The gas pump made a squeaking noise as Mike Potvin filled his Chevy van’s tank last week at the Shell station, 1765 M-15.
‘Even the pump squeals,? said Potvin, who is disgusted with how much gasoline costs, last week around $2.70 at most stations. ‘Prices are out of sight.?
Those prices were expected to continue spiraling upward following Hurricane Katrina, which struck the gulf coast Aug. 29.
‘It’s another excuse for them raise it a mile,? said Potvin, an Ortonville resident. ‘It’s all about money.?
Potvin has changed his driving habits. He is not driving as far as he used to. He likes to travel up north, but now he stays longer and makes less frequent trips, since it costs $100 for him to go to Hubbard Lake, in Alcona County.
Richard Nichols, filling a GMC Envoy, said gas prices will not change his habits. The Ortonville resident is resigned to the higher cost and said he would actually like to see gas be $3.50 a gallon.
‘That is the threshold at which the government will mandate additional refineries with ethanol capabilities,? said Nichols, recently retired from GMAC headquarters in Detroit. ‘What’s irritating is there is so much greed. The oil companies and the distributors are making record profits and the government is letting them get away with it.?
Potvin said the higher prices are really hurting people who are on fixed incomes, such as senior citizens.
Faye Yow, a 76-year-old Brandon Township resident, falls into that category.
‘If it keeps going up, I don’t know what we’ll do,? said Yow. ‘I think Bush should do something about it.?
While customers grapple with the soaring gas prices officials from the Michigan Department of Transportation are contemplate resolving gas usage.
In the spring of 2004 MDOT conducted a study that measured peak hour traffic on M-15 between Richfield Road (north of Davison) to the Oakland-Genesee county line. Positioning video cameras along M-15 at Richfield Road, Lippencott Boulevard and the Oakland-Genesee county line, vehicles were tracked heading south in the morning and north bound traffic was recorded in the evening.
According to the study about 37 percent of the vehicles during those time periods that crossed the Oakland-Genesee county line started (or ended) their journey at I-69. About 15 percent originated or ended at Richfield Road. About 25 percent are going into the City of Davison or onto I-69.
The data which was collected April 26, 27 and 28, seems to indicate that commuter traffic from I-69 comprises a high percentage of the approximately 13,000 traveling M-15 each day.
‘From that study MDOT is now seeking a strip of land near the intersection of M-15 and I-69 for a car pool lot,? said Dave Geiger, MDOT regional transportation planner.
‘MDOT would consider a lease and mark it as a public lot. The land is very expensive. We looked at land within our highway interchange too, but there’s a real safety concern.?
Plans for a new car pool lot is also being considered in Genesee County near Saginaw Street, Dixie Highway and I-75 about a mile from the Oakland and Genesee county line. The parcel of land located on MDOT property within the highway exchange will provide parking for about 70 cars, says Mike Hemmingsen, MDOT Genesee and Lapeer Transportation Service center manager.
‘The new lot in Grand Blanc Township is contingent on funding next year,? said Hemmingsen. ‘By reducing the number of vehicles on the road we’re also helping the air quality in the area. There are dollars available from the federal government to help with those projects.?