February and March have been busy for the Washtenaw Avenue communities.  Following the completion of the Corridor Redevelopment Strategy in 2010 which included recommendations on master plan and zoning amendments to affect future land use development, motorized and non-motorized improvements and guidance on future cooperation, the communities have held a number of public informational meetings and public hearings.

 

Through these meetings the communities have sought input on the potential to create a Corridor Improvement Authority (CIA) for Washtenaw Avenue, enabled by PA 208 of 2005.  While only one of the recommendations in the Strategy, this more formal cooperation structure would increase the group's competitiveness for obtaining State and Federal funding for planning efforts and for bricks-and-mortar improvement projects to the corridor.  A CIA is also the only option that has the ability to raise local funds through tax increment financing.  The participating communities are interested in this TIF primarily to be used as match funds to receive federal funds for transportation improvement projects.  In a time when communities are facing difficult economic challenges, much of the transportation dollars allocated to our communities are forfeited due to an inability to come up with local matching funds.  Identifying methods of attracting and securing outside funds is one of the primary goals of the ReImagine Washtenaw Avenue project.

 

As we seek community input, other work to implement changes continues.  Communities are amending Master Plans and zoning ordinances to encourage mixed use, accessible development.  MDOT and the WCRC have plans in the hopper to make segments of Washtenaw Avenue and connecting roads more multimodal.  AATA is planning for significantly increase service on Route 4, developing a Park-and-Ride, and improving transit shelters. A draft development area boundary has been created and communities are putting cost estimates with a number of pedestrian and transit improvement projects.

 

As we continue working toward improving this significant corridor, check back frequently for updates and more opportunities for input.

 

With the grand overview vision for the Washtenaw Avenue corridor complete, the communities are expanding their efforts to engage residents and business owners to better understand the shared community vision. 

 

In addition to an interactive website coming online allowing people to indicate on a map specific areas they can describe their vision for, there will be two public engagement events mid-summer.  The dates are yet to be determined, however both will be held at a location on Washtenaw Avenue, with one meeting early morning and one early evening to make them more accessible to both the business and residential crowd.

 

Now I ask of you...

What information would you like to see presented and/or available at these events?

What would best help you to understand the potential project scope, the work done, and the opportunities ahead?

What tools or resources do you need available to help explain or demonstrate your concerns with the corridor?

How would you like to share/communicate your vision with others at the event? (eg. informal group exercise, survey, visual preference mapping)