Progress in Motion: Complete Streets Ad Hoc Meeting (1/8/25)
Today, I attended an engaging ad hoc meeting on crafting a Complete Streets policy for Traverse City. The room was filled with energy and diverse perspectives, with two city commissioners, several city staff, and representatives from the Grand Traverse Safe Streets Alliance (GTSSA), the Cherry Capital Cycling Club, and concerned residents. It's clear that everyone is committed to creating a policy that balances safety, functionality, and sustainability.
Learning from Joplin, MO, and Marquette, MI
As a starting point, the group discussed existing policies from Joplin, Missouri, and Marquette, Michigan. Both cities have laid solid foundations for incorporating multimodal infrastructure and sustainable practices into their transportation planning. Their policies demonstrate the value of building from proven frameworks while tailoring them to our city's unique needs. Traverse City has an opportunity to adopt and refine best practices that prioritize safety and accessibility for all users.
Traffic Calming Measures: Affordable Solutions
Traffic calming was another key focus, and I’m optimistic about the potential for affordable solutions. Measures like curb bump-outs, speed tables, and road diets can transform corridors into safer, more livable spaces without requiring significant financial investment. For example:
Curb bump-outs improve pedestrian visibility and reduce crossing distances.
Speed tables—essentially elongated speed bumps—slow traffic but allow for smoother vehicle movement.
Road diets reduce lane widths or vehicle lanes, reclaiming space for bike lanes or wider sidewalks.
These strategies have been proven effective in cities across the U.S., and I believe several Traverse City corridors could benefit from them without breaking the bank.
Smart Growth America: A Guiding Framework
Smart Growth America’s 10 elements for scoring Complete Streets policies were introduced as essential reading for the next meeting. Here's a quick overview of how these could apply to Traverse City:
Vision and Intent: Define a bold vision for our streets that prioritizes equity, safety, and sustainability.
Diverse Users: Design for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and drivers.
Equity: Focus on underserved neighborhoods.
Implementation: Set clear steps and timelines for action.
Jurisdiction: Apply the policy across all city streets and state-managed roads within our limits.
Connectivity: Build a network of continuous bike lanes, sidewalks, and transit routes.
Design: Adopt proven standards like NACTO and AASHTO for street designs.
Land Use: Ensure street designs complement the surrounding area’s character.
Performance Measures: Regularly assess success using metrics like safety improvements and modal share.
Accountability: Keep the public informed and involved through transparent reporting.
Prioritizing Projects and Community Input
The city’s head of planning emphasized the importance of prioritizing projects with MPO funding. Commissioner Shaw proposed using neighbor input, a sentiment echoed by GTSSA. This grassroots approach aligns with my belief that community input is crucial to identify the best routes and areas to focus on. Rather than pouring funds into costly studies, low-cost pilot programs and direct feedback can drive meaningful progress.
State Street: Immediate Opportunities
One specific issue raised was the lack of bike infrastructure on the westbound portion of State Street. Two other areas on State street I’ve heard from neighbors include: the continued high speed of traffic on the street, and people turning left in ways that could put a pedestrian in danger. After the meeting, I had a productive conversation over coffee at NoBo (If you’ve not been, add it to your list) with Rick Venner and Richard Robbins about a practical, low-cost solution to start: converting the traffic lights at State and Cass and State and Union into four-way stop flashers. This change would eliminate backups caused by left turns while slowing traffic—an all-around win that requires no major expenditure. I’m still not sure about the bike infrastructure but I will say the commissioners looked almost a bit ill at the thought of more changes to State - this needs to happen though!
Moving Forward with Optimism
Overall, I left the meeting optimistic that we’re moving beyond endless discussions and heading toward real action. The collaboration between city officials, community organizations, and residents is energizing. I’m confident that by focusing on practical, community-driven solutions, we’ll create a policy that not only reflects Traverse City’s values but also ensures our streets are safe, functional, and welcoming for all.
Stay tuned: GTSSA will present neighbor input to the full commission in March, and I encourage everyone to participate in this vital process. Together, we’re going to GSD (get stuff done).
OK - one more note - I work professionally with AI and Machine learning - so I had a few LLM AI’s run a full analysis on about 20 documents from the city’s master plan, NACTO planning guides, and the TC Street Design policies (+ many more documents). I then asked the AI to draft a policy based on this - obviously, I don’t have much say other than being a concerned TC resident but here it is for fun!
AI Created Draft Traverse City Complete Streets Policy
Vision
Traverse City envisions a transportation system that prioritizes safety, equity, and accessibility for all users, fostering a connected and sustainable community. The policy seeks to create a network of streets that balances the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and motorists while enhancing the city’s livability and environmental stewardship.
Policy Principles
Inclusivity and Safety:
Streets will be designed to accommodate all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and individuals of varying abilities, prioritizing vulnerable populations.
Traffic calming measures, reduced speeds, and enhanced crossings will be implemented to improve safety.
Context Sensitivity:
Infrastructure designs will reflect the unique characteristics of Traverse City’s neighborhoods, commercial districts, and environmental conditions.
A balance between preserving historic streetscapes and modernizing for multimodal functionality will be maintained.
Connectivity:
Efforts will focus on creating an interconnected network of bike lanes, sidewalks, and transit routes to ensure seamless mobility across the city.
Equity:
Prioritize investments in underserved areas to address existing gaps in infrastructure and accessibility.
Partner with local Indigenous tribes to ensure culturally sensitive and inclusive transportation planning.
Environmental Stewardship:
Integrate green infrastructure, low-impact designs, and climate resilience into all transportation projects.
Accountability and Metrics:
Establish performance measures, such as pedestrian counts, traffic speeds, and crash data, to evaluate the policy’s impact and adjust strategies as needed.
Implementation Strategies
Policy Integration:
Incorporate Complete Streets principles into all city transportation plans, development reviews, and funding programs.
Funding and Partnerships:
Leverage local, state, and federal funding opportunities, and collaborate with regional entities such as TART Trails and Bay Area Transit Authority, and the MPO.
Design Standards:
Use design guidelines from the NACTO Urban Street Design Guide.
Public Engagement:
Regularly consult with stakeholders, including residents, businesses, and advocacy groups, to ensure the community's needs are met.
Establish a community committee that is comprised of impacted city residents, city commissioners, and city staff to meet and discuss project priorities regularly.
Education and Training:
Provide city staff and contractors with training on Complete Streets best practices.
Proposed Actions
Short-Term:
Enhance pedestrian safety with additional crosswalks and ADA-compliant ramps on high-traffic streets.
Pilot protected bike lanes on cross-town corridors
Medium-Term: Expand the city’s bike network with dedicated lanes connecting key destinations like downtown, parks, and neighborhoods.
Long-Term: Transition key corridors into Complete Streets, incorporating transit priority lanes, green infrastructure, and multimodal facilities.
