This just in from MTGA…

Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance is kicking off the final round of public input sessions on the recommendations for restoration and improvement of the I-275 Pathway on Saturday, May 31st from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Nankin Mills County Park. The session will be in conjunction with the regular “Saturday in the Park” event in which Hines Drive is closed to motorized but open to nonmotorized traffic.

Stop by at anytime during those hours and you will be able to view aerial images of the entire pathway together with all of the recommendations. All of the changes that have been discussed over the 5 preceding public input sessions have been taken into account in the work done by the engineering team contracted by the Michigan Dept. of Transportation.

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Below is a recent press release from the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance.  I am quite thrilled to be in this new position and look forward to helping implement trails within the City of Detroit.

New Detroit Greenways Coordinator: A Boost to City Trails

Detroit’s greenways, existing and in the works, will get a boost with a new greenways coordinator set to begin today.   A lead grant from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan for $20,000 was awarded to Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance (MTGA) to provide the mechanism for coordination and collaboration among eight individual non-profit groups with greenways in various stages of implementation within the City of Detroit.

MTGA has contracted with Todd Scott from Royal Oak to serve in the position.  Todd was formerly Executive Director of Michigan Mountain Biking Association and has held numerous advisory positions related to trails and on-road bicycling, including the Citizen’s Committee for Michigan State Parks, Oakland Trails Advisory Council, MDOT Metro Region Nonmotorized Advisory Committee, City of Ferndale Bicycle Committee, and the League of Michigan Bicyclists.  “Todd’s skilled advocacy, wealth of knowledge about nonmotorized transportation and recreation, and understanding of and enthusiasm for the revitalization of Detroit are key ingredients that he brings to this project,” stated Nancy Krupiarz, Executive Director of MTGA.  Todd has spent a great deal of time in the City, as a recreational participant and an advocate, and he is passionate about the economic, health, and transportation benefits that an interconnected greenway system will bring to the area.” (more…)

The Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance (MTGA) has launched their Trails Finder for Michigan. It’s a new mashup combining Google Maps with Michigan trail information. The trails include everything from singletrack to paved off-road trails to bike lanes.

There are some caveats to this project, as they are with anything this new and cutting edge:

The database reflected in this website marks is a work in progress. Not all trailways have been mapped, nor have we received all the data for existing GIS Trails data. There may also be updates needed for new trails or extensions to trails for which we have not received information.

More details on the Trails Finder

One of the biggest problems facing bike advocacy in Metro Detroit is the lack of organization. There are many groups and clubs, but not a single voice that can inform and mobilize grassroots cycling advocacy.

We’ve met and discussed this dilemma with the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance, League of Michigan Bicyclists, Michigan Fitness Foundation, and American Cycle and Fitness. We looked at one example of a successful regional advocacy group in Flint.

Of course, one big issue is funding.

Since the National Safe Routes to School Conference was in Dearborn at the end of 2007, we set up a meeting with Tim Blumenthal of BikesBelong. As he mentioned ahead of time, he didn’t bring his checkbook, but he still gave us ideas of where else this situation has been resolved throughout the U.S. Unfortunately there aren’t many examples.

Still, this idea is moving forward though with a more limited regional perspective. We’ll should be posting more updates in the near future.

From MDOT…

I-275 Bike Path Asset Management Study

You are invited to join MDOT and their consultants, Wilbur Smith Associates and Wade Trim, at an Open House to review and provide input on the draft results of the existing conditions analysis for the I-275 Bike Path that has recently been completed. This work is the first step in an overall analysis of what will be needed to allow this 40+ mile path to become an integral piece of the regions bicycle and pedestrian circulation system. Information will be available for individual reviews between 3 and 5 PM on January 30, 2008 in the Freedom Room on the lower level of the Canton Administration Building, 1150 S. Canton Center, Canton, Michigan. There will be a short presentation of the draft conclusions of the existing conditions analysis at 3:30 PM.

The project team is looking for local input and review of the draft conclusions before finalizing them and moving onto the development of improvement recommendations. The project team is also interested in hearing any suggestions you may have about trail improvements, possible connections, or other recommendations relating the reinvigoration of the I-275 Bike Path.

There will also be two evening public work session. The first will be the evening of January 30, 2008, also in the Freedom Room in Canton starting at 5:30 PM. The second will be in the Activity Room in Willow Metropark on January 31, 2008, starting at 6:30 PM.

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