Two programs making a difference in our region

Earlier this month, SEMCOG’s Regional Review Committee awarded nearly $14 million dollars to fund 50 projects that will enable communities to improve quality of life in Southeast Michigan. This funding includes nearly $13 million from the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and over $900,000 in Planning Assistance Program funding.

Funding will add to Southeast Michigan’s regional trail system and improve safety

TAP projects include new bicycle facilities, multi-use paths, streetscape enhancements that improve pedestrian safety and connectivity, transportation-related green infrastructure, and projects encouraging students in grades K-8 to walk or bike to school.

By providing safer walking and bicycling access to schools, filling critical gaps in the regional trail system, and enhancing walkability in downtowns, TAP improves the existing transportation system and provides safe new options.

The 24 TAP projects selected for FY 2019 demonstrate the range of high-impact projects these funds support, as well as the geographic diversity of Southeast Michigan:

• City of Ann Arbor: $485,625 for the Allen Creek railroad berm opening and shared-use pathway
• Ann Arbor Township via Washtenaw County Road Commission: $291,896 for a shared-use path connecting to Washtenaw Community College
• Bedford Township via Monroe County Road Commission: $258,380 for a streetscape and bike lane project in downtown Temperance
• Cities of Berkley, Detroit, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Oak Park, and Royal Oak: $495,380 for a multi-community bike-share program
• Bruce Township via Macomb County Department of Roads: $106,480 for a shared-use path connecting to the Macomb Orchard Trail
• Clinton Township via Macomb County Department of Roads: $1,628,294 for a shared-use path and bridge over the Clinton River
• City of Detroit: $1,200,000 for nonmotorized infrastructure improvements
• City of Dexter: $313,693 for a shared-use path and boardwalk extension of the Mill Creek Trail
• Cities of Ecorse and River Rouge: $509,522 for a streetscape and protected bike lanes along West Jefferson Avenue
• City of Ferndale: $152,670 for complete streets improvements along Woodward Heights Boulevard
• City of Flat Rock: $599,326 for a Safe Routes to School project
• City of Hamtramck: $409,720 for nonmotorized improvements along Joseph Campau Avenue
• City of Highland Park: $336,030 for bike lanes along Hamilton Avenue
• Lyndon Township via Washtenaw County Road Commission: $404,950 for a shared-use path along M-52
• Orion Township via Road Commission for Oakland County: $800,000 for a shared-use path along East Clarkston Road as part of the Iron Belle Trail
• City of Rochester Hills: $481,319 for a streetscape along Auburn Road
• City of Roseville: $539,218 for pedestrian and bicycle improvements along Utica Road
• Scio Township via Washtenaw County Road Commission: $885,904 for a shared-use path connection in Dexter-Huron Metropark
• Shelby Township via Macomb County Department of Roads: $276,518 for a shared-use path connecting to River Bends Park as part of the Iron Belle Trail
• City of Southfield: $455,378 for a shared-use path along Northwestern Highway
• Wayne County: $504,102 for a shared-use path along Ann Arbor Trail
• Wayne County: $154,900 for an extension of the Rouge River Greenway
• City of Westland: $220,000 for a Safe Routes for non-drivers project along Marquette Road
• City of Wixom: $500,000 for development of the MI Air Line Trail

Planning assistance funds empower communities to address local and regional priorities

SEMCOG’s Planning Assistance Program provides funding for three project category types – traffic safety, road asset management, and multi-community planning.

The goal for projects funded under this program is to plan locally and across jurisdictions to implement the strategies contained in regional plans, such as SEMCOG’s Water Resources Plan, Traffic Safety Plan, Economic Development Strategy, Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel Plan, and Green Infrastructure Vision.

Funding has been awarded for 11 projects that will analyze traffic safety issues, recommend strategies, and promote education that improve traffic safety for all road users. Four projects will develop data-driven road asset management plans and/or improve and expand the scope of an existing plan. Multi-community projects involve a total of six counties and 64 communities. These 11 projects include planning for greenways and water trails, corridor improvement and analysis plans, green infrastructure coordination, and solid waste planning across multiple communities.

The 26 selected Planning Assistance Program projects for FY 2019 demonstrate a variety of ways local communities are working together to implement regional plans:

Traffic Safety

• City of Center Line: $30,000 for a walking and biking safety audit, and route planning for the Iron Belle Trail
• City of Chelsea: $40,000 for a road safety audit for the intersection of Freer Road and Dexter-Chelsea Road
• City of Detroit: $50,000 to develop and launch a bicycle and pedestrian safety education campaign, and to purchase and distribute safety materials
• Village of Dundee: $40,000 for a road safety audit along M-50
• City of Ecorse: $20,000 for a walking and biking safety audit along the corridors of West Jefferson Avenue, West Outer Drive, and Southfield Road
• City of Ferndale: $40,000 for a walking and biking safety audit along Woodward Avenue
• Grosse Ile Township: $7,000 to purchase and distribute pedestrian and bicycle safety materials
• City of Livonia: $23,000 to develop and launch a bicycle safety education campaign
• Oxford Township: $30,000 for a walking and biking safety audit along M-24
• City of Royal Oak: $49,000 to develop and launch a bicycle and pedestrian safety education campaign
• City of Westland: $25,000 to develop and launch a bicycle and pedestrian safety education campaign

Road Asset Management

• Village of Clarkston: $6,000 to develop an asset management plan for village roads
• Village of Dundee: $12,000 to develop an asset management plan for village roads
• City of Marysville: $9,000 to develop an asset management plan for city roads
• Wayne County: $30,000 to develop a comprehensive analysis of county roads and bridges

Multi-Community Planning

• City of Dearborn: $40,000 to develop a strategic plan for the Lower Rouge River Water Trail in partnership with Wayne County and nine neighboring communities
• Highland Township: $50,000 to plan and coordinate demand response bus service for six communities to assess and improve opportunities to expand services
• Macomb County: $42,000 for Iron Belle Trail route planning and coordination in the cities of Sterling Heights and Warren
• City of Monroe: $50,000 to conduct a coordinated corridor improvement study of Telegraph Road between the City of Monroe, Monroe Township, and Frenchtown Township
• Oakland County: $50,000 to review and assess existing stormwater design standards and develop model green infrastructure ordinances for the 14 communities within the George W. Kuhn Drainage District in Southeast Oakland County
• City of Oak Park: $20,000 to conduct a corridor feasibility study for Coolidge Highway and 11 Mile Road in the cities of Oak Park, Huntington Woods, and Berkley
• City of Romulus and Huron Township: $50,000 to conduct a feasibility analysis for a grade separation (between Pennsylvania Road and CSX railroad)
• St. Clair County: $48,000 for planning, routing, coordinating, and identifying gaps in the Bridge to Bay and Wadhams to Avoca Trail networks
• Washtenaw County: $40,000 to plan and develop a multi-community solid waste collaboration including seven communities in eastern Washtenaw County
• Wayne County: $50,000 to conduct a planning study for development of the Lower Rouge Greenway, extending through six communities
• City of Wixom: $50,000 to develop a plan identifying action-ready green infrastructure projects for the seven communities of the Norton Creek Watershed of the Huron River

Congratulations and kudos to all these communities on their efforts to improve life for their residents and for their innovative efforts to reach across local boundaries and provide solutions.