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Warren Planning Commission receives active mobility plan proposing citywide bike, pedestrian network
Summary
Planning staff and consultants presented a draft Active Mobility Plan that maps a prioritized network of sidewalks, bike facilities and policies; the Planning Commission voted to receive and file the draft and will schedule a public hearing as part of the state review process.
The Warren City Planning Commission on an evening meeting received and filed a draft Active Mobility Plan that lays out a prioritized citywide network of pedestrian and bicycle routes, associated policies and near-, mid- and long-term implementation steps.
The plan, presented by Planning Director Ron Worth, Assistant Planning Director Michelle Katapotis and consultant Norm Cox of the Greenway Collaborative, is a subplan to Warren’s 2021 master plan and was described as the product of sustained public outreach. “This is a 178 page report,” Norm Cox said while introducing highlights of the document.
Commissioners were told the process included biweekly staff check-ins with the consultant team, pop-up events, mailed flyers and an online engagement portal. Katapotis said the process produced roughly “220 surveys and 86 online map comments” in an initial phase and about “225 surveys completed” in a later outreach phase; the draft was posted for public review on the project website and staff said a public hearing will be scheduled in keeping with the Michigan Planning Enabling Act’s review period.
The draft focuses on a “high impact achievable network” that staff and the consultant said prioritizes safety and connections to jobs, schools and transit. Cox summarized the plan’s structure as five chapters: overview and process; the active mobility network; supporting policies and programs; implementation strategies; and appendices with detailed inventories and documentation of public comment. He highlighted crash clusters along Van Dyke and identified 9 Mile and the ITC corridor as priorities for corridor-level designs that aim to improve safety and support economic development.
The plan also recommends policies including an active transportation advisory committee, enhanced maintenance (sidewalk inspection and snow removal), wayfinding and standards for amenities such as benches and lighting. Cox said the document includes budget-level cost estimates “so as we go forward, we could begin to add up what they will cost and help frame the grant asks.” Asked about a full cost estimate, Cox replied, “I do not have an estimate for the entire thing. That was unfortunately not part of our scope of work.”
Several commissioners and a council member asked technical questions about proposed cross-sections, lane conversions (often called “road diets”), and how projects could be phased with utility or roadway reconstruction. Councilman Noonan asked Cox to identify the safety benefits of lane conversions and Cox pointed to Federal Highway Administration guidance endorsing some of the proposed countermeasures as proven safety practices.
After the presentation and questions, Commissioner Holloway moved — and Commissioner Ansar supported — a motion to receive and file the draft plan for the record. The motion carried on roll call.
The plan remains a draft; staff said it will be posted on the project website for public comment and that a formal public hearing will be scheduled as part of the Michigan Planning Enabling Act review timeline. The planning department said the Greenway Collaborative will maintain the online materials at walkbike.info/warren for additional feedback.
