Planning assistance funds empower communities to address local and regional priorities
“Local officials are faced with very difficult decisions on a daily basis; time and resources simply are not sufficient to tackle all the challenges our region is facing,” said Amy O’Leary, Executive Director of SEMCOG. “The overwhelming interest in these planning funds demonstrates the value of being able to study and strategize before making investments that will improve quality of life for generations to come,” said O’Leary.
The 13 FY2024 projects demonstrate a variety of areas in which local communities are planning investments:
Transportation Equity Planning
- Royal Oak Township: $40,000 for Community & Transportation Plan – Develop a holistic communitywide plan, including strategies for implementation and a focus on improving walkability and public transportation services across the township.
“This grant is particularly timely given that Royal Oak Township will be preparing its 5-Year Community Master Plan,” said Donna Squalls, Supervisor for Royal Oak Township. “This plan will ensure the preservation of the Township history and also look to the future of a well-planned community to serve its current residents as well as attracting new families with attainable single and multiple family housing, parks, recreation and a mix of industrial and commercial use,” said Squalls.
- City of Ann Arbor (in partnership with Ann Arbor DDA and TheRide): $45,000 for Transit Alignment and Transit Priority Streets Plan – Develop a Transit Alignment and Transit Priority Streets Plan to assess the potential impacts of future transit projects on rights-of-way throughout the DDA district of Ann Arbor. This assessment will identify transit priority streets and then investigate options and right-of-way solutions for specific transit corridors. Together, these tasks will consider how such impacts can be managed and balanced alongside other demands and needs within the right-of-way.
- Canton Township (in partnership with Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Inkster, Wayne, Westland, and Van Buren Twp): $45,000 for Michigan Avenue Innovation Network (MAIN) Corridor Study – Develop a 4.5 mile corridor study for the Michigan Avenue Innovation Network (MAIN). This project will include an assessment of non-motorized infrastructure improvements, stormwater management improvements, zoning changes, to attract target businesses and mixed use development, an electronic vehicle (EV) charging lane, a connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) corridor, and/or partnerships with mobility focused organizations such as MCity.
“Canton Township, along with our six neighboring communities are thankful for this funding and excited to kick off the Michigan Avenue Innovation Network (MAIN), a technology corridor that will bring vital economic development and jobs to our communities and region,” said Anne Marie Graham-Hudak, Canton Township Supervisor.
Complete Streets and Corridor Safety Planning
- Cities of Eastpointe and Harper Woods: $45,000 for Kelly Road Complete Streets Corridor Plan – Develop a Complete Streets Plan for Kelly Road to establish a more pedestrian-friendly, vibrant commercial corridor. Utilizing community input and shared planning and engineering firms, the communities hope to redesign the sidewalk system and add nonmotorized pathways along Kelly to promote a safer, more user-friendly road. The plan will also look to strategies for reducing impervious surfaces and increasing more opportunities for Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) to reduce the impact on the communities combined sewer system.
- Chesterfield Township (in partnership with Clinton Township, Macomb Township, Shelby Township, Sterling Heights, and Utica): $45,000 for M-59 Corridor Improvement Plan – Develop a M-59 Corridor Improvement Plan, including an analysis of the availability of transportation equity and design assets to less mobile or otherwise disadvantaged equity populations. With a focus on those who need to reach the amenities and jobs within the corridor this plan will take into consideration the key topics of transportation equity, complete streets and corridor safety, electrical vehicle and stormwater management while considering the improvement of the economic viability of the corridor.
“The M-59 Corridor is a vital hub for Macomb County and Southeast Michigan, said Bradley Kersten, Chesterfield Township Supervisor. “Chesterfield Township and the other five neighboring communities are excited to share in this grant opportunity to improve our communities with a common approach to address all of our futures.”
- Macomb Township: $23,750 for Broughton Road Corridor Planning – Develop a plan for an expansion of the township’s Town Center area along Broughton Road, between 24 Mile and 25 Mile roads. The purpose of this project is to create a center of government and recreation services that has an intentional character distinct from other areas of the Township, with an emphasis on walkability, placemaking, and mixed-use development.
“Macomb Township is excited about the opportunity this grant presents to our community,” said Frank Viviano, Macomb Township Supervisor. “This will be the first step toward creating a destination point for our residents and local businesses that will enhance and improve our quality of life and strengthen our Township’s identity.”
- City of St. Clair Shores: $40,000 for Nine / Mack DDA Complete Streets Plan – Create a Complete Streets Plan for the St Clair Shores downtown district along Greater Mack Avenue and Nine Mile Road. Elements of the plan will include: Safe pedestrian and bicycle crossing opportunities along Greater Mack and Nine Mile; Safety features for pedestrians and cyclists; Increased access and connectivity from east to west along Nine Mile Road and south along Greater Mack; Improved non-motorized travel infrastructure along the corridor; and Increased public transportation opportunities.
“The city is really excited about this grant opportunity,” said Kip Wahby, City of St. Clair Shores Mayor. “We are looking forward to creating a plan for the Nine / Mack Downtown that will make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists to reach the district and enjoy everything it has to offer.”
- Monroe Township (in partnership with City of Monroe and Monroe County): $45,000 for LaPlaisance Road Corridor Feasibility Study – Create a multi-community corridor study to provide safe and enhanced non-motorized facilities and access for all users along the LaPlaisance Road corridor, which is a key north-south artery currently lacking in any such facilities. The Monroe County LinkPlan delineates the LaPlaisance Road corridor as an area of key regional importance in the greater Monroe region in supporting economic development goals for the Southeast Michigan region.
“On behalf of the Monroe County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Panel, I want to thank SEMCOG very much for awarding the Planning Grant for the LaPlaisance Road Project. I have facilitated the planning committee, consisting of representatives from the City of Monroe, Monroe Charter Township, Monroe County Road Commission, and Mannik & Smith,” said Florence Buchanan, Chair of the Monroe County Bicycle and Pedestrian Panel. “LaPlaisance Road is the major thoroughfare leading into both Monroe Charter Township and the City of Monroe, so this project is very important to both municipalities with safety and long-term planning both being paramount. The collaboration has been excellent!”
- Van Buren Township: $40,000 for Belleville Road Corridor and Safety Complete Streets Plan – Conduct a corridor safety study and supplemental complete streets planning activities along Belleville Road, the primary north-south route through Van Buren Township. The project will have three primary components: 1) Belleville Road Corridor and Operational and Safety Study; 2) Truck Route Study; and 3) Pedestrian Traffic Study: An analysis and recommendation of the overall sidewalk connectivity within the district and the need for crosswalks along Belleville Road.
Trails and Greenway Planning
- Lyon Township (in partnership with South Lyon and Milford Township): $45,000 for Huron Valley Trail Improvement Planning & Safety Study – Develop an Improvement Planning and Safety Audit for the Huron Valley Trail (HVT). This project will improve safety and enhance the experience for pedestrians along the HVT. Since the HVT crosses major roads with posted speed limits ranging from 35mph to 50mph, the project will include a safety audit to determine placement and/or design of improved road crossings, signage, and wayfinding, as well as planning to determine placement for additional amenities, and an evaluation of necessary accessibility and mobility accommodations to ensure visitors can enjoy the trail.
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Planning
- Monroe County Community College (in partnership with Cities of Monroe and Luna Pier, and Monroe County): $45,000 for EV Awareness Infrastructure Planning – Provide programmatic and advocacy support for EV and EV charging infrastructure planning and implementation for Monroe County. It will also enhance the area’s participation in the EV Jobs Academy by further educating MCCC students and the public in Monroe County and regionally on the developing EV technician and engineering curriculums being developed by MCCC and EV Jobs Academy partner institutions and how Monroe County residents and others may receive those educational opportunities.
Broadband Planning
- Macomb County: $40,000 for Tri-County Broadband Assessment – Project Moonshot – Develop a county-wide broadband assessment. The data will be used to help prepare for future broadband federal funding, strategic planning and deployment of resources, and infrastructure development. This effort will be concurrent with a broader state-wide and state-led Michigan High Speed Internet Office (MIHI) initiative that is seeking to achieve the same goals. This project is in partnership with Oakland and Wayne Counties and the result of the assessment will cover the full Tri-County area.
Stormwater Management Planning
- City of Pontiac: $45,000 for Oakland Park Stormwater Drainage Park – Develop a plan to correct the stormwater drainage issues and flooding problem at Oakland Park (a 14-acre park located in the north central part of Pontiac and is currently being redeveloped as part of a city-wide initiative to redevelop all parks located within the City).
Projects that received Planning Assistance funding awards were selected by SEMCOG’s Regional Review Committee, comprised of local elected officials in Southeast Michigan.
  
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