From the Holland Sentinel:

The city of Holland has designated the Seventh Street parking deck as the official overflow parking for the Padnos Transportation Center.

No-cost overnight parking permit hangtags will be issued by Macatawa Area Express staff, located in the Padnos Center office, 171 Lincoln Ave. Permits will be issued Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. until the Amtrak train departs, and Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. until the train departs.

Permits will be distributed as needed at the lot.

The permit is valid for parking in one of the twenty designated, signed spaces located on the upper level of the deck. Vehicles can park overnight but must have a permit. Non-permitted vehicles parked in these spaces could be ticketed and towed.

Passengers should arrive early to secure parking and to leave sufficient time to park in the deck and return to the station if needed.

For more information contact the Downtown Development Authority at (616) 355-1050 or p.fitzpatrick@cityofholland.com.

Source: http://www.hollandsentinel.com/newsnow/x765174247/Seventh-Street-deck-designated-as-overflow-parking-for-Padnos-Center

From the Battle Creek Enquirer:

Upgrades to the passenger train station in downtown Battle Creek are progressing.

The $3.8 million renovation is expected to be completed in late March or early April, said Battle Creek Transportation Director Larry Bowron.

The parking lot next to the station at the former site of the city bus transfer terminals will open in a few days, Bowron said. The lot will offer parking for downtown visitors, Full Blast and employees of Amtrak and bus services.

See photos of the station work at: http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201111020430/NEWS01/311020003

From the Detroit Free Press:

Gov. Rick Snyder said today that he wants action in 2012 on his proposal for a network of high-speed busesalong major roads in metro Detroit.

Snyder also said he believes lawmakers will find a way to raise additional money for road and bridge repairs and improvements to rail and bus service statewide, despite a tepid response from the Legislature last week to his suggestion to raise vehicleregistration fees on Michigan drivers to pay for the state’s unfunded transportation needs.

Snyder made the remarks this afternoon at the Michigan Rail Summit at the Lansing Center, a gathering of rail advocates and elected officials from across the state as well as Obama Administration officials aimed at drumming up support for expansion of passenger and freight rail. Snyder spoke along with U.S. Deputy Transportation Secretary John Porcari at the summit, organized by the Michigan Environmental Council.

Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20111031/NEWS06/111031004/Gov-Snyder-address-Michigan-Rail-Summit-today

From the Detroit Free Press:

Gov. Rick Snyder said Wednesday that the state needs to spend more to repair roads and improve bus service, but he’s leaving it up to the Legislature and voters to decide whether to raise yearly vehicle registration fees to pay for the work.

Snyder suggested raising fees by from $40 to $120 annually per vehicle registered. Depending on the level, that would raise $300 million to $1 billion a year to help shore up the state’s crumbling roads and strapped bus systems. A recent bipartisan study found Michigan needs to spend $1.4 billion more a year to repair deteriorating roads, yet is losing ground as gas tax revenues plummet because higher prices have cut demand and newer vehicles use less gas.

Read more: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011110270626

From the Detroit Free Press:

Gov. Rick Snyder’s proposal for high-speed bus service on major routes including Woodward, Gratiot, Michigan Avenue and M-59, connecting downtown to key suburbs, Metro Airport and Ann Arbor, would be a huge boost for moving people to jobs at a crucial time in metro Detroit, the general manager of the region’s suburban bus system said.

John Hertel said the speedy buses wouldn’t undercut service provided by the Detroit Department of Transportation or SMART, the suburban bus system, or the proposed $550-million light-rail line on Woodward from downtown to 8 Mile that Detroit plans to begin building next year.

Instead, it would help stabilize bus service in Detroit and the suburbs, freeing up DDOT and SMART to focus on better service on other routes, and the more reliable, expanded services could boost ridership and public support for transit expansion, Hertel said.

Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20111027/NEWS06/110270628