OPEN HOUSE FOR THE MASTER PLAN & MOBILITY ACTION PLAN PROJECTS

OCTOBER 26TH

The City invites all people who live, work, learn, and play in Traverse City to attend a community open house on October 26 from 3-7 p.m. at the Hagerty Center, 715 E. Front Street, to inform both the master plan and mobility plan projects currently underway.

The open house builds on the recently completed online survey of nearly 2,000 community members and stakeholder listening sessions. The open house will include a summary of these results, along with a series of activities for attendees to engage with regarding mobility opportunities, future priorities, and challenges facing Traverse City. Refreshments and coloring activities for kids will be provided.

Open house attendees are welcome to arrive anytime between 3-7 p.m. on the 26th and may choose to spend as little or as much time at the event as they wish, interacting with each station at their own pace.

The project team is also providing an online survey shortly after the event, with similar content as

provided at the open house, to reach folks who cannot attend in-person. Some activities might not translate perfectly from event to online survey, so folks are encouraged to drop by the open house if their schedule allows.

City staff, members of the master plan and mobility plan leadership teams, and members of the consultant teams will be on hand at the open house to greet attendees, answer questions, and seek input.

PILOT PROJECT FOR A TWO WAY STATE STREET APPROVED

A recommendation from the DDA to convert State Street, Pine Street, and Boardman Avenue, to a two-way traffic circulation conversation as a two year pilot was approved by the City Commission on their October 17th meeting. 

The goals of the pilot project are to slow traffic, create a more walkable environment for pedestrians, and provide better connections to the surrounding grid network. Front Street, between Boardman and Pine Streets, will remain one-way. As part of the proposed pilot the DDA is prepared to continue to monitor key metrics for evaluation of the pilot two-way study.

The project includes roadway configuration (for Pine and State Street) for the initial phase of the two-way pilot project. Currently, the distance from “curb to curb” along Pine and State Streets varies between 42 and 45 feet. Proposed configuration during the pilot includes:

• Two travel lanes (east-bound and west-bound), with a width of 11.5’
• A east-bound bike-lane, with a width of 6'
• Two parking lanes (north and south), with a width of 8’

The City will be removing the traffic islands in the intersections of Boardman Avenue and State Street, and Boardman Avenue and Front Street, beginning Thursday, October 20th, through Friday, October 21st to prepare for the conversion. Boardman Avenue between State Street and Front Street will be closed through October 21st to all traffic when workers are present.

The conversion to two way is anticipated to be complete on November 11.

MI COURT OF APPEALS AGREES WITH CITY ON FISHPASS

On October 20, 2022, the Michigan Court of Appeals agreed with the City of Traverse City’s decision to implement the Fish Pass project. At issue in this lawsuit was whether the City Charter required a vote prior to construction of the FishPass Project. 

According to the Michigan Court of Appeals, “…the Project will result in a net gain of parkland and more public use. The Property will remain a park under the Project.” Furthermore, “The trial court based its decision largely on the Project’s research elements, but occupying space on the Property for purposes of conducting research related to the passage of fish, which matter has been part of the operation of the Dam and a characteristic of the Property since the addition of the fish ladder in 1987, does not transform the park into something other than a park. Moreover, engaging in environmental research concerning the habitat of species found in the area has a natural connection to the Property’s purpose and use as a park.”

FishPass is the capstone of a ~20y restoration project on the Boardman (Ottaway) River, Traverse City, Michigan, re-connecting the river with Lake Michigan.

FishPass will replace the deteriorating Union Street Dam with a new, complete barrier to all fish that will have the ability to sort and selectively pass desirable fishes while blocking harmful invaders like sea lamprey. While fully automated selective passage is the long-term goal of the project, passage of any fish during the initial 10-yrs will be coordinated with fishery management agencies, limited in number, and restricted to fishes native to the upper Great Lakes.

BECOME A CITIZEN IN ACTION

Are you interested in serving the beautiful City of Traverse City? Our community spirit of involvement is a great source of beautification for our community on all fronts. We hope this information is of assistance as you contemplate the donation of your experiential resources.  

Interested in Becoming Involved?

The City is seeking volunteers for the following Boards and Committees. Please feel free to contact the City Clerk's Office with any questions at (231) 922-4480 or by email at tcclerk@traversecitymi.gov to learn more on the appointment process through the City Commission Policy on Appointments and Committees. 

• Local Officers Compensation Commission
• Downtown Development Authority
• Brown Bridge Advisory
• Planning Commission

Attend Meetings and/or Subscribe to Meeting Packets

Attending meetings or following the work of your fellow community members who sit on various boards and commissions is the best way to stay in the know on the policies and initiatives that are being developed to shape our future. 

Subscribe to Meeting Agendas

Watch Streamed Meetings

City Commission, Planning Commission, Downtown Development Authority, and TC Light & Power meetings are all live streamed. Visit the link below to watch live or view the recordings at a later time.

Watch Streamed Meetings

IN THE COMMUNITY

Team City Clerk engaging with our community!

Most recently City Clerk Benjamin Marentette met with the Compass Jr. High students and members of the Clerk's Team, Colleen Paveglio and Katie Miller, met with residents of Cordia.