$1.17 Million in Funding Announced for Woodward Complete Streets Project

(SEMCOG, Jan. 15, 2022)

SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, joins the City of Ferndale, the City of Pleasant Ridge, and the Michigan Department of Transportation in celebrating a significant step forward on a transformational regional project.

SEMCOG has awarded $1.17 million in funding for the Woodward Moves Complete Streets project in the cities of Ferndale and Pleasant Ridge for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). What could have been just a “routine” highway restoration project through two communities in Oakland County is being used as an opportunity to transform one of Southeast Michigan’s iconic arterial roadways.

“Woodward Avenue is one our region’s most significant, historic, and connective Active Transportation Corridors, connecting 10 communities and two counties from downtown Detroit to downtown Pontiac,” said Amy O’Leary, Executive Director of SEMCOG. “Through Ferndale and Pleasant Ridge, Woodward will now be a place for people of all ages and abilities to safely walk, bike, drive, ride, or catch a bus to their destinations,” said O’Leary.

Woodward Ave. has for years been recognized as a corridor ready for a complete streets makeover with enhancements to better accommodate bicycling, walking, and transit ridership. Woodward Moves Complete Streets is the result of coordinated efforts among the cities of Pleasant Ridge and Ferndale as well as MDOT. SEMCOG is pleased to see this next stage of investment after providing support for a recent traffic study via a Planning Assistance Grant; community leaders have facilitated three years of robust public discussion and meetings with residents and businesses to consider and prepare for this significant change.

“This is three years and multiple partner agencies in the making, and I’m so excited that we’re finally able to make this announcement,” said Ferndale Mayor Melanie Piana. “We’ve had a community-supported vision for years of a safer Woodward, a road that supports all users and unites our downtown rather than dividing it. We’re now one step closer to achieving this goal.”

“It’s clear that the way we work, shop, learn, play, relax and consume energy are all changing, and our modes of transportation will adjust to accommodate this sea change,” said Pleasant Ridge Mayor Bret Scott. “We’re very happy to take part in the process and collaborate with our neighbors and partners to respond to the evolving needs of our community.”

Project addresses multiple transportation priorities in Southeast Michigan

TAP projects are transportation-related improvements to roadways, local streets, and corridors. Most often, they address mobility options through new or enhanced bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. This includes things such as pathways, bike lanes, sidewalks, and pedestrian crossings. These projects improve the existing transportation system, while providing safe new options to help people connect to transit, regional trails, and core service destinations. TAP can also fund green infrastructure projects that mitigate environmental concerns from the road network.

The Woodward Moves Complete Streets project is a joint effort between the cities of Ferndale and Pleasant Ridge in partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation. It seeks to create a more inclusive, safe, and accessible experience along the stretch of Woodward between I-696 and 8 Mile Rd., including the reduction of a travel lane on each side of Woodward, targeted improvements to alleyways and sidewalks, shorter pedestrian crossings, parking-protected bike lanes, improved visibility at intersections, and new ADA ramps. The project will be constructed in coordination with a separate road preservation project on Woodward Avenue helping decrease costs and construction-related impacts to road users and the communities. In addition to SEMCOG’s $1.17 million contribution to this project, MDOT is contributing $1.17 million, which are both matched by the Cities of Ferndale ($1.23 million) and Pleasant Ridge ($140,000).

An exciting component to this project is the protected bike lanes, which are on-street or street-adjacent bike lanes that are physically separated from travel lanes and walkways with vertical elements, such as flexible plastic posts, planters, curbs, and on-street parking. The bike lanes can be one-way or bi-directional. They are intended to provide the same level of comfort as shared-use paths but are exclusively for bicycle travel. They are useful where sidewalks currently exist but where no dedicated space is provided for bicyclists. In addition to the separated bike lanes, the project will include enhancements to adjacent alleyways, sidewalks, and paths to ensure safe connectivity throughout the corridor.

The project supports the policies included in SEMCOG’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Mobility Plan for Southeast Michigan. Specifically, it increases access within equity and demand areas and enhances Southeast Michigan’s Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Corridors. Additionally, it continues to advance the multimodal vision for connectivity along the Woodward Avenue corridor, which SEMCOG recognized with it’s 2019 Regional Showcase Award to Ferndale Moves!.

Notice of Additional Funding for FY2023 and FY2024

SEMCOG will consider additional TAP projects in March, June, and September 2022.

SEMCOG’s Regional Review Committee will consider additional projects for FY 2023 and FY2024, and interested applicants should reach out to SEMCOG staff to discuss potential projects and ensure they meet upcoming application deadlines. Applicants should utilize SEMCOG’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Mobility Maps to demonstrate how their project meets SEMCOG’s competitiveness criteria. SEMCOG uses a rolling application deadline with the next deadline being February 23, 2022. Applications previously submitted before the October 2021 deadline will be considered for TAP funding in March 2022. Additional information is available on SEMCOG’s TAP website.