Saline adopts Complete Streets resolution, Dexter not far behind

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 | Source: Concentrate

Nearly three months after Michigan adopted Complete Streets legislation, cities and villages are increasingly passing their own resolutions and ordinances to support making streets friendly to all users, wheeled or otherwise.

Saline was one of the first cities to support the legislation, voting unanimously in September to approve an ordinance. Also in the area, Novi adopted a resolution in August, Berkley passed one last month, and others are looking at them; Lansing is another Michigan city to pass an ordinance.

Todd Campbell, Saline's city manager, explained that the city council adopted a non-motorized pathway master plan a year ago. "It's important to the community," he says, pointing out that the city even has a healthy living group, Pick up the Pace Saline, or PUPS. "For the last number of years we've had community walks during the warmer months, and most any day in the morning or evening you see folks walking, running, exercising. That's been a very important quality of life in our past community surveys."

He points out that the city isn't required to make every street accessible to pedestrians -- roads with high traffic wouldn't be suitable for that, for example -- but they will consider it every time a street repair or reconstruction is done. Most projects will have some added cost, at the very least in additional engineering.

The village of Dexter's planning commission was expected to talk about the Complete Streets program at its Monday meeting, with a public hearing and possibly ordinance adoption before the end of November.

Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County both have non-motorized transit plans. Michigan, the 14th state to do so, passed the legislature in August, .

A Complete Street means it's safe and convenient not only for car travel, but also for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, as well as accessible to public transportation. Cities are encouraged to incorporate sidewalks, bike lanes, special bus lanes, and crossing opportunities into road planning. Cycling and pedestrian advocates were on board with the legislation, but healthy living and senior advocates also benefit.

Source: Todd Campbell, Saline city manager; Michigan Complete Streets Coalition; village of Dexter
Writer: Kristin Lukowski