MDOT recently announced their most recent Transporation Enhancement (TE) grants. TE money comes from the federal government and it requires a local matching from the grant recipient. TE grants are a major funding source for on-road and trail development.

In conjunction to the announcement, Governor Granholm added, “Michigan’s trails are gateways to recreation and tourism opportunities that grow our economy by attracting residents and visitors alike. Not only do they provide transportation and recreation options, but they make many areas of our state more livable and desirable places to do business.”

While the grants were awarded statewide, there are three within the MDOT Metro Region relevant to cyclists:

1. OAKLAND COUNTY: The city of Pontiac will construct 1.2 miles of nonmotorized trail as Phase Two of the city’s portion of the Clinton River Linear Park Trail. Phase Two will enhance bicyclist and pedestrian safety along this route and will be another link in the Clinton River Linear Park Trail that will eventually extend from the city of South Lyon to the city of Rochester. This project will include a shared bicycle and pedestrian path along the east side of Bagley Street, between the existing Clinton River Linear Park Trail and Orchard Lake Road; then along the south side of Orchard Lake Road between Bagley and West Woodward Avenue; then along the east side of West Woodward Avenue between Orchard Lake Road and Judson Street; and finally along the west side of East Woodward Avenue between Judson Street and M-59. The project budget is $375,720, including $300,576 in TE funds and $75,144 in matching funds from the city of Pontiac.
2. OAKLAND COUNTY: The city of South Lyon will construct a nonmotorized path from Volunteer Park south to Eight Mile Road, east on Eight Mile road to Pontiac Trail and then south on Pontiac Trail to the Salem-South Lyon District Library. The project is an extension of the Huron Valley Trail and is contained in the nonmotorized Master Plan for Oakland County. This extension will connect the rail trail to the southern boundary of the city and provide a link to Salem Township in Washtenaw County. The project budget is $354,969, with $230,730 in TE funds and matching funds of $124,239 from the city of South Lyon.
3. WAYNE COUNTY: The city of Detroit will streetscape cross-streets in the lower Woodward area of downtown Detroit. This project will complement other enhancements to major downtown Detroit streets in recent years by improving the secondary streets that physically connect the newly upgraded streets. The streets to be improved are Park Street, from Woodward to Adams Streets; Witherell, from Woodward to Adams; Adams, from Park to Witherell, Grand River Avenue, from Washington Boulevard to Broadway Avenue; and Clifford/John R., from Washington Boulevard to Broadway Avenue. Improvements will include bicycle racks, scored and decorative sidewalk paving, ornamental street lighting and upgrading existing sidewalks to accommodate pedestrian traffic. This project will improve the area, making it attractive and safer for pedestrians, and add to the city of Detroit’s efforts to make all public areas in lower Woodward more inviting. The project budget is $1,091,266, with $873,013 in TE funds and $218,25 3 in matching funds from the city of Detroit.

Tags: bike parking, Grants, MDOT, Oakland County, Trails, Wayne County

This entry was posted on Friday, January 11th, 2008 at 3:31 pm and is filed under Detroit, Funding, MDOT, On-road bicycling, Quality of Life, Trails. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.