas from FTA, such as the Urbanized Area Formula Funding program (49 U.S.C. 5307). The Passenger Transportation Program is projected to support an average of 11,203 jobs annually, including both new jobs resulting from increased economic competitiveness and jobs retained that would have been lost without this transportation investment. Furthermore, annually the program is expected contribute approximately $876 million in gross regional product, $708 million in labor income, and support approximately $1.8 billion in output/sales from Michigan businesses over the five-year period as depicted in the table and accompanying chart.
Download the list of definitions that correspond to the EBA.
The table and chart below showcase the economic benefits of a $5.2 billion investment in the Passenger Transportation Program as part of the FY 2025 – FY 2029 Five-Year Transportation Program. This includes federal, state, and local operating revenues, as well as federal and state capital invested in Intercity Bus Services, Local Bus Operations, and capital costs covered through apportionments to urban areas from FTA, such as the Urbanized Area Formula Funding program (49 U.S.C. 5307). The Passenger Transportation Program is projected to support an average of 11,203 jobs annually, including both new jobs resulting from increased economic competitiveness and jobs retained that would have been lost without this transportation investment. Furthermore, annually the program is expected contribute approximately $876 million in gross regional product, $708 million in labor income, and support approximately $1.8 billion in output/sales from Michigan businesses over the five-year period as depicted in the table and accompanying chart.
|
Economic benefits of FY 2025-2029 Five-Year Public Transportation Program |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
2028 |
Total |
Annual average |
|
Investment |
$999 |
$1,019 |
$1,039 |
$1,060 |
$1,081 |
$5,198 |
$1,040 |
|
Employment impact (jobs) |
10,778 |
10,990 |
11,203 |
11,415 |
11,627 |
56,013* |
11,203 |
|
Gross regional product |
$843 |
$859 |
$876 |
$892 |
$909 |
$4,379 |
$876 |
|
Labor income** |
$681 |
$695 |
$708 |
$721 |
$735 |
$3,540 |
$708 |
|
Business output/sales*** |
$1,721 |
$1,754 |
$1,788 |
$1,822 |
$1,856 |
$8,941 |
$1788 |
*Total employment impact refers to cumulative job-years supported by FY 2025-2029 Transit Program
**Labor income is comprised of the sum of salaries, wages, proprietors’ income, and employer-paid benefits.
***Business output/sales is final sales, or total revenues, by industry. Depending on the industry, sales can be to any combination of other businesses, households, or the federal/state/local government, as defined by TREDIS.
The Michigan Passenger Transportation Program provides intangible societal benefits, besides transportation. Among these are avoided medical costs and public assistance expenditures by allowing for greater accessibility to essential destinations and services, travel time and vehicle operation savings by offering an alternative mode of transportation, and the empowerment of individuals by affording them greater mobility independence. The tables below showcase these societal benefits that are deeply integrated into daily life. They highlight how the program significantly contributes to the well-being and advancement of Michigan's residents and visitors.
|
|
Line haul |
Demand response |
Total savings |
|
Travel time savings * |
$101,142,971 |
$1,557,495 |
$102,700,466 |
|
Vehicle operating cost savings * |
$29,719,878 |
$5,152,985 |
$34,827,863 |
|
Avoided public assistance expenditures * |
$50,623,236 |
$13,976,258 |
$64,599,494 |
|
Avoided medical costs * |
$456,805,651 |
$216,301,271 |
$673,106,922 |
|
|
Line haul |
Demand response |
|
Enabled work trips |
1,677,377 |
463,097 |
|
Enabled medical trips |
1,144,876 |
542,108 |
|
Enabled school trips |
499,219 |
48,285 |
|
Enabled shopping trips |
1,690,689 |
618,925 |
|
Enabled social trips |
1,071,657 |
265,567 |
|
Other enabled trips |
572,438 |
256,788 |
|
Total enabled trips* |
6,656,256 |
2,194,770 |
*Outputs based on 2025 Transit Operating and Capital Dollars.
Descriptions of the societal benefits in the tables are:
The first set of outcomes considered are those that affect users of the transportation system, including both transit riders themselves and those that they may have no choice but to rely on in the absence of transit. Benefit categories include:
Public transit enables some users to take trips that they otherwise wouldn't be able to, allowing them to travel to work and maintain employment, thereby avoiding the need for other forms of government assistance.
This component of benefits considered is the value of providing affordable and accessible transportation options to riders that otherwise may not be able to meet their travel needs to reach essential destinations and services. This analysis calculates the value to society as follows:
Michigan’s rail system has approximately 3,600 miles of track operated by 29 railroads and carries nearly 17 percent of the state’s freight tonnage. Rail service is particularly important for the movement of heavy or bulky materials, as well as hazardous materials. The system also accommodates passenger rail service.
As funding permits, MDOT works with the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC), as well as the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), to provide support to the state’s businesses that need rail, most directly through the preservation of the freight-rail corridors owned by the state and by helping provide access to the system through the Freight Economic Development Program.
Access to convenient and efficient air travel is essential to maintaining a competitive advantage in a global economic environment. While commercial airline services are often the most recognizable facet of aviation, general aviation accounts for 97 percent of the nation’s airports. These airports support a variety of aviation activities, employing thousands of people and creating millions of dollars in economic impacts. Businesses through the state depend on airports for the movement of goods and personnel. Benefits associated with airports include direct and indirect jobs, wages, and expenditures, as well as the economic ripple effects in the community, enhancing economic activities far from the airport itself. In a state like Michigan, airports serve a vital role in supporting rural communities, particularly in the Upper Peninsula.
