Completing What They Started, Streetwise

[XLFD]

The Michigan Complete Streets Act.  Points of this are debatable, but overall I think it is a step (and a ride) in the right direction.  Haven't heard about it yet?  Here's what it is.

 

7-28-2010:  In a move that will make transportation more accessible to all residents, the House and Senate today passed Complete Streets legislation (HB 6151 & HB 6152) sponsored by State Representatives Pam Byrnes (D-Lyndon Township) and Jon Switalski (D-Warren) to ensure that future transportation plans statewide take into consideration the needs of all users including pedestrians, bicyclists, seniors, people with disabilities and children. This plan is now set to be signed into law.
In 2009, Michigan had the 9th highest rate of adult obesity in the nation, at 28.8 percent, and the 26th highest rate of overweight youths (ages 10 – 17) at 30.6 percent, according to a report by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  If that trend continues, the prevalence of obesity will grow to 44 percent by 2018.

“The Senate’s approval of the Complete Streets legislation is a testament to the importance of creating walkable and bikeable communities where residents have the opportunity to lead healthy, active lifestyles,” said Mike Maisner, Legislative Committee Chair Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan.

Complete Streets have many benefits, including, increased property values, reduced risk of pedestrian-vehicle crashes and increased pedestrian traffic.

 

 

8-4-2010:  Both Complete Streets bills (HB 6151 and HB 6152) were presented to Governor Granholm last Thursday afternoon. Late Sunday, she signed them both into law.

They were sent to the Secretary of State’s office on Monday, August 2 as Public Acts 134 and 135 of 2010.

 

10/21/2010:  Berkley was the ninth Michigan city to pass a Complete Streets resolution earlier this month, and more cities are looking at their own resolutions, as well.

The city voted to adopt the Complete Streets policy earlier this month; now the planning commission will be working on a master plan amendment to address that issue. The groundwork will likely be laid and money appropriated within six months, says Amy Vansen, a city planner with Berkley.

"I think a lot of conversations needs to happen so when improvements are made, they're made in the best way possible," Vansen says.

Novi adopted a resolution in August, and Saline was also an early adopter of the Complete Streets program, passing its resolution last month.

 

At least nine Michigan cities have adopted measures to practically institute the recently passed law enacted by Michigan to consider all roadway users when constructing/maintaining streets.  Street construction in incorporated areas should have had this all along.  The devil is in the details, but Ludington, Scottville, Manistee, Baldwin, Pentwater etc. would be well served in showing their support for this well-intentioned law by incorporating it into their local ordinances.  Manistique, in the U.P., did this two months ago, and this is how they did it:

 

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.

 

Encourage your local community to get on board with Complete Streets protocols, for the safety and health of you and your neighbors. 

[XLFD]

Explanation of what it entails:

[charlemagnetism]

good to see young people getting some good out of big brother for once. this guy looks like he probably biked his way to the capital.

[Mary A.]

Certainly not a new concept in the U.S. Finally we are reverting back to those days when people did walk and bike. This is one of the good things our lawmakers have done for our state. I'm excited about this.

[XLFD]

Novi and Berkley are not too far from your area, Mary. Is this under discussion in your city? If not, call your local pols and see whether they can keep up with the neighbors.

[Guidothesemipsuedocaptitalistpig]

I do believe infrastructure, both in the form of walking biking trails, and better more usable roads are one of the areas Liberals and conservatives should be able to make some compromises to get things done. After all you cannot move products we produce or move raw materials to factories to produce them without some help of the interstate commerce provisions in the constitution.
And besides isn't that what those laws were really passed to provide for? What a concept!!!

[XLFD]

It is hard to argue the basics of this proposal strictly on partisan lines. Government making the infrastructure more efficient is more of what they should be doing, instead of the recent incursions into private concerns.

The problems I see arising, however, is between the politicians and the experienced traffic engineers. This is where the friction will occur, when the correct, logical way to do things is altered because of political concerns dealing with zoning, economics, prioritizing and 'pork'.

[AQUAMAN]

Did someone say PORK? LOCAL NEWS: How about the S. Washington Ave. bridge to be demolished and rebuilt for over $3Million last I knew, scheduled for 2013, another stimulus package deal? I don't know for sure, but it's not in line with good LOCAL infrastructure improvements. All too often, Mayor Henderson has stated the bridge is in good condition and safe, and not to worry. So why replace it altogether now, instead of a fix, that more suits the present economy and state budget woes of present??? It's simply a matter of more PORK in the main meal, imho. Our current streets and sidewalks surely are more needy than this bridge to nowhere! Another sad misuse of funds, imho.

[XLFD]

It is my understanding that 95% of the Washington bridge will be paid for by non-local government grants, and that the local part will be about a tenth of what it took to paint our water towers. I don't blame the City for going after this money, as I think the Washington Bridge has been receiving bad marks from civil engineers over the last few years, and I think local semi traffic have used this route and pushed its structural limits to the limit. Would be interesting, however, to check out the competitive bidding process with an FOIA request-- wouldn't it?

[XLFD]

Taylor, St. Ignace and Mackinaw City have recently adopted local ordinances with complete street language into their charters to push the amount of Michigan communities that have done so up to 20, which leads all states with such communities (California has 14).  We could be the first community on the western shores of Lake Michigan to do so.  Here's the latest link to the progress being made.

 

http://michigancompletestreets.wordpress.com/2010/12/07/michigan-bo...

[XLFD]

Ludington and other local cities/villages lost the opportunity:  Allegan became the first city in West Michigan to develop a Complete Street Resolution. 

The City Council anonymously approved Resolution 10.42: “Supporting the “Complete Streets” Policy for the City of Allegan” on December 13, 2010.   The City of Allegan isn’t stopping there, however. At next week’s Planning Commission meeting a discussion will begin on expanding the resolution into an ordinance along with developing a Non-motorized Master Plan for the City.

Way to go Allegan.

[XLFD]

Also found this interesting video about the controversies that can develop between street engineers and citizens who may have some disagreements about standards and safety.  Kind of funny, but thought provoking:

[Susan Rose]

So Michigan's Local and State governments wanted to  raise taxes so that they can fix the roads. Then they pass legislation that makes it more expensive. The more you build the more you must maintain. Now it will cost more maintain and service the roads. Wow, can people really be that stupid. This is a great video, really sums up a governmental mentality. Government continues to stack layer upon layer of unnecessary legislation just to pretend that they are doing something for the public good when the reality is the majority of the bills are special interest agendas pushed by lobbyist to enrich select entities. So sad.