Detroit Endorses Non-Motorized Master Plan

21st September 2008

Last Tuesday, the full Detroit City Council approved two resolutions relating to an MDOT-funded Non-Motorized Transportation Master Plan.

Giffels-Webster along with other firms and the City of Detroit developed the plan, which calls for various improvements for walking and biking in Detroit, including greenways and nearly 400 miles of bike lanes.

Link to Detroit Non-motorized Transportation Master Plan

While this plan had been accepted by Detroit Traffic Engineering, it wasn’t getting implemented. And, since it had not been endorsed by City Council, MDOT had reservations about whether it was truly official.

MTGA and others vowed to change that.

We worked to get the plan formally presented to Council President (now Mayor) Ken Cockrel Jr.’s Green Task Force. We received a very favorable response.

Next, the plan was presented to the city council’s Public Health and Safety Committee. With a solid showing of public support, the committee created resolutions to approve it. Those resolutions were approved last week by the full council.

Both resolutions are shown below. The first endorses the plan while the second urges Detroit’s mayor to implement it.

RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE NON-MOTORIZED MASTER PLAN FOR THE CITY OF DETROIT

WHEREAS the benefits of bicycle lanes, trail systems, and other greenways for non- motorized transportation have generally long been recognized and are being addressed in an urban contexts, including the City of Detroit;

WHEREAS other major cities have achieved significant quality-of-life benefits by, in part, improving access to and the quality of non-motorized transportation systems;

WHEREAS the City of Detroit has undertaken the development of a Non-Motorized Urban Transportation Plan (the Plan);

WHEREAS the Plan was developed with funding from the Michigan Department of Transportation;

WHEREAS additional funding for implementation of the Plan may be available from various sources if the City of Detroit, and particularly the City Council, approves the Plan;

WHEREAS preparation and adoption of the Plan are important steps toward improving - access to, and the quality of non-motorized transportation in the City of Detroit, NOW THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED the Detroit City Council endorses the Non-Motorized Transportation Master Plan for the City of Detroit, prepared by Giffels-Webster Engineers, Carter Burgess, ArchiveDS, and Brogan & Partners, and funded by a grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation. AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED that the Plan for the City of Detroit shall be incorporated into the proposed revised City of Detroit Master Plan of Policies. AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Mayor’s Office, the Department of Public Works Traffic Engineering Division; the Green Task Force; the Planning and Development Department, the Detroit Department of Transportation, the Recreation Department, the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan Greenways Initiative, SEMCOG and the Michigan Department of Transportation.

RESOLUTION URGING THE MAYOR TO IMPLEMENT THE NON-MOTORIZED URBAN TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN

WHEREAS there is broad recognition of the health, economic development, environmental and social benefits, bicycle lanes, related facilities and improved pedestrian infrastructure generate;

WHEREAS the City of Detroit has undertaken the development of the Non-Motorized Urban Transportation Master Plan (the Plan), and

WHEREAS the Detroit City Council, by resolution, has endorsed the Plan and called for it to be incorporated into the proposed revised City of Detroit Master Plan of Policies. NOW THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED the Detroit City Council urges the Mayor of the City of Detroit and the Administration to take the actions necessary to implement the Plan. BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED that the Detroit City Council specifically supports and approves the plans:linking Corktown and Mexican Town, the Dequindre Cut Greenway, the Conner Creek Greenway, and the Southwest Detroit Bike Path. AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED that appropriate aspects of the Plan be considered in developing the 2009- 2010 budget for the City of Detroit, as well as the 2008-09 through 20 13-1014 Capital Agenda. BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED that the Mayor consider formation of a Non-Motorized Task Force or similar entity as suggested in the Plan, dedicated to implementation of the Plan. BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Mayor’s Office, the Department of Public Works Traffic Engineering Division; the Green Task Force; the Planning and Development Department, the Detroit Department of Transportation, the Recreation Department, the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan, Greenways Initiative, SEMCOG and the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance