2/6/09--Update

This week's City Commission meeting went well. The commission voted yes on the motion to send a letter to the Grand Vision consultants asking them to provide technical analyses on Division Street, and do it as soon as possible. Division Street will be re-paved this summer as part of an MDOT maintenance project. The analyses the commission is asking for is part of the on-going Grand Vision study, and provides the community an opportunity to ask for improvements from the status quo. The letter specifically asks for opportunities to slow auto traffic, provide safe and convenient pedestrian crossings with enhanced crosswalk markings, provide improved bike and pedestrian access within this corridor and provide an improved and safer pedestrian crossing at Grandview Parkway.

The meeting was standing room only. Some commissioners seemed surprised. Seventeen people addressed the commissioners when public comment was invited. Speakers came from the Commons, Building 50, neighborhood folks from both sides of the highway, CCCC members, bikeriot.ning.com and TART. Special thanks to those who waited in line to speak up! Bob Wick offered TART's enthusiastic support for the letter and cited TART's data gathering and advocacy efforts. Scott Howard, TART Board VP suggested this is "our community and we should have the say about what, how and when improvements are made." He then asked everyone in the audience supportive of the motion to raise their hand and the whole room responded. Several people noted the aptly named "Division St." actually does divide our community. A burgeoning, vibrant Commons community is separated from town as are a huge population of employees at Munson, Pavillions and the State of Michigan building. Many spoke with passion about their frustrations with lack of progress and shear danger of trying to cross on foot, bicycle and even skis. Dr. Tom Auer, TART Board President noted he has a patient who was quite literally run over while trying to cross safely at the Parkway intersection. One speaker implored we not wait for someone to be killed before taking action to improve the corridor for pedestrians. Commissioner Bizdok changed the motion to copy the letter to MDOT, Grand Traverse County Road Commission and TC-TALUS. He also asked that a DVD of the public comments be added to the letter noting it would better communicate the urgency and importance citizens place on the issue.

Thanks everyone who came out Monday evening for such a great show of support. Stay tuned!

1/31/09-- Please attend Monday’s City Commission meeting where they will consider sending a letter to the Grand Vision consultants asking them to provide technical analyses on Division Street, and do it as soon as possible. Division Street will be re-paved this summer as part of an MDOT maintenance project. The analyses the commission is asking for is part of the on-going Grand Vision study, and provides the community an opportunity to ask for improvements from the status quo. The draft letter asks for the following considerations:
• Opportunities to slow auto traffic.
• Provide safe and convenient pedestrian crossings with enhanced crosswalk markings.
• Provide improved bike and pedestrian access within this corridor; and
• Provide an improved and safer pedestrian crossing at Grandview Parkway.

Thanks and I hope we can get enough bike and pedestrian advocates together to clearly show the City Commission that these issues are important to people in our community.