As reported earlier, the two Complete Streets bills had passed the Michigan House. They are now before the Senate Transportation Committee who is taking testimony on them this Wednesday.

The Michigan Complete Streets Coalition has issued an Action Alert. They are asking everyone to contact the members of the Senate Transportation Committee — but especially if they are your Senator. There is a sample letter on their web site as well.

Senate Transportation Committee Members

Jud Gilbert (Chair):
senjgilbert@senate.michigan.gov
(517) 373-7708

Roger Kahn (Vice Chair):
senrkahn@senate.michigan.gov
(517) 373-1760

Gerald Van Woerkom:
sengvanwoerkom@senate.michigan.gov
(517) 373-1635

Raymond Basham (Minority ? Vice Chair):
senrbasham@senate.michigan.gov
(517) 373-7800

John Gleason:
senjgleason@senate.michigan.gov
(517) 373-0142

State Representative Pam Byrnes said it best, “This bill is not what everybody wants, but it’s a good step forward.”

The original Complete Streets bill would have required MDOT and all cities and counties to adopt Complete Streets policies. The new bill requires only MDOT but encourages others to do the same.

The new bill was unanimously voted out of the House Transportation Committee today and will hopefully get a vote on the House floor before heading to the Senate.

For additional details, the Michigan Complete Streets Coalition has an excellent write up on their website.

These bills still need our help! Please contact your state representative now to tell them to support House Bills 6151 and 6152.

The Michigan Complete Streets also has a list of other actions you can take to help the roads in this state a better place to ride a bicycle.

House Bills 6151 and 6152 were introduced in the Michigan House recently. The first requires that anyone receiving state or federal road funding must have a Complete Streets policy. The second makes Complete Streets, non-motorized transportation, and traffic calming required components of every Michigan community’s planning efforts.

The Detroit Free Press reported:

For too long, supporters say, Michigan has emphasized automobiles at the expense of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, children, seniors and people with disabilities. They’re calling for the state to join a Complete Streets movement that takes into account non-motorized and other forms of transportation when streets are built or repaired.

The aim is to devote more planning and resources to improve sidewalks, add bike lanes and paths, upgrade transit stops and address other measures to serve people who don’t drive.

A secondary goal is to encourage more walking and biking.

From a non-motorized view point, this legislation would absolutely turn Michigan around, put us in lockstep with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, and make our streets much more welcoming to all cyclists.

Of course, bills change. It’s possible that these requirements could be weakened into suggestions and that would be a shame.

House Transportation Committee

Last Thursday, both bills were taken up by the House Transportation Committee before a standing room only crowd of supporters. The Michigan Complete Streets Coalition has excellent coverage on this initial hearing. Among those providing testimony, John Waterman from PEAC and his group stood out. Their message was Complete Streets provide greater independence for many of the physically challenged children and adults.

Two groups’ opposition were noted: the Road Commissions for Oakland County and Macomb County. That wasn’t a surprise.

What can you do? Please contact your State Representative and Senator to let them know you support Complete Streets and these bills. The Michigan Complete Streets web site makes this easy.

A second hearing is tentatively planned for June 10th.

Complete Streets Resolution

The Transportation Committee did unanimously report out House Resolution 187 (and its companion, House Concurrent Resolution 34.) These resolutions “…urge county and local road agencies with the construction or reconstruction of transportation facilities to act in accordance with Complete Streets, Context Sensitive Solutions, and Safe Routes to School principles.”

Here is the complete resolution:

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Vandals mar new pedestrian bridge in Detroit

The Detroit News is reporting on some vandalism which has already occurred on our recently opened bike/ped bridge in Mexicantown.

Less than a day after it opened, the Mexicantown Bagley Avenue Pedestrian Bridge was vandalized, Michigan Department of Transportation officials said.

Numerous individuals have “tagged” the $5 million bridge with spray paint and used knives to carve into a wooden bench in the middle of the span. Others signed their names with pens and magic markers on the bench, officials said.

In fact, an MDOT employee’s video camera caught one woman as she used a colored pen to scrawl on a bench in the middle of the 400-foot-long bridge.

“Yes, it was me,” said Oneita Jackson, a copy editor at the Detroit Free Press and author of Sunday’s “O Street”?blog.

Unbelievably pathetic.

10 tips for downsizing Detroit

Free Press Business Writer John Gallagher lists tips for rightsizing Detroit. He saved the best for last.

10. Use greening strategies to reinvent Detroit.

With so much excess land available, the city has the option to become a much more earth-friendly, environmentally sustainable place. Use the vacancy to lace the city with greenways, bicycle lanes, nature trails, pocket parks, urban farms and wildlife habitats.

Michigan lawmaker plans Arizona-like immigration bill

One state legislator is intent on stopping the illegal inflow of Canadians into Michigan according to a Free Press article.

A Michigan lawmaker believes the state’s law enforcement officers need the authority to arrest illegal immigrants and is drafting legislation similar to Arizona’s new immigration law.

Rep. Kim Meltzer, R-Clinton Township, said her bill would allow police to request proof of citizenship from people who are stopped and questioned on another offense, such as a traffic violation or selling fraudulent identity documents. Officers would have the authority to arrest people who can’t prove their legal status.

Okay, we’re kidding about the Canadians.

Still, if you roll through a stop sign on your bike and don’t have your driver’s license, it sounds like the police would have the option to arrest you.

Do you always bike with a driver’s license?

Two bills were introduced in the Michigan House yesterday which would require all Michigan road agencies to adopt Complete Streets policies within two years as a condition for receiving transportation dollars.

An excerpt from House Bill 6151

SEC. 10P. (1) AS USED IN THIS SECTION:

(A) “COMPLETE STREET” MEANS A ROADWAY OR AN INTERCONNECTED NETWORK OF TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES THAT ACCOMMODATES ALL USERS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES, AND THAT ENABLES ALL USERS TO USE THE ROADWAY SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY.

(B) “COMPLETE STREETS POLICY” MEANS A STATE OR LOCAL LAW, ORDINANCE, OR POLICY THAT ENSURES BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING:

(i) THE ADEQUATE ACCOMMODATION, IN ALL PHASES OF PROJECT PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATION OF ALL USERS OF THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, PUBLIC TRANSIT USERS, CHILDREN, OLDER INDIVIDUALS, MOTORISTS, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

(ii) THE CONSIDERATION OF THE SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE OF ALL USERS IN ALL PHASES OF PROJECT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO AND COORDINATE WITH LOCAL ROAD AGENCIES AND METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS IN DEVELOPING COMPLETE STREETS POLICIES.

(2) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION, THE DEPARTMENT, LOCAL ROAD AGENCIES, AND MUNICIPALITIES THAT RECEIVE APPROPRIATIONS UNDER THIS ACT SHALL ADOPT COMPLETE STREETS POLICIES. THE DEPARTMENT AND LOCAL ROAD AGENCIES SHALL ADOPT COMPLETE STREETS POLICIES NO LATER THAN 2 YEARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE AMENDATORY ACT THAT ADDED THIS SECTION. THE DEPARTMENT AND LOCAL ROAD AGENCIES AND MUNICIPALITIES SHALL ADHERE TO THE ADOPTED COMPLETE STREETS POLICY OF THE POLITICAL JURISDICTION WITHIN WHICH THE PROJECT IS LOCATED IN ALL PHASES OF PROJECT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

The bill does carve exceptions, but they seem to be based on the same reasonable exceptions listed in the U.S. DOT recommended bicycle and walking policy statement.

Also, the bill does create a Complete Streets Advisory Council at the state level to “assist local road agencies and municipalities with implementation of Complete Streets Policies.”

House Bill 6152 would update Michigan’s planning enabling act by adding non-motorized transportation, Complete Streets, traffic calming and more as required elements of a municipal master plan.

If passed, this sweeping and profound legislation would clearly put Michigan on the right track by supporting active transportation and building livable communities.

What action can you take? The Michigan Complete Streets Coalition will likely have some recommend plan in the near future and we’ll be sure to pass it along.