Complete Streets is Completely Bogus (in Ludington)

[Eve Alone]

X has put out a couple of things on the Complete Streets policy and its adoption by Ludington  Complete Streets.  Complete streets is a street engineering concept that incorporates not only motor vehicle transportation, but the movement of pedestrians, bicycles, wheelchairs, etc.  This was reported in the LDN on May 10:

The Ludington City Council Monday agreed the city will consider ways to improve walking and cycling conditions when planning street improvement projects.

The resolution requires the city consider making city streets better for walkers and bikers while planning the projects, City Manager John Shay said, but does not require the city to actually make those changes.  

In exchange, Ludington would receive extra points when it applies for Michigan Department of Transportation grants to pay for road projects.

Shay, in material prepared for the council, stated that adopting the resolution would not obligate the city to incur additional costs by implementing the Complete Streets concept, only that the city consider the concept when planning street work.

 

When I think of considering something, I will at least think about it.  If it was for an expensive project, I would at least put down or remark on what considerations I had, even if they could not be implemented.  But in the way he presents it, John Shay's itty-bitty heart doesn't seem to be on board with Complete Streets.  So X and I sent the following FOIA request:

On 5-9-2011, the City Council unanimously passed a "Complete Streets Policy" containing the resolution: 

"NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Ludington City Council hereby declares its support of Complete Streets policies and will incorporate Complete Streets design considerations and practices in its transportation projects to the extent feasible based on any planning, engineering and/or financial considerations, as determined by the City Council."
 

Under provisions of the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (MCLA 15.231 et seq; MSA 4.1801 (1) et seq) I am requesting, preferably in electronic records sent to this E-Mail address, or failing that, to personally inspect the following public records:
 

All records of 'design considerations, practices, or proposals' as a result of the recently adopted Ludington Complete Streets policy as they affect the repair and reconstructions of streets scheduled for this year (i.e. North Staffon Street, Mitchell Street, and Dowland Street projects).  Please do not include records that have nothing to do with the Ludington Complete Streets Policy.

John Shay responded in short order: 

I have attached the City of Ludington ’s response to your FOIA request.  The City does not have the equipment to scan or copy the plans for the North Staffon Street project, however, based on your request, you are welcome to personally inspect the plans.  Please let me know when you would be able to come to City Hall to inspect them.

 

We quickly clarified the point in our next E-mail:  In clarification, to view the plans for the project was not really in the scope of this request, so I must decline your gracious invitation.  But, please verify:  Am I then of the understanding that there was no public records that exist between the City and the engineers (or the construction companies) of these 2011 projects that actually address the concerns contained in  the recently passed Complete Streets Policy that Ludington adopted? 

Thank you  for your expedient reply to this yes/no question of verification.

 

He then replied expediently: 

It is my interpretation of your FOIA request that the North Staffon Street plans would address the information that you are requesting, as it would show the improvements that will be made to accommodate the needs of pedestrians.  I would be more than happy to make these plans available for your personal inspection.  Please let me know if you want to do this.

One would have to believe that any special consideration to accomodate pedestrians would have been passed on to the engineers in a written document, so we tried once more with the original:  To recant my FOIA Request (w/o parameters):  "All records of 'design considerations, practices, or proposals' as a result of the recently adopted Ludington Complete Streets policy as they affect the repair and reconstructions of streets scheduled for this year (i.e. North Staffon Street, Mitchell Street, and Dowland Street projects).  Please do not include records that have nothing to do with the Ludington Complete Streets Policy."
 

To conform with the City's Complete Street Policy, one must believe the City Council or its representative should have provided 'design considerations, practices, or proposals' resulting from its duty to provide safe and efficient travel for all (complete streets concepts) on the street projects to the engineering firm.  If they provided none, then your latest reply seems to indicate that there was no such considerations figured into the constructions at any of the street projects for this summer. 

Thus, unless I am misinterpretting your reply, I will take your answer to my "yes-no" question in my last E-Mail is "no", as plans do fall outside my request-- unless the City's Complete Streets design considerations, et. al., for all of this years street projects are in the margins of those plans.

 

This was over a month ago.  Apparently, when the City management considers street projects to fall within the Complete Streets ideal, they do so only in their mind.  Without a City Manager who actually is concerned with the safety and transportation needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, handicapped, etc., the Complete Streets Resolution passed in May is worthless.

[AQUAMAN]

This is NOT the first time plans were never made, nor available for seeing, nor implemented, nor even ever more than just TALK & Dreams by a select few...............not lol. Try the new City Boardwalk talked about by CC Harper years ago, never a drawing nor architects sketch, nor parameters of size ever even given nor available to look at.....sad. More smoke and mirrors imho.

[XLFD]

By what was said at the City Council meeting, and what was relayed to the newspaper, City Manager John Shay pretty much indicated that this local resolution was made just so that the City could get more points for grants.  There has never been any effort on his part that I know of to improve the walkability or ridability of the City of Ludington, and his tenure has seen a decrease in both due to his ignorance of infrastructural projects which should be a priority for city government. 

Any such boardwalk should not even be considered until every sidewalk within a school safety zone in town is paved, period.  Our newest hand-picked city councilor doesn't think so, however.  Les safety, more fluff.

[Willy]

Shay says there are plans available for inspection. Does he mean "plans" as in planning to to something or "plans" as in drawings of the proposed project?

I agree XLFD. FIrst consideration should be to install sidewalks near schools so children are not forced to walk in the streets. I am appalled at how many access streets children use that do not have sidewalks and the lack of any interest by the CIty to provide them. I would think that parents would be in an uproar about this. I just don't understand this "who cares" attitude especially when it comes to the safety of children.