Development News

Milford Kensington Connector trail opens up

metromode Monday, June 08, 2009

A short but important greenway is about to open in Oakland County. The Milford Kensington Connector is set to open later this week as a way to connect some major institutions in this little hamlet on the county's west end.

The 10-foot-wide asphalt trail connects the edge of the village of Milford at General Motors Road to Kensington Metro Park about three miles away. It will provide safe passage between the park and Milford's downtown, YMCA and library. It connects about 30 miles of trails and sidewalks in the Milford area.

"It's a much-needed addition to the area," says Donald Green, supervisor for Milford Township.

The $2.9 million project was first dreamed up in the mid 1990s and funded by a millage assessed for greenway improvements a few years ago. Construction began at the beginning of last fall and finished this spring. People have already begun using it.

Source: Donald Green, supervisor for Milford Township
Writer: Jon Zemke

Birmingham/Troy transit center pushes forward

metromode Monday, May 11, 2009

The plans for the Birmingham/Troy transit center are taking shape while the funding sources are being targeted.

The planning commissions for the two cities recently met to review architectural renderings of the proposed center. They plan to hold a community design charrette on June 15-16 after the architects come back with more detailed plans.

"We're waiting on them to make some changes and tweaks," says Jana Ecker, planning director for the city of Birmingham.

The two cities plan to create a $6 million transit center on the Birmingham side of the border between the cities. About $4 million would be set aside for the center while another $2 million would be used to build a pedestrian tunnel underneath the tracks.

The center would facilitate traffic from pedestrians, bicyclists, automobiles, buses and the planned northern extension of the Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail line. There has also been talk of creating an east-west streetcar line to connect the station to Birmingham's downtown and Troy's Somerset Collection mall.

The proposed site is in Birmingham's emerging Rail District. The cities plan to create a transit-oriented-development district around the station that would roughly be bordered by Crooks, Adams, Maple and Lincoln streets. A Southeast Michigan Council of Governments official will conduct a walkability tour of the neighborhood on April 29 to gauge how best to take advantage of the expected transit oriented development.

Officials from both cities are also meeting with the staffs of Michigan's congressional and senate office holders to help arrange funding. Congressman Gary Peters has already put in for a $2 million federal earmark to help bring the project to fruition.

Source: Jana Ecker, planning director for the city of Birmingham
Writer: Jon Zemke

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Bus bike racks help fuse Metro Detroit's transit options

metromode Monday, April 27, 2009

Soon all bus riders in Southeast Michigan will have a place to park their bikes when they get on a local transit system.

The Detroit Department of Transportation will equip all of its buses with bike racks this year, joining SMART and the Ann Arbor Transit Authority. The $680,110 project is paid mostly with federal transportation funds funneled through the state.

Transportation Riders United, a local mass transit advocate, hailed the improvement as a way of connecting more transportation options in Metro Detroit. The lack of these options and connections has held the region back, in the view of TRU's leadership.

"If a bus doesn�t come within a few blocks of your house, it's not an attractive option," says Megan Owens, executive director of Transportation Riders United. "If you can ride your bike a mile or two to a bus, then it becomes a much more attractive option."

Incorporating more options for bicyclists has been a major goal for both TRU and local leaders. SMART and AATA added the bike racks a few years ago to help boost ridership. They have enjoyed significant use as more and more Metro Detroiters took to two wheels, especially as gas prices went higher.

They are also looking at making the proposed Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail and Woodward light rail lines bicycle-friendly.

"That's the ultimate goal, is to have many different ways to get around," Owens says.

Source: State of Michigan and Megan Owens, executive director of the Transportation Riders United
Writer: Jon Zemke

Transit center seen as boost to neighborhoods

Hometown Life Monday, March 02, 2009

The possible transit center in the Troy/Birmingham area could boost neighborhoods and communities financially.

Excerpt:

The proposed Troy/Birmingham Transit Center could be a financial boost to nearby neighborhoods and the catalyst for improved public transportation in metro Detroit, according to Brian Murphy, assistant city manager for Troy.

Murphy, speaking to the Troy Democratic Club on Wednesday at the Troy Community Center, said the proposed $7 million transit center for riders of bus, train, taxi and potentially light rail, is an investment in the city's future.

The two cities have set aside $1.7 million to develop the three-acre parcel behind the Mid-Town Square and are hoping a project manager hired for $7,500 a month will help secure more funding.

"(A transit center) is not only good for what's now, but what's later," Murphy said. "If we show (elected officials) we use it, it helps us get more money so we can get more transportation.

Read the entire article here.

Plan to develop citywide path system

Hometown Life Monday, March 02, 2009

A citywide path system has been developed for the city of Troy.

Excerpt:

The Troy City Council voted 6-1 Monday to approve a bid by Hamilton Anderson Associates over seven others, according to Carol Anderson, director of the Troy Parks and Recreation Department.

Interviews with company representatives, the price and a sample plan submitted put Hamilton Anderson ahead of the other bidders, Anderson said.

"We didn't pick them as much as they scored the highest," Anderson said in a Tuesday interview.

Anderson said a master plan will take up to seven months to finish and help Troy receive matching funds to build a citywide pathways system. The master plan will cost $40,997.18, plus reimbursable expenses not to exceed $4,450, according to the resolution approved.

Read the entire article here.

Novi submits 'shovel ready' road projects for stimulus consideration

Hometown Life Monday, March 02, 2009

Novi city officials have 'shovel ready' projects and have submitted them for stimulus consideration.

Excerpt:

The City of Novi submitted a list of road projects, totaling about $5 million, to be considered for funding through the Federal Economic Stimulus Package, signed into law Tuesday.

"First dollars would be for infrastructure, and we have a number of road projects that we're already in the Transportation Improvement Plan (which is required for eligibility)," said Novi City Manager Clay Pearson.

Read the entire article here.

Birmingham, Troy hire lobbyists to locate funds for transit center

metromode Monday, February 02, 2009

You know they're serious about a project when they break out the lobbyists. That's the case with the Troy-Birmingham Intermodal Transit Center.

Local leaders have hired Detroit-based Clark Hill to lobby state and federal lawmakers, government agencies and potential non-governmental partners for funding for the train station for the northern extension of the Detroit-Ann Arbor Commuter Rail line.

The project will build a regional transit center that will serve trains, buses, bicycles and pedestrians. It will be located in Birmingham's Rail District, which is on the city's border with Troy. Construction is set to begin in 2010.

A plans to connected a streetcar line to the station that will also connect downtown Birmingham, Birmgingham's Triangle District, the Rail District Sommerset Mall and the planned Troy Pavillions has also been mentioned.

Source: Clark Hill
Writer: Jon Zemke

Auburn Hills-based Dow Automotive expands global reach with commercial transportation

Oakland County Business Review Monday, December 08, 2008

Dow Automotive, an Auburn Hills-based supplier, is expanding its reach into commercial transportation.

Excerpt:

Auburn Hills-based supplier Dow Automotive is expanding into the commercial transportation business as a way to increase revenue and global reach.

The supplier has created a Commercial Transportation Group that will initially concentrate on global bus and truck segments, with a focus on such value-added solutions as vehicle durability, safety, emissions control and fuel efficiency.

This group will be headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, said Dagmar van Heur, managing director of the Commercial Transportation Group at Dow Automotive. However, the group will maintain a strong presence, one that includes research and development personnel, in its Auburn Hills headquarters.

Read the entire article here.

Milford's hike-bike trail construction under way

Hometime Life Monday, November 10, 2008

Milford has begun construction on a hike-bike trail that begins on the north side of the Huron River near Milford's wastewater treatment plant and continues for nearly a mile through Hubbell Pond Park, ending by the Carls family YMCA. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is funding about 75 percent of it. Look for the trail to be finished by mid-November and paving done by the spring.

Excerpt:

"Milford is recognized as a good area for recreation, and as we see the change in the demographics of society - with the upwardly mobile executive young families, active with children and really wanting to get into the environment - to be in the position of being able to take advantage of that is really exciting," Shufflebarger said. Connecting to the village trail will be the township trail, which starts near the Dairy Queen on Milford Road, will continue through Kensington Metropark, emerge at Martindale, run along the north side of GM Road and end up at the wastewater treatment plant.

"It's moving along ahead of schedule," said Milford Township Supervisor Don Green. "Section two (from Dawson to GM Road) should be paved by the end of the month. It's moving along very well."

Green said that trail should be finished by next June. It is being paid for through the recreational millage and grant money.

Read the entire article here.

Birmingham, Troy move forward with transit center plans

metromode Monday, November 10, 2008

The slow train of mass transit reform may still be a bit in the distance, but it's picking up steam in Birmingham.

The city is working with Troy to create a $6 million transit center just on the Birmingham side of the border between the cities. Although still in the planning stages, the cities hope line up funding for it soon and start putting shovels in the ground within a few years.

The transit center building will cost about $4 million and will facilitate a variety of modes of transportation. It will be built along heavy rail tracks that will eventually become part of the proposed northern leg of the Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail line. It will also facilitate buses, cabs, bicyclists and pedestrians.

There has also been talk of building a streetcar line in an east-west direction from the transit center. Such a line would connect Troy's Somerset Collection and Pavilions of Troy to Birmingham's booming downtown, Rail District and Triangle District.

The other $2 million would pay for a tunnel underneath the tracks that could connect both communities.

Source: Mark Nickita, member of the Birmingham Planning Board
Writer: Jon Zemke

Transportation : Development News