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On Thursday, Septermber 23, Saline City Council voted unanimously to approve a Complete Streets ordinance after viewing a brief presentation on it. A public hearing was held recently to explain the benefits of “complete streets” to the general public. Saline becomes the 2nd Michigan community to pass an ordinance, accompanied by eight resolutions across Michigan.
The legislation requires that all people who use public roadways be considered as future road construction plans are laid out, including motorists, walkers, bicyclists and wheelchair users.
Director of Public Works Jeff Fordice said the benefits of complete streets are numerous. He said the ordinance is about creating safe roadways for people of all ages and abilities
Want to know which federal funding program is right for your bicycling or walking project?
Check out this federal program factsheet from our friends at America Bikes! Also see LMB’s Toolkit article with more details on additional funding sources to consider for your bicycling or walking project.
Downtown Manistique, Michigan.
On Monday September 13, 2010, the Manistique City Council unanimously passed a Complete Streets Resolution – making them only the second city in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to do so!
The Manistique Strategic Alliance for Health Coalition in partnership with the City of Manistique first started working on the Complete Streets project after Walkable Communities Expert, Dan Burden, conducted a walking audit and training in Manistique in October 2009.
After months of presentations in the community, and working with City Administration and members of the City Council, the draft Complete Streets resolution was presented in August of 2010. This came only weeks after Governor Jennifer Granholm signed two new bills into law requiring MDOT to develop a Complete Streets plan and for communities to consider all users as they design and construct streets, sidewalks, bikepaths and other transportation infrastructure.
The City Council and leadership of the City of Manistique, is to be commended as they understand the benefits that Complete Streets can bring to the health of our citizens and the economic health and vitality of our community. The key now is to work to secure funding that can begin to make these infrastructure changes a reality, and improve accessibility for all transportation users in the City of Manistique: pedestrians, bicyclists, motor vehicles and other users.
The City of Manistique is a town of about 3000 residents, located on the shore of Lake Michigan in the Upper Peninsula.
For more information on the Manistique Complete Streets Resolution, please contact Kerry Ott, Strategic Alliance for Health Community Coordinator at 906-341-9561 or [email protected].
Complete Streets Resolution for Manistique, Michigan
Passed by unanimous vote of the Manistique City Council on September 13, 2010
WHEREAS, increasing walking and bicycling offers the potential for greater health of the population, and more livable communities; and
WHEREAS, A Complete Street is safe, comfortable, and convenient for travel by automobile, foot, bicycle, and transit regardless of age or ability, and
WHEREAS, The Michigan Legislature has passed Complete Streets legislation that requires the Michigan Department of Transportation and local governments to consider all users in transportation related projects; and
WHEREAS, the Michigan Planning Enabling Act has been amended, requiring that all transportation improvements identified in a plan are appropriate to the context of the community and considers all legal users of the public right of way; and
WHEREAS, Complete Streets support economic growth and community stability by providing accessible and efficient connections between home, school, work, recreation and retail destinations by improving the pedestrian and vehicular environments throughout communities; and
WHEREAS, Complete Streets enhance safe walking and bicycling options for school-age children, in recognition of the objectives of the national Safe Routes to School program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Manistique recognizes the importance of street infrastructure and modifications such as sidewalks, crosswalks, shared use paths, bicycle lanes, signage, narrow vehicle lanes and accessible curb ramps, that enable safe, convenient, and comfortable travel for all users; therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Manistique, to the extent feasible, will include Complete Streets design considerations and practices as a routine part of infrastructure planning and implementation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Manistique supports the future development of a non-motorized transportation plan and a Complete Streets ordinance that supports ease of use and safety for all users of transportation systems within the City of Manistique.
The Jackson County Health Department and Fitness Council of Jackson is hosting a FREE Complete Streets training on October 5th, 2010. Breakfast will be
provided.
Location: Jackson County Health Department, Room 005
1715 Lansing Ave, Jackson, Michigan
Time: 7:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m.
Don’t miss this chance to learn how complete streets policies can transform your community!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
8:00 am - 1:30 pm
Sarvis Center, Flint
Bring a community team including local policymakers, engineers, planners, and advocates and join us for this FREE Complete Streets training to learn the basics at Breakfast from 8-9:30 or join us until 1:30 to learn how Complete Streets policies can transform transportation planning to create a more vibrant community!
Bradley Strader, AICP, PTP
LSL Planning, Inc
will present everything you need to know about Complete Streets policies and help your community team develop policy language that will fit your community!
Have all your questions answered regarding policy planning and implementation from the experts in Genesee County.
Breakfast and lunch provided
You are encouraged to form a community team of at least three people to attend; however, all individuals must register. Register by Friday, September 24 to reserve your spot! Please complete the the registration form on the Crim Fitness Foundation website
Holly Madill, the Complete Streets coordinator for the Michigan Department of Community Health, presents to the Jonesville Village Council on Complete Streets on Wednesday, September. 1, 2010.
“Complete Streets is about the context and personality of a community,” Madill said.
Madill also stressed mobile equity and choice. “There should be a choice on how to get where you need to go, and that choice should be available to everyone,” she said.
Governor Granholm held a ceremonial bill signing ceremony for the Complete Streets legislation last Thursday in her ceremonial office in the State Capitol. Numerous Complete Streets Coalition partners, including League of Michigan Bicyclists, Michigan Environmental Council, AARP, Michigan Fitness Foundation, Program to Educate All Cyclists, DD Council, Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance, Michigan Department of Community Health, American Hearth Association and the Michigan Municipal League were all invited to the ceremony and thanked by the Governor and the legislative sponsors for our involvement.
View more photos from the bill signing on the Michigan Municipal League’s Flickr page.
Photo by Matt Bach, Michigan Municipal League.
