WHEREAS, Pittsfield Township has received $30 million for improvements to the Michigan Avenue corridor, between Platt Road and Carpenter, after a decade of advocacy by the Supervisor’s Office and after the need for the same having been discussed by regional leaders since the 1980s; and 

WHEREAS, this project will fully re-construct the bridge at the US12/US23 interchange, which will include re-aligning the ramps, expanding the existing cross-section, and providing for a 10’ non-motorized pathway at the bridge with the rest of corridor supporting a four-lane cross section with a center turn lane along with 8’ paved shoulders; and

WHEREAS, the first public forum for this project, scheduled for construction in 2022, was held by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) on November 12, 2020 with a subsequent presentation made at the January 27, 2021 Board of Trustees meeting; and 

WHEREAS, one of the hallmarks of our work at Pittsfield Township over the past decade has been the retrofitting of all primary corridors within our community with non-motorized amenities to help meet our dual mandate of equity and sustainability; and

WHEREAS, it would not only be grossly inconsistent but also unsustainable to implement a project of this magnitude without providing for non-motorized amenities; and

WHEREAS, the Supervisor’s Office partnered with the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study’s (WATS) Policy Committee to submit a letter (attached) to request MDOT to provide for the same and we have received a response from MDOT (also attached) last month; and

WHEREAS, the MDOT letter, dated December 29, 2020, does state that “…, non-motorized users are allowed access to the shoulders,” we want to express our commitment to ensuring the same;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Pittsfield Charter Township Board of Trustees respectfully requests MDOT to provide specific details of how the 8’ paved shoulders along the north and south of the Michigan Avenue corridor, between Platt and Carpenter (with the exception of the US12/US23 bridge) will safely accommodate bike and pedestrian traffic; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Pittsfield Township Board of Trustees looks forward to our continued partnership with MDOT, WATS and other regional stakeholders to ensure the successful completion of this incredibly important infrastructure project in Pittsfield Township.