M-59 path study gets green light in Sterling Heights

A $35,000 grant has been awarded to the city of Sterling Heights to conduct a feasibility study for a shared-use path on M-59, in partnership with the cities of Utica, Troy, and Rochester Hills.

The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) awarded more than $300,000 in Planning Assistance Program funding last month to local communities for a total of nine projects. The Sterling Heights study received a $28,647.50 grant with a local match of $6,352.50.

The study is part of SEMCOG’s goal to draw on the impact of local communities working together to implement regional plans.

“This program enables Southeast Michigan’s counties and local governments to move forward on key issues and coordinate their efforts to improve [the] quality of life at the local level and region-wide,” says SEMCOG executive director Kathleen Lomako.

The proposed shared-use path will connect to an existing 10-foot wide sidewalk in Troy, located on the southwest corner of the Dequindre Road and South Boulevard/Dobry Drive intersection. The path will utilize the existing four-way pedestrian crossing at this intersection to connect into Rochester Hills, Shelby Township and Sterling Heights. Once in Sterling Heights, the path will continue east along the south side of Dobry Drive until it reaches the Merrill Road intersection. From here two route alternatives are being considered to connect to Utica, one utilizing the existing Utica Road bridge overpass to cross to the north side of M-59 and the other avoiding it.

In June, SEMCOG announced more than $10 million in Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding for a total of 19 projects. Funding will add to Southeast Michigan’s regional trail system, including new pathways and pathway enhancements, new trails and trail connections, protected bike lanes, pedestrian enhancements, and projects encouraging students in grades K-8 to walk or bike to school.