MDOT Grand Region Regional Nonmotorized Plan 2017 MDOT Grand Region Regional Nonmotorized Plan 1 Front Cover Photo: City of Walker - Standale Trail Tunnel Acknowledgements This document has been prepared by MDOT in coordination with multiple agencies, communities, and regional stakeholders. MDOT would especially like to thank the individuals who participated as a member of the Nonmotorized Plan Team for their assistance in the development of this Plan. Cynthia Krupp, Project Manager, MDOT Steve Redmond, Project Coordinator, MDOT Dennis Kent, Region Planner, MDOT Deb Alfonso, Intermodal Services Manager, MDOT Josh DeBruyn, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, MDOT Nonmotorized Plan Core Team Members Susan Rozema, MDOT Grand Region John Morrison, West Michigan Trails & Greenways Coalition Elisa Hoekwater, Macatawa Area Coordinating Council Nikki Van Bloem, DNR Trails Specialist Mike Smith, MDOT Transportation Alternatives Program Manager Amy Matisoff, MDOT Grant Coordinator Travis Mabry, City of Walker Joe Pung, City of Kentwood Mark Sweppenheiser, City of Big Rapids Jay Fowler, Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition Laurel Joseph, Grand Valley Metropolitan Council Consultants: livingLAB The Greenway Collaborative Williams & Works Additional thanks to all those who participated in the Outreach sessions and provided review and comments during the Plan development. September 2017 MDOT Grand Region Regional Nonmotorized Plan 2 MDOT Grand Region Regional Nonmotorized Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 PURPOSE, PROCESS + OVERVIEW 6 FUNDING OPTIONS + 24 HIGHLIGHTED DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS EXISTING/PROPOSED FACILITIES + PRIORTIES 35 APPENDICES 83 Highlighted MDOT Guidance Resource Links MDOT Grand Region Regional Nonmotorized Plan 3 Credit: Karen Gentry ©Michigan Trails Magazine Executive Summary Nonmotorized transportation, commonly referred to The primary goals of the Plan are to: as bicycle and pedestrian travel, is vitally important • Document the existing and proposed network to Michigan residents. Walking and biking serve as • Identify opportunities to enhance nonmotorized both a means of transportation, getting people to transportation important places in their daily lives, and as a means • Help prioritize nonmotorized investment of recreation, better connecting residents to nature • Foster cooperative planning across and their community. Nonmotorized transportation municipal/county boundaries and continue to is important to the region and state because it coordinate these efforts contributes to increased mobility, safety, transportation choices, recreation, placemaking, The focus of this document and associated GIS economic development, and the health of our database is on regional facilities for bicyclists and residents. pedestrians. Specifically, how a regional network of trails, paths, and on-road facilities can provide The MDOT Grand Region encompasses the western connections between communities, counties, and central portion of lower Michigan and includes 13 adjacent regions. Counties: Mason, Oceana, Muskegon, Ottawa, Lake, Osceola, Newaygo, Mecosta, Montcalm, Kent, Ionia, There are a significant number of pedestrian/bike Allegan, and Barry. The MDOT Grand Region: research projects, initiatives, and programs within Regional Nonmotorized Plan was developed over a MDOT that are cumulatively working toward 13-month period from July 2016 – August 2017. MDOT Grand Region Regional Nonmotorized Plan 4 increased safety, achieving greater connectivity, plans for future connections, and identification of educating, documenting, and collaborating. They are priorities within the region and within each contributing to the understanding, growing, and geographic county. Agencies, organizations, cities, implementation of context sensitive solutions and and communities have made substantial complete streets throughout the state. The investments in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, development of this Regional Nonmotorized Plan particularly in the last decade. The system and document is just one of those efforts and tools that network are evolving at a rapid pace, therefore, the can help to further ensure we are all working maps and graphics included in this Plan represent a together toward a more livable, sustainable “snapshot” in time. It is fully realized that the community. database that has been created during this planning effort will need to be regularly and continually This Plan is focused on the regional level. For updated to reflect the most current conditions and MDOT, this document serves as a critical piece for plans. context-sensitive planning and development along with guidance on filling gaps along or across MDOT- During the planning process, multiple nonmotorized owned trunklines as well as focusing resources, transportation routes were identified within each including the allocation of Transportation county. This Plan highlights Regional Corridors on Alternatives Program (TAP) funds. At the community the maps. Regional Corridors illustrate desirable level, it is hoped that this plan provides tools, connections between existing nonmotorized information and resources to assist in identifying and transportation facilities (on-road and off-road), improving key corridors that serve both a local and population centers, recreational areas, and points of regional need within the greater nonmotorized interest. In some instances, they may not necessarily network as well as prioritizing work on efforts that represent actual or planned routes – rather they can benefit the region as a whole. reflect the desire for connectivity. In several cases, alternate, nearby routes, even though they are not A significant amount of effort associated with this as direct, may be a preference due to lower stress project was devoted to understanding and vehicle speeds, vehicle volumes, or trucks. Further documenting the existing and proposed facilities planning by a variety of agencies and stakeholders within the region. This Plan, and the associated GIS may be required to fully vet these systems and database, are considered a first step at capturing the routes. existing nonmotorized conditions, various agency Grand Region Facilities By Type (miles) 5000 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Paved Shared Lane Shared Use Bike Lane Un-defined Side Path TOTAL Shoulder Marking Path Planned 128.4 433 20.8 173.9 326.78 204 1894.16 Existing 86.2 1025.9 17.2 1.9 389.5 475.6 2861.35 MDOT Grand Region Regional Nonmotorized Plan 5 Credit: MTGA Purpose, Process, and Overview adopted nonmotorized and complete streets plans. These plans incorporate nonmotorized elements into Why Create a Regional Plan? planning documents, such as recreation plans, Agencies, community leaders, public health officials, transportation plans, corridor plans, or master plans. residents, non-profits, and businesses are These documents can cover every scale, from the recognizing the benefits of bicycle and pedestrian neighborhood level, progressing to community or travel and are looking for ways to better county level, and even up to the regional, state and accommodate people who travel this way – whether national level. This plan is focused on the regional they do so by choice or by necessity. The benefits of level. For MDOT, this document serves as a critical safe and connected pedestrian and bicycle facilities piece for context-sensitive planning and are well researched and documented – whether they development along with guidance on filling gaps are related to the economy, the environment, along or across MDOT-owned trunklines as well as increased mobility, health, recreation, livability, or focusing resources, including the allocation of social justice. This document and the accompanying Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds. At GIS database were developed in order to continue to the community level, it is hoped that this plan support these overall goals and benefits. provides tools, information and resources to assist in identifying and improving key corridors that serve In order to provide and plan for nonmotorized both a local and regional need within the greater travel, many agencies and communities have nonmotorized network as well as prioritizing work on efforts that can benefit the region as a whole. MDOT Grand Region Regional Nonmotorized Plan 6 by a number of agencies including the Centers for Why Is Nonmotorized Disease Control and the National Institutes of Transportation Important? Health. There is a movement to integrate public Walking and biking serve as both a means of health objectives in transportation decision-making transportation, getting people to and from a variety because of the link to increased physical activity and of destinations, as well as a means of recreation and reduction in air pollutants. way to connect people to nature and to each other. Nonmotorized transportation is important to the Economic development and talent attraction. region and state because it contributes to increased Nonmotorized transportation contributes to mobility, safety, transportation choices, recreation, continued economic growth. The 2014 Community placemaking, economic development, and the health and Economic Benefits of Bicycling in Michigan of our residents. A few of these are further found that bicycling provides an estimated $668 described here. million per year in economic benefit to Michigan’s economy, including employment, retail revenue, Increased mobility and equity. Ensuring mobility tourism expenditure, and increased health and options