Welcome to CONNECTING MICHIGAN, an especially proactive and broad-based initiative to identify and address the critical issues that are impeding Michigan’s progress on developing a statewide interconnected system of trailways and greenways. These treasured resources, so appealing to a wide array of interests, benefit Michigan communities and provide exceptional opportunities for various recreational pursuits, health and fitness, nonmotorized transportation, environmental enhancement, economic and educational benefits, and tourism. Today’s vision can be tomorrow’s reality. l The bi-partisan Michigan Land Use Leadership Council, a public-private council formed in early 2003 by Governor Jennifer Granholm, recommended that “the state should provide incentives … to develop and maintain trailways and to avoid the interruption of trailways vital to recreation and tourism interests,” and that it should “encourage a statewide linked system of trails and recreation.” l A study, conducted by Dr. David Chenowith in 2003 for the Michigan Fitness Foundation, found that physical inactivity among Michigan’s 7.6 million adults cost nearly $8.9 billion in avoidable health care costs in 2002. 2 Championing Sustainable Change The Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance (MTGA) is INSIDE . an active and vital partnership that promotes the History of Trailways in Michigan . 2 on-going development of our state’s trailways. In early Today: Our Successes . 2 2006, MTGA launched CONNECTING MICHIGAN at a Roots of Michigan’s Trailways . 2 kickoff event, attended by more than 200 people Rails-to-Trails Conservancy . 3 energized and intent on making a positive difference The Michigan Trailways Act . in the future of Michigan’s trailway system. Champ- National Trails Support . ioning sustainable change, CONNECTING MICHIGAN Michigan Trails Develop, MTGA Evolves . is committed to a statewide trailways vision and an Connecting Michigan: The Process . 6 action plan to bring that vision to life. Our Studies & Action Plans . 6 Trailway Funding . 8 Focusing Beyond Trails Database & Website . 2 to a Statewide System Property Issues . 6 While Michigan is already a national leader in trailway Trails Usage . 8 mileage, much more remains to be done for realizing On-Road Connections . 20 a far-reaching, interconnected statewide trailway Building Trailways Support . 22 system that touches all communities, is accessible to all Overcoming Boundaries . 2 citizens, and improves the quality of life for Michigan’s Coordinating Resources. 26 residents. Fifteen regional trailway opportunities are Multi-Use Trails and Design . 30 focused on trailway-to-trailway and trailway-to-des- Trails in a Statewide Context . 3 tination connections. These and other opportunities Implementation Strategy: Moving Forward . 36 support an interconnected trailway network, envi- Gratitude and Recognition . .0 sioned in the Michigan Trailways Act of 1993. Trailways Information Resources . 2 With that in mind, MTGA has undertaken the CONNECT- APPENDIX (See a separate CD at the back of this book) ING MICHIGAN challenge in cooperation with the A. Connecting Michigan: A Statewide Trailways Vision and Action Plan National Park Service: Rivers, Trails, and Conservation B. Connecting Michigan Partners Endorsement Form Assistance (NPS-RTCA) Program and the Michigan C. Michigan Trails at the Crossroads: a Vision for Recreation and Park Association (MRPA). The Ruth Mott Connecting Michigan Foundation, Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network, D. Statewide Greenways Maintenance Inventory and People and Land are providing financial support and Case Studies for this exciting process of changing mindsets and E. Preliminary Results from a Nationwide Survey shaping promise. of Trail Enforcement Personnel F. Genesee County Trail Prioritization Process Planning to Realize the Vision for a Regional Trail Network CONNECTING MICHIGAN has engaged stakeholders at G. Initial Survey of Feasible Funding Options national, state, regional, and local levels in a process to for Long-term Trail Maintenance investigate and define the critical issues, develop goals, H. Tools for Regional Collaboration: and formulate action plans to improve state and local The Metropolitan District Act, policies and programs for supporting trailways. The Recreational Authorities Act, and The Urban Cooperation Act This document takes a brief look at Michigan’s trailways past and present, and summarizes the results of the CONNECTING MICHIGAN collaborative planning process for realizing a statewide system of interconnected trails, readily accessible by most and beneficial to all. History of Trailways in Michigan: Past Achievements & Future Possibilities Today: Our Successes Michigan is already near the top nationally in the each other and to important destinations. The map on page 5 illustrates development of recreational trailways. Currently, where these efforts are underway. Also underway is a new state trails the state is second only to Wisconsin in the nation initiative, chaired by Governor Granholm, “Michigan Trails at the with 131 established trails, commonly called “rail- Crossroads: A Vision for Connecting Michigan”. This plan includes trails,” covering some 1,398 miles. Adding in the all trails, including multi-use trailways, and recognizes our work. connectors on utility corridors, road rights of way, Implementation of the Governor’s plan is beginning to happen in public lands, and private easements, Michigan’s 2007 and CONNECTING MICHIGAN will help to drive its success. developed trailways stretch to more than 2,000 miles. That’s surely an impressive starting point. Roots of Michigan’s Trailways The Michigan Trailways Timeline shows how far Michigan’s expansive system of trails and greenways has we’ve come in just 20 years. Beginning with the emerged without the benefit of a statewide trailways plan or barest grassroots support, we can certainly take a state/local coordinated program with dedicated funding pride in what the energy and support of friends’ to support trailway planning, development, operations, groups; local and regional planning efforts; and and maintenance. Thankfully, the Michigan Department the collaboration and financial investment from of Natural Resources (MDNR) and the Michigan Depart- municipal, state, federal, and private-sector ment of Transportation (MDOT) have both recognized the partners have accomplished. tremendous recreational, health, and transportation value of abandoned railroad corridors in Michigan. Together, they Fifteen regional trailway initiatives are working have financially supported the development of the state’s in Michigan to connect individual trailways to many miles of trails now in place. Michigan Trailway Timeline 2 Michigan’s trailways effort began in the 1970s and early 80s with citizen groups supporting local projects. These included the Paint Creek Trail (Oakland County), the Kal-Haven Trail (Kalamazoo County), the LakeLands Trail (Jackson County), the Hart-Montague Trail (Oceana County), and the West Bloomfield Trail (Oakland County). In 1985, representatives of rail trail friends’ groups and various trail user groups – including the League of Michigan Bicyclists, Michigan Horse Council, Michigan Snowmobile Association, and Michigan United Conservation Clubs – met and agreed to establish a statewide organization that would share information and promote common interests regarding rails-to-trails development efforts. The group incorporated in 1986 to form the Michigan TRRrails Alliance. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy On the national front in1986, driven by the urgency to preserve thousands of miles of railroad corridors for public use before they became fragmented and permanently lost, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) was founded. The RTC mission was to promote the conversion of abandoned railroad corridors to multiple-use trails by sharing develop- ment information, supporting and assisting local projects, working with involved gov- ernmental agencies and grassroots advocacy organizations, generating more national support, and promoting favorable federal legislation and policy. In view of their parallel goals, the TRRrails Alliance and RTC organizations merged in 1988 to form the Michigan Chapter of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC MI). Based on a statewide inventory of abandoned railroad corridors, RTC MI proposed construction of a 1,000-mile long trail, named the Discover Michigan Trail, built primarily on aban- doned railroad corridors. The multi-use trail network would act as the backbone linking together other trails, parks, communities, and open space into a cohesive recreational system throughout Michigan. The Discover Michigan Trail Vision was presented to the Michigan legislature and received resolutions of support from both houses, paving the way for passage of the Michigan Trailways Act. 3 The Michigan Trailways Act Michigan Trails Develop, Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance Evolves The Michigan Trailways Act (Parts 721 and 733 of Act 451 of 1994) created the Michigan Trailways Program under With the increased public and financial support for trailways, at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), both the local and national level, RTC MI launched the Southeast which established criteria for Michigan Trailway designa- Michigan Greenways Initiative (1990-99) to connect 4.5 million tion and authorized a Michigan Trailways Fund. Related people in Southeast Michigan to the proposed Discover legislation enhanced landowner liability protection from Michigan