Ann Arbor goes after big funding to expand trails, bike lanes

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 | Source: Concentrate

Ann Arbor wants to squeeze a lot of active transportation projects into a short span of time, with the help of a newly proposed federal program.

Active transportation can be summed as anything that doesn't involve an automobile. Projects that enhance active transportation include bike lanes, walking trails and other assorted greenways.

The Rails-To-Trails 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation is a proposed federal initiative to help build that type of infrastructure. The program intends to dole out $50 million in federal funds for such improvements to each participating city, and Ann Arbor has its sights firmly set on being one of them.

"It can enable us to implement a generation of transportation initiatives in five short years," says Eli Cooper, transportation manager for the city of Ann Arbor.

The city plans to announce its efforts to win a spot in the program at 1:30 p.m. Monday in front of City Hall. If successful, the $50 million would build another 38 miles of bike lanes, 25 miles of new sidewalks, 128 pedestrian crossings, finishing the Border to Border Trail and launching the Allen Creek Greenway initiative.

A number of local organizations are working to make this happen, including the Ann Arbor Transit Authority, Washtenaw County, the University of Michigan, Border-to-Border Trail Group, Ann Arbor Public Schools, getDowntown, Allen Creek Greenway Partners, Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition and surrounding communities.

Source: Eli Cooper, transportation manager for the city of Ann Arbor
Writer: Jon Zemke