Michigan Department of Transportation has received training funds for Michigan to support Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety as well as encourage bicycling and walking through FHWA.

Communities can apply to host these community/regional training courses with the obvious benefit of having your local streets being critiqued by experts to make them more walkable, bikeable and ADA compliant. These courses support a diverse array of current local, state and national efforts including healthy livable communities, complete streets, context sensitive solutions, sustainable communities; just to name a few.

Click the Read More link below for a description of the three training courses your community is eligible to host or to send participates to. The training interest application is due March 25, 2010. Inquires can be made to Cindy Krupp [email protected] or Deb Wedley [email protected].

Download Training Application

Dear MPO and City Representative,

The MI Department of Transportation Bicycle and Pedestrian program is seeking host communities to partner with and make available the following courses:

1) ADA training on “Designing Pedestrian Facilities for Accessibility”

This course helps communities understand existing ADA requirements for public rights-of-way. Subjects covered include: legal policies; sidewalk design; crossings; intersections; curb ramps; construction; pedestrian signals; maintenance; and temporary traffic control. The target audience includes local officials, engineers and planners with responsibilities for supporting, design, planning, constructing, and/or maintenance of pedestrian facilities in the Public ROW. Class size is limited to 35 participants. Courses to be scheduled based on host and trainer availability.

2) “Training Wheels” On-Road Bicycle Facilities

Experience traveling on local streets from a “handlebar perspective”. These trainings help community officials, engineers, and planners better understand the why, where, and how, to add on-road bike facilities. This supports a diverse array of local, state and national efforts to encourage bicycling, including: healthy livable communities, complete streets, context sensitive solutions, sustainable communities, just to name a few.

The half day class will consist of a classroom overview of AASHTO’s Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities followed by a on-road bike tour designed to experience a variety of common situations. The on-road session will accommodate riders of all comfort levels.

We are hoping to schedule this course in May or June depending on interest. A local contact will be needed to help plan the route and presentation location. Optimal class size is 18 to 25 participants.

3) Community “Walkability Audit”

A walkability audit is a hands-on evaluation of the walking conditions within an urban neighborhood followed by a presentation that includes broad design improvement recommendations that can improve the walkablility and livability of the area under study.

Audit participants and community leaders are led on a walking tour along specified streets within the area to be evaluated. Project areas are analyzed for their positive and negative walking conditions, as well as other strengths and weaknesses. At the conclusion of the audit a presentation is given with solutions and practical applications that can assist communities in becoming more walkable.

Walking audits are generally half-day event (5 hours). To maximize the benefits of the audit, the community must take the lead and invite a diverse group of community stakeholders. Walks can accommodate 15 to 25 ideally. Audits would be performed between August, 16-27. Dates are subject to change.

Host communities help coordinate with consultants and MDOT staff; assist in locating a suitable facility for the classes; may provide snacks, refreshments and/or lunches; and assist with printing course materials. They also are key in inviting the right stakeholders to the training.

We look forward to hearing from you. Attached is an application of interest for these courses. The deadline is March 25, 2010. If you are not interested in hosting but anticipate attending one of the above mentioned courses please check the appropriate box on the application. Please contact Cindy Krupp, MDOT Nonmotorized Planner, at [email protected] or call (517) 335-2923 for further information and to request this training opportunity.