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Commissioners approve countywide transit-oriented development asset scan; director says grant will fund an asset inventory
Summary
The Wayne County Commission approved the Economic Development committee report that includes a Department of Transportation-funded, reimbursable grant to conduct a countywide asset scan for transit-oriented development opportunities.
The Wayne County Commission approved a county Economic Development committee report on March 6 that includes a Department of Transportation grant to fund an asset-scan evaluating transit-oriented development opportunities countywide.
The asset-scan grant, described on the record by the county's Economic Development director as a reimbursable DOT award authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will pay for a countywide inventory and evaluation of transit-related assets such as bus stops, shelters and route links. The director said the work will be procured through a hired firm and reported to the chair of the Economic Development Committee, Commissioner Anderson.
Commissioner Killeen questioned the practical value of "transit-oriented development" in a county that lacks rapid mass-transit infrastructure. "We don't have mass transit that's going to spur transit oriented development," Killeen said, adding that the traditional model relies on rail and high-frequency service in other cities. Director Sheikh responded: "The initial grant that this is providing us is more of an asset scan…what assets do we have? What assets do we need?" Sheikh added that the scan will be conducted countywide and that the department will provide the federal definition of "asset" used by the grant program.
Other commissioners pressed for clarity about procurement and geographic spread of benefits. Sheikh said the department will follow standard procurement processes, that the funded dollars will be part of the grant breakdown, and that results will be shared with the Economic Development committee before any project-level contracting moves forward.
The committee report motion that included the grant was moved by Commissioner Anderson and supported by Vice Chair Badu; the commission approved the committee report as presented.
Ending: The grant-funded asset scan is intended to produce data to guide any future investments; the commission approved the committee report and the director committed to share the federal asset definition and subsequent analysis with the committee.
