Organization

Ten Michigan Counties to receive more than $5 million

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009

CONTACT: Bill Shreck, MDOT Director of Communications, 517-335-3084

The Granholm Administration today announced that nine Michigan counties will soon benefit from more than $5 million in federal Transportation Enhancement (TE) funding. The funding will bring about the widening or improving of 24 miles of bike paths and paved shoulders across the state, the restoration of a historic brick street in Jackson, streetscape improvements in Big Rapids and Elberta, and a project to beautify the Saginaw Valley gateway area at I-75 and Birch Run. Work on the projects is expected to be completed during the 2010 construction season.
“These transportation improvements provide more bike paths and trails and beautify our streets and roadsides,” said Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm. “The results benefit our communities and local businesses, and are enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.”
Under federal law, 10 percent of federal surface transportation funds are set aside for TE projects. TE funds cannot be used to build or repair roads. Administered by MDOT, TE grants enable communities to invest in landscapes, streetscapes, and bike path development. These grants provide a maximum of 80 percent of the money required for each project, with the remainder coming from state and local government and the private sector.
“The TE program is a great way for MDOT to partner with cities, townships, villages and county road commissions to bring much needed improvements to various areas of the state,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle.

The following projects are listed by county:

Benzie County
MDOT, in partnership with the city of Elberta will streetscape Frankfort Avenue (M-168) from M-22 north and west to the entrance of the Elberta Waterfront Park. The project will include decorative sidewalks, street lights, street trees, benches and trash receptacles and will be done in conjunction with a MDOT road reconstruction project. The total project budget is $452,938, including $362,350 in federal transportation enhancement funds and $90,588 in match from MDOT. 

Ingham County
MDOT, in partnership with the city of East Lansing, will construct 1.4 miles of bike paths along the I-69 Business Loop (BL) (Saginaw Street). The path will be built along the north side of the I-69 BL from Harrison Road to Stonegate Street, and along the south side of the I-69 BL from Audubon to Alton streets. The total project budget is $1,722,083, including $1,153,666 in federal TE funds, $344,417 in match from MDOT, and $224,000 in match from the city.

Jackson County
The City of Jackson will develop a nonmotorized pedestrian pathway to connect its central business district with the Cool City Neighborhood-designated Armory Arts area.  The Grand River ArtsWalk will begin near the downtown farmers’ market at Glick Highway, following along Mechanic Street using existing bike lanes and sidewalk through the Armory Arts Project to North Street. The trail will then follow the Grand River to Monroe Street, including a short spur and bridge crossing the Grand River to Lion’s Park. At Monroe Street, the trail will extend west to Blackstone Street and east to the railroad tracks to connect with local neighborhoods. Mechanic Street is an historic brick street that will be rehabilitated and beautified. The trail will include both bituminous and concrete bike paths, ADA ramps, street lights, crosswalks, benches, trash receptacles, a pedestrian bridge and landscape improvements. The project budget is $1,581,617, including $986,202 in federal TE funds, $300,000 from a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Clean Michigan Initiative ($150,000 funded by The Jackson County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority), and $295,415 from the city.

Iron County
MDOT, in partnership with Crystal Falls Township and the city of Crystal Falls, will construct a 2.3 mile bike path along US-2 from Park Street in Crystal Falls to the Iron County Medical Care Facility in Crystal Falls Township, planting a number of trees along the route. The new path will connect to a future proposed pathway to Bewabic State Park and eventually with the city of Iron River. The bike path will be constructed in conjunction with a road project. The total project cost is $742,799, including $542,689 in federal TE funds and $200,110 in local matching funds with $148,560 from MDOT, $45,088 from the township and $6,462 from the city.

Kent County
The city of Walker will construct a 4.1-mile nonmotorized path that will start at Millennium Park and end at the Walker City Central Park and City Complex. The Frederik Meijer Standale Trail will create the first major north-south nonmotorized trail route in the city and will ultimately create a link between the Frederik Meijer 4 Mile Trail, the Muskatawa Trail, the Grandwalk Greenway, and the Millennium Park/Kent Trails system. The total project cost is $1,700,000, including $850,000 in federal TE funds, $690,000 from the West Michigan Trails and Greenways Coalition, and $160,000 from the Standale Downtown Development Authority.

Leelanau County
MDOT will expand the M-22 Heritage Route nonmotorized system by expanding the existing 3-foot shoulders to 5-foot-wide shoulders from the Benzie County line north to the southern village limits of Empire. The total project cost is $322,692, including $258,154 in federal TE funds and $64,538 in match from MDOT.

Manistee County
The Manistee County Road Commission will pave 4-foot-wide shoulders on Red Apple Road from Cherry Street to West Fox Farm Road to further develop the nonmotorized system just south of the city of Manistee. The total project cost is $186,928, including $136,928 in federal TE funds, $30,000 in match funds from the road commission and $20,000 in match from Filer Charter Township. 

Mecosta County
The city of Big Rapids will streetscape Michigan Avenue from Linden Street to Pine Street. The project elements include new energy-efficient LED street level lights, decorative sidewalks, ornamental plantings, benches and trash receptacles. This project is being done in conjunction with a Michigan Avenue road project, drainage improvements, new curb and gutter, architectural facade enhancements to buildings, building rehabilitation, and signs to direct pedestrians. The total project cost is $894,792, including $400,000 in federal TE funds, $262,000 from a Michigan State Housing Development Authority Vibrant Small Cities Initiative grant, and $232,792 from the city. 

Saginaw County
MDOT will landscape the embankment of Exit 136 on northbound I-75 at Birch Run Road in Saginaw County. The landscaping will include evergreen trees, deciduous trees, shrubs, perennials and lighting. All landscape elements will be designed around a “Welcome to the Saginaw Valley” sign that is being paid for with private funds. The total project cost is $188,409, including $106,302 in federal TE funds, $37,683 in match from MDOT, and $44,424 in match from private sources.

Sanilac County
MDOT will widen paved shoulders of M-25 for nonmotorized use from 5 feet to 8 feet from 0.5 mile north of Walker Road to the north village limits of Lexington. The work will be done in conjunction with a road surface overlay project. When this project is complete, users will enjoy a trail that extends from the Sanilac/St. Clair county line, around the Thumb, to the Huron/Tuscola county line. The total project cost is $701,000, including $560,800 in federal TE funds and $140,200 in match from MDOT. 

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