August 11, 2003
August 11, 2003
KOCHVILLE TOWNSHIP – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today presented checks for seven new transportation enhancement grant projects in the Bay region totaling $1,884,050. She also presented the community with a check for $13 million to resume construction on a road enhancement project at the M-84/Kochville Road site in Saginaw and Bay counties.
Today’s news follows Granholm’s announcement last week that the state would award $9.8 million in federal dollars to fund 14 new transportation enhancement grants in communities across Michigan. The projects are designed to improve community recreation areas, walking trails, and streetscapes in downtown areas.
“I am pleased to announce these enhancement grants that will be used to improve communities across the Bay region and the Thumb,” Governor Granholm said. “These communities are home to small businesses that help Michigan’s economic engine hum, and these enhancement projects will have a direct impact on dressing up downtowns and business districts with new streets, sidewalks, lighting, and landscaping.”
The Bay area projects announced today include $1.4 million in federal dollars and $390,299 from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Trunk Line Fund. Governor Granholm delivered checks for the following seven enhancement grants projects:
•City of Montrose, M-57 Streetscape Project. A check for $160,000 was delivered to the City of Montrose in Genesee County to streetscape a one-tenth mile stretch of M-57 in the community from Saginaw Street to the Central Michigan Railroad. It will include ornamental concrete sidewalks, street lighting and street furniture. The project will be coordinated with another effort to resurface the road and fix drainage later this year.
•City of Ithaca, US-127 Business Route Streetscape Project. A check for $280,420 was delivered to the City of Ithaca in Gratiot County to streetscape a one-tenth of a mile stretch beginning at Main Street and ending at Jeffrey Street. The project is part of the reconstruction of the US-127 business route roadway, and will consist of ornamental paving, decorative lighting, planters, street furniture and landscaping.
•City of Harbor Beach, M-25/M-142 Streetscape Project. The City of Harbor Beach in Huron County received a check for $754,880 to streetscape from Broad Street to Garden Street along M-25, and along M-142 from M-25 to Third Street. The project includes decorative sidewalk, streetlights, and other enhancement elements. It will be built in conjunction with an MDOT road reconstruction project scheduled for 2004.
•Cass City Transportation Service Center, White Rock Motorist Park Project. A check for $305,500 was delivered to the Cass City Transportation Service Center in Huron County for the purchase of additional right-of-way access at the scenic White Rock Roadside Park on M-25. The additional property will expand the existing site, enhancing and protecting the remaining public scenic views of Lake Huron and the historic White Rock.
•Mt. Pleasant Transportation Service Center, Wildlife Crossing Project. A check for $135,943 was delivered to Central Michigan University, who will work in partnership with MDOT to conduct a study along sections of US-127 and I-75 in Isabella, Clare, Roscommon, Crawford, Otsego, Cheboygan and Emmet counties. The study is aimed at understanding and improving management of wildlife-vehicle collisions, which researchers hope will minimize environmental impacts of highways on wildlife by reducing or eliminating these types of collisions.
•Village of Columbiaville, Streetscape Improvements. A check for $81,057 was delivered to the Village of Columbiaville in Lapeer County to streetscape the intersection of First Street and Water Street. The project includes brick pavers, sidewalks, ornamental street lighting, street furniture and landscaping.
•Village of Caro, M-81 Streetscape Project. The Village of Caro in Tuscola County received a check for $278,250 for a project that will improve 1.9 miles of M-81 in the community. The project includes ornamental street lighting and sidewalks. It will be coordinated with another project to reconstruct M-81.
The Michigan Department of Transportation is responsible for transportation enhancement fund distribution in Michigan. MDOT selected 22 projects to receive $9.8 million in federal transportation enhancement allocations. These specially earmarked funds will provide economic, health, safety, and aesthetic benefits to communities in 19 counties.
MDOT's Transportation Enhancement Program, which has funded 1,156 projects since 1992, provides a maximum of 80 percent of the money required for each project. This round of projects averaged 72 percent federal funds, with MDOT, local agencies, and the private sector providing the balance of funds. Transportation Enhancement Program funds cannot be used to build or repair roads.
