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GETTING AROUND THE GREAT LAKES STATE: A BRIEF HISTORY OF TRANSPORTATION IN MICHIGAN

GETTING AROUND THE GREAT LAKES STATE: A BRIEF HISTORY OF TRANSPORTATION IN MICHIGAN. Mike Unsworth unsworth@msu.edu. OUTLINE. Focus of the Talk Basics Types of Power Michigan Developments The Future Citizen Participation Wrap-Up Questions. Focus of the Talk: Ground Transport.

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GETTING AROUND THE GREAT LAKES STATE: A BRIEF HISTORY OF TRANSPORTATION IN MICHIGAN

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  1. GETTING AROUND THE GREAT LAKES STATE:A BRIEF HISTORY OF TRANSPORTATION IN MICHIGAN Mike Unsworth unsworth@msu.edu

  2. OUTLINE Focus of the Talk Basics Types of Power Michigan Developments The Future Citizen Participation Wrap-Up Questions

  3. Focus of the Talk:Ground Transport

  4. BASICS • Efficiencies of Various Types of Transport • Costs & Benefits: Greatest Good to the Greatest Number • Building & Maintaining Transportation Infrastructure Takes Time and Is Expensive

  5. MUSCLE- & CURRENTS- POWER FOR TRANSPORT

  6. MUSCLE- & CURRENTS- POWER FOR TRANSPORT • Grow most of the fuel and material • Greatly affected by weather & geography • Waste products are relatively minor & local

  7. MACHINE-POWEREDTRANSPORT • Fuel and materials extracted • Reduces impact of weather & geography • Waste products are major & widespread

  8. MICHIGAN DEVELOPMENTS

  9. UNTIL 1850s WATER IS THE MAIN FORM OF TRANSPORTATION

  10. 1783: TREATY OF PARIS MAKES THE GREAT LAKES AN INTERNATIONAL BORDER

  11. Ordinances of 1785 & 1787Set Up State & Local Governments: • Counties • Townships

  12. Roads Are A Local Responsibility: • Expensive to build & maintain • Leased out to private businesses • Primitive

  13. CANAL ERA (1825-present) • Erie Canal (1825): easier access to the Mid-West • Wabash & Erie Canal (1832): delays statehood • Sault Locks (1855): opens up the U.P.’s natural resources

  14. IMPACT OF STEAM ENGINE:WATER TRANSPORT (1817- • Speeds travel on existing routes • Relies on wood and coal, creating a demand for timber and linking Michigan into the national economy

  15. IMPACT OF STEAM ENGINE:RAILROADS (1836- ) • Brings large numbers of people into the interior • Expands commerce: • Agricultural • Mining • Manufacturing • Links communities • Privately run with much government help

  16. BICYCLE CRAZE (1880-1900) • Urban phenomenon • Sparked “Good Roads Movement. “

  17. Electric light rail or “Interurbans”(1900-1930s) • Traveled within & between cities • Enables suburbanization • As with other forms of transit, not always welcome

  18. Motor vehicles:Incredibly Convenient • Less costly than horses • Faster • Gets one out of the weather • Not chained to a transit company’s schedule

  19. Motor Vehicles:Requires Major Investment for Infrastructure • Auto Backers Take Over “Good Roads Movement” • Responsibility for Roads Are Spread Over All Levels of Government: • Local: Property Taxes • State: Gas & Other Taxes. Sets standards and policies • Federal: Gas & Other Taxes. Sets standards and policies

  20. Motor Vehicles: ConvenienceComes With Costs • Fosters Urban Sprawl • Expensive and Hard to Maintain • Negative Impact on Health

  21. WHAT’S NEXT? • Design & Rebuild Roads to Accommodate More Than Cars & Trucks: Include Pedestrians, Bikes, & Mass Transit • People Move to More Densely Populated Cities & Towns

  22. YOUR VOICE • Our Democracy Functions When Citizens Participate • Decision-making Must Be Public: • Open Meetings Act • Freedom of Information Laws

  23. WRAP-UP • We Build Our Infrastructure & Then the Infrastructure Molds Us • Transportation Is Expensive. How We Pay for It Is the Big Question

  24. QUESTIONS

  25. END

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