Adrian commission backs downtown walk-and-bike loop amid funding assurances and safety concerns

The Adrian City Commission voted March 16 to adopt a resolution supporting the downtown walk-and-bike loop, a multi-million-dollar project staff said would connect the Quantis Trail to downtown and attract development. The measure passed after sustained discussion about safety, funding and an unsigned memorandum of understanding with Lenway Now.

Commissioner Mary Roberts moved to adopt the support resolution with a second; the roll call vote recorded Commissioners Banky, Moore, Schwarz and Roberts and Mayor Heath voting yes, and Commissioners Chester and Zeke voting no. City staff and consultants described the project as reliant on multiple grants: a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant administered through MDOT that would fund roughly $3.3 million of the downtown connection, and an enhancement grant and local contingency that staff said Lenway Now had indicated would cover much of the remainder. Staff said the total estimated cost for the bike loop is about $5.7 million and that roughly $690,000 has already been spent on design.

Chad, the city administrator, and other staff told the commission they had delivered a draft memorandum of understanding to Lenway Now and were waiting for redlines from Lenway Now's attorney. "I've delivered a memorandum of understanding to Lenway Now," the city attorney said during the meeting, adding he had spoken with Lenway Now's attorney and was awaiting a response. Commissioners pressed whether funding assurances were verbal or contractually guaranteed; staff said Lenway Now had been paying bills on the projects to date but the MOU remained unsigned.

The Smith Group, the engineering consultant on the project, presented design details and safety features, including a two-way protected bike lane on the west side of Winter Street with raised elements where feasible, delineators elsewhere, and a raised midblock crosswalk. "As designed, we've talked with MDOT and Smith Group and they've all assured me that these are safe," one commissioner summarized after the presentation, noting that the designs conform to current MDOT and NACTO guidance as presented by consultants.

During public comment, resident Jerry Tim urged commissioners not to approve the loop, calling the Winter–Mami intersection "a hot mess" and arguing the design would confuse drivers and bicyclists. "Voting yes means you value grant dollars more than the safety of our citizens," Tim said.

Commissioners balanced those concerns with the risk of losing grant funding if the project were not advanced. Staff said the enhancement grant money must be spent by Dec. 31 and that the TAP grant funding is tied to completing the downtown connection. Staff also noted a $1.3 million contingency Lenway Now discussed during grant meetings that could be used for overruns, and that each project contains a roughly 10% contingency built into the budget estimates.

Next steps: staff said Town Square bids have been received and that the Winter Street work will require a state bidding process; depending on approvals and procurement outcomes, construction would not begin immediately, with staff estimating at least one to four months before groundbreaking on different components. The city attorney and administrator said they would continue negotiating the MOU with Lenway Now and return to the commission with required contract approvals during future procurement steps.