MDOT Announces Grants

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) recently announced that the state is awarding approximately $3.3 million in Transportation Enhancement (TE) grants to fund seven projects in six Michigan counties. Six of the seven projects will add and improve 14.7 miles of non-motorized trails as part of the state's trail network. The seventh project involves improving water quality by treating roadway storm water runoff in Eaton County.

"These investments will enhance the quality of life in communities from Little Traverse Township to Gibraltar," said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. "This will help make Michigan a better place for residents, tourists and businesses alike."

Under federal law, 10 percent of federal surface transportation funds are set aside for TE projects. Administered by MDOT, the grants enable communities to invest in projects such as streetscapes and non-motorized trails. TE funds provide a maximum of 80 percent of the money required for each project, with the remainder coming from state and local government and the private sector.

"These projects will develop, construct and expand the state's trails system and help treat storm water runoff," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "Many people think of transportation only in terms of roads, but enhancing our transportation system with expanded travel options such as non-motorized trails and treating roadway runoff is also part of MDOT's mission." The following are the projects, listed by county:

The Eaton County Road Commission, in partnership with the Eaton County Drain Commissioner, will create a water quality treatment facility at the Watson Drain Outlet. This project will provide a system of treating the runoff from Saginaw Highway prior to its ultimate discharge to the Grand River. It includes installing temporary soil erosion and sedimentation control measures, tree protection fencing, selectively removing existing trees and vegetation, rough grading and reshaping the site, building grade control and plunge pool structures, placing large stones, seeding, spreading topsoil and mulch, abandoning the existing storm drain conduit, and enacting soil erosion measures. The project cost is $826,876, including $109,561 in federal TE funds and $717,315 in local match from the Eaton County Drain Commission.

MDOT, in partnership with Little Traverse Township, will construct three miles of non-motorized path along M-119 from Pleasantview Road to Harbor Springs. This segment will complete the 29-mile-long trail from Charlevoix to Harbor Springs known as the Little Traverse Wheelway. The project cost is $988,475 including $790,780 in federal TE funds and $197,695 in matching funds from MDOT.

The Kalamazoo County Road Commission, in partnership with the city of Kalamazoo, will construct two miles of non-motorized trail. The trail will be located along Riverview Avenue from Veteran's Memorial Park in Kalamazoo to the north, ending at the intersection of Riverview Drive and Mosel Avenue. This project is part of a 14.2-mile non-motorized system that will be completed over the next two years. The project cost for this segment is approximately $2 million, including approximately $1 million in federal TE funds and a local match of approximately $1 million from the Kalamazoo County Parks Foundation.

The village of Milford, in partnership with the charter township of Milford, the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority, and the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan, will construct 2.9 miles of non-motorized trail. The trail will go from north of General Motors Road at the Milford Dam, then south across General Motors Road into Kensington Metropark, and continue south toward the intersection of Milford Road and Huron River Parkway. It will be an integral part of a much larger planned system within the county and region. A portion of the non-motorized network has been constructed, including the Kensington Metropark loop, a connection under Interstate 96 and into Island Lake State Recreation Area, and the Huron Valley Trail that leads southwest into South Lyon and east toward Wixom. The project cost is approximately $2.5 million, including $609,355 in federal funds, approximately $1.9 million from the charter township of Milford, and $75,000 from the Community Foundation of Southeastern Michigan. In addition, the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan GreenWays Initiative provided $50,000 to complete construction drawings, and the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority provided $27,000 in-kind services to complete a topographic survey.

The Road Commission for Oakland County, in cooperation with Orion Township, will construct a non-motorized trail in Orion Township. The project includes resurfacing existing portions of the Polly Ann Trail, acquiring and constructing a 1,045-foot extension of the Polly Ann Trail south of the existing trail, and constructing a trail west on International Transmission Company corridor property. The project includes the purchase of the railroad property, removal of the railroad ties, earthwork, grading and surfacing of the trail with limestone. The project cost is $420,661 including $294,463 in federal TE funds, $51,198 from Orion Township, and $75,000 in GreenWays Initiative funds from the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan.

MDOT, in partnership with Rogers Township, will construct 2.2 miles of non-motorized path extension referred to as the Forty Mile Point Lighthouse Non-motorized Path. The project will consist of constructing a 10-foot-wide path along US-23, from Hoeft State Park to Presque Isle County's Forty Mile Point Lighthouse Park. The project cost is $861,200, including $433,760 in federal TE funds, and $427,440 from MDOT.

The city of Gibraltar will construct a non-motorized path on North Gibraltar Road from Middle Gibraltar Road to the Humbug Marsh International Wildlife Refuge. This project, although short in length, will provide an essential connection within the Downriver Linked Greenways Initiative. The path will allow trail users to travel north through the city of Gibraltar from Lake Erie Metropark to the Humbug Marsh International Wildlife Refuge. The project cost is $91,969, including $73,575 in federal TE funds, and $18,394 in local match from the city.