Michigan Engineering Newsletter

March/April 2022

2022 Michigan Infrastructure Conference

Plan to join your colleagues in person on May 12 at the Michigan Infrastructure Conference at the Radisson in Kalamazoo to obtain the latest information, tools, and technology.

President Biden signed into law the $1.5 trillion omnibus bill to fund the federal government for the rest of fiscal year 2022. The law unlocks the full 2022 increases that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) authorized for highway and transit programs. The Governor signed a supplemental appropriations for $4.8 billion which included significant funding for infrastructure.

With the State & Federal FY22 Appropriations laws in place, state DOTs, transit agencies, water utilities and other client sectors now have the confidence to move forward on both short-term and long-term infrastructure projects. As we turn these infrastructure dollars into projects and invest additional federal dollars from previous stimulus bills, it is an excellent time to come together with other industry professionals to share best practices for making long needed improvement to our infrastructure.

Early bird registration ends April 22. Exhibitor and Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please visit the ACEC event page to learn more and register for the conference.

Governor to Sign $4.8 Billion

Supplemental Appropriations

The “Building Michigan Together Plan," as dubbed by the Governor, calls for critical investments in Michigan’s infrastructure, including:

Transportation ($645 million)

$317 million for road and bridge programs, benefiting both state and local projects.
$66 million to make state transportation infrastructure more resilient to future flooding events by adding reliable generator backup power to all 164 state-owned pumping stations.
$93 million for airport infrastructure improvement grants.
$66 million to improve public transportation.
$25 million investment in the statewide Mobility Futures Initiative.

Water ($2 billion)

More than $1 billion for drinking water improvements, including:
At least $325 million to replace lead service lines, including 100% of lead service lines in Benton Harbor.
$55 million to help communities tackle toxic contaminants like PFAS.
$43 million in assistance for small and disadvantaged communities.
$712 million for clean water initiatives to address storm and wastewater including:
$669 million for clean water infrastructure.
$35 million for loans to help repair failing septic systems.
$20 million for public health risk reduction.
$8 million to address emerging contaminants.
$210 million to repair dams in Midland and Gladwin counties and another $40 million to address the repair, renovation, or elimination of dams statewide.

Parks ($450 million)

$250 million for state parks, including the creation of a new state park in the city of Flint.
$200 million for local park systems, including transformative greenway projects in Detroit and Grand Rapids

2022 Engineering & Surveying

Excellence Awards Gala

The 57th Annual Engineering and Surveying Excellence Awards Gala, an ACEC/Michigan hallmark, was held on March 19, 2022, at the Inn at St. John's in Plymouth.

ACEC member firms were recognized for design achievements of superior skill and ingenuity, industry leaders received awards, and ACEC presented $20,000 in scholarships to the next generation of engineering talent.

During this special event, ACEC/Michigan members and their guests saw firsthand the impact engineering and surveying has on our everyday lives.

This year’s most prestigious award – the Engineering Eminent Conceptor Award – went to OHM Advisors for the Brandenburg Park Shoreline Restoration Project in Chesterfield Township, which addressed a failing seawall while increasing the diversity of the shoreline habitat. The result provides community members with increased recreational and educational opportunities and renewed connections to an improved, diverse ecosystem.

This year’s Surveying Eminent Conceptor Award went to Surveying Solutions, Inc. and Fishbeck for their Blue Water Bridge: Lighting up the Bridge with LiDAR project for the Michigan Department of Transportation. Surveying Solutions and Fishbeck completed data collection for the resurfacing and electrical improvements of the Eastbound Bluewater Bridge. Multiple LiDAR collection methods were used including a Terrestrial 3D Tripod Scanner and Mobile LiDAR scanners on both an SUV and a boat to capture the entire bridge simultaneously.

Additional details about each of the award winners as well as the projects entered this year can be viewed on the ACEC/M website.

Paul C. Ajegba, PE,

Director, MDOT

Amy L. Trahey, PE,

President, GLEG

This year’s ACEC/M Felix A. Anderson Image Award was presented to Paul C. Ajegba, PE, of the Michigan Department of Transportation for his actions and contributions to enhance the image of the profession.

The ACEC/M Vernon B. Spalding Leadership Award was presented to Amy L. Trahey, PE, of Great Lakes Engineering Group to honor her outstanding leadership roles in ACEC and several community organizations.

ACEC/M Names 2022 Firm of the Year

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) recently presented the 2022 member “FIRM OF THE YEAR” award to Michael Baker International at the Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards Gala.

This is the highest ACEC/M honor bestowed and the only award program instituted to recognize ACEC/M member firms for their leadership in professional practice and community service. Recognition is based on actions taken by a member firm to progressively develop its management practices and for assuming leadership roles in community outreach activities and ACEC/M programs that strengthen the profession for all members.

For more information about Michael Baker International and how your firm can win this award, visit the ACEC/M website.

2022 MSPE Annual Conference

Join us IN-PERSON for the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers 2022 Annual Conference.

Attend sessions on major construction projects in Michigan, utilities, licensure exemption, communication, PFAS, and more. Earn up to 8 PDHs by attending our event.

View the full schedule and registration details here. Early bird prices will end at 5:00 PM on April 13.

Nominate A Peer or Colleague for a MSPE Award

Every year MSPE honors its most esteemed members at the Annual Conference in May. Nominations will be accepted for Engineer of the Year Award and Young Engineer of the Year Award. All nominations are due by April 1, 2022. Learn more here.

MDOT-ACEC Partnering Award

On February 3, 2022, the 9th Annual MDOT/ACEC Partnership Charter Award was presented for the partnering efforts on the Michigan Mobility 2045 State Long-Range Transportation Plan.

The award was presented by MDOT's Chief Operations Officer Tony Kratofil, PE, to ACEC member firm WSP and to the MDOT Bureau of Transportation Planning. Todd Davis (WSP) and Brad Sharlow (MDOT Bureau of Transportation Planning) accepted the award during the MDOT-ACEC Partnering Workshop.

ASCE Construction Institute Presents Award

Congratulations to Dr. Vineet Kamat, Ph.D., M.ASCE, who was selected by ASCE’s Construction Institute to receive the 2022 Construction Management Award for “groundbreaking research in construction automation and robotics, and outstanding contributions to education in construction management.”

The award, which consists of a certificate and $1,400 cash prize, was presented during the Society’s CI & CRC Joint Conference in Arlington, VA, March 9-12, 2022.

ASCE Scholarship Applications available

The Michigan Section of the ASCE encourages the advancement of the Civil Engineering profession by qualified and interested students. To that end, the ASCE Michigan Section offers financial support through two scholarships: the Mackinac Scholarship and the Zuidema Scholarship. These scholarships have been endowed through the efforts and generosity of individual Civil Engineers and leading Civil Engineering companies throughout Michigan. Applications are due by Memorial Day.

Click here to access more detailed information and the application itself.

2022 Construction Science Expo

ACEC/Michigan and ASCE Michigan Section will once again be partnering with construction associations, the Black Caucus Foundation and labor organizations to offer students from the Detroit area an opportunity to learn about careers in the engineering and construction industry. This will be the 11^th anniversary of the Construction Science Expo and this year's event will be held on May 17, 2022 at the Durfee Innovation Society in Detroit.

We expect over 500 middle and high school students to attend. There is an entire floor of the venue dedicated to engineering, and we need your help! For more information, click here.

Your firm can participate in various ways including:

Bringing a hands-on exhibit during the Expo at the Durfee Innovation Society
Sponsorship – various levels are available and help to pay for giveaways, lunch, venue costs, etc.
Volunteer – we need group leaders and volunteers to help with various tasks for the event

This year we will also be offering an opportunity for teachers and counselors to attend a workshop during the Expo to learn more about our industry and obtain continuing education. If you know a counselor or teacher who could benefit, please pass this along. They can register for the workshop on the ACEC/Michigan website at: https://tinyurl.com/53jbebav.

If you have any questions or would like to help, please contact ACEC/Michigan. This is just one of the workforce development initiatives that ACEC/Michigan is undertaking to help attract students to our profession.

ACEC National Awards Nominations

Young Professional of the Year Award

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2022 ACEC Young Professional of the Year Program. The Young Professional of the Year Award strives to promote the accomplishments of young engineers by highlighting their engineering contributions and the resulting impact on society. The campaign is designed to enhance and improve the image of engineering by recognizing young, diverse and talented engineers, thereby portraying engineering as an exciting profession open to everyone. Each state organization is allowed to submit a maximum of two (2) nominees to ACEC National for award consideration.

Guidelines and the nomination form are available on the ACEC National website. Nominations are due to ACEC/Michigan by April 29.

Community Service Award

This prestigious award recognizes Council members throughout the nation for their community service accomplishments. The award honors those who effectively impact the quality of life in their communities, and who are perceived in their communities as true leaders. The criteria and application are available on the ACEC National website. Each state organization is allowed to submit a maximum of one (1) nominee to ACEC National for award consideration. Nominations for the Community Service Award are due to ACEC/Michigan by June 3.