Messages

16

Corridor 35 Implementation / Re: Unique Natural Features and Attractions along USBR 35

« on: January 10, 2010, 09:02:05 am »

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
North of Frankfort
Sand dunes, bluffs, forests, campgrounds

Pere Marquette State Forest
Traverse City
Rivers, forest, lakes, campgrounds

Mackinac Island State Park
Fort Mackinac

Fort Michillimackinac

Wilderness State Park, west of Mackinaw City
Forest, beaches

Leelanau State Park, N of Northport
Grand Traverse Light, beaches

Lookout Point, N of Onekema

Nordhaus Dunes, S of Manistee

Manistee National Forest, E of Manistee

Pere Marquette National Scenic River, Ludington

Pere Marquette State Forest, Ludington

Silver Lake State Park, Hart - Mears

Pere Marquette Park, Muskegon
US Silversides, Submarine tour

Grand Haven State Park, beach

Holland State Park

Saugatuck State Park
Saugatuck Dune Rides

Van Buren State Park

Warren Dunes State Park

17

Corridor 35 Implementation / Unique Natural Features and Attractions along USBR 35

« on: January 10, 2010, 08:31:09 am »

Please list any natural features and attractions that should be highlighted on the Michigan USBR 35 map.

18

Corridor 35 Implementation / Re: Michigan USBR 35 Corridor Committee Agenda, December 2009

« on: January 05, 2010, 09:19:34 am »

Good point, I have proposed a change to the mission statement in this thread:

http://www.adventurecycling.org/forums/index.php?topic=6423.0

19

Corridor 35 Implementation / Re: Agenda Item 4, How to set up Local Route Meetings

« on: January 05, 2010, 09:18:30 am »

We are working on setting up a local route meeting for the South Haven Area.  I am going to make some notes here on how to put the meeting agenda together.

We are starting with a draft route. The corridor committee member to the south of me is in St. Joseph, and to the north is Holland.  So my focus is on the length of the route between St. Joseph and Holland.  I am going to try to coordinate the meeting with the help of the corridor committee members to the north and south of me. We may decide to split the route up by counties, with each of us taking counties close to our areas.

Before I schedule a local route meeting, I want to make sure that the road organizations are aware of the USBR program, have a copy of the local draft route and are aware that a meeting will take place.  The local road organizations have authority/responsibility for these roads and need to be given notice before any public meeting on the route.  This  gives them the chance to propose changes to the draft route before the meeting.

Based on the route, I will identify the road organizations which control the roads along the route and make a list of contacts from those organizations.  These include cities, road commissions, and MDOT.  When contacting MDOT, I intend to contact someone at the local Transportation Service Center, the Transportation Planner for this area, and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator.

If for some reason, any of the destination muncipalities are not included in the above list, they will be added to the contact list.

Regional planning organizations, Metropolitan Planning Commissions and any regional transportation groups should be identified and added to the contact list.  If applicable, adjacent state or province planning organizations should be added to the contact list.

State Bicycle Trail organizations will be contacted.  I will also look for any local bicycle clubs and try to locate any person with experience biking on local roads, either as a touring or racing bicyclist.

In addition to this contact list, I will try various means of getting the word out that we are looking for interested persons to discuss the route.  In my case, I will use the local cable channel, perhaps the mailings that accompany utility bills, and if I can get authorization for funding, I will put an ad in the local newspaper.  I will put a press release and try to get local media attention for the meeting and make sure it is clear that the public is invited to this open, public meeting.

OK, that is the contact list for a local route meeting.

The next step is to put a public notice together for the meeting.  I will work on that in the next posting on this forum. 

The meeting also requires an agenda.

To recap:

1. Discuss and coordinate with corridor committee members to north and south of me.
2. List all road organizations and contact them with info on USBR, the draft route and the meeting date.
3. List all stakeholders with contact information for individuals within those organizations
4. Once all the road organizations have been contacted, set a meeting date.
5. Put together a public notice and agenda for the meeting.
6. Get the public notice out using various means of publication.

20

Corridor 35 Implementation / Re: Agenda Item 2, USBR 35 Mission Statement

« on: January 05, 2010, 08:37:05 am »

I am copying this comment from Larry Sullivan:

"If the intent is to keep the trail in close proximity to Lake Michigan, the Mission Statement will need to be altered due to the fact that once one goes north of St. Ignace, the trail gets further and further from Lake Michigan and closer and closer to Lake Huron and Lake Superior."

Perhaps a change to clarify:

The Michigan segment of US Bicycle Route 35 will stretch from New Buffalo on the Michigan/Indiana line north along the Lake Michigan coastline, crossing the Mackinac Bridge to Sault Ste Marie in the Upper Peninsula.  Along the way this scenic route will pass through lively and fun beach, harbor and tourist towns, and tranquil farmlands and forests.

21

Corridor 35 Implementation / Re: Agenda Item 3, Destinations Along Michigan USBR 35

« on: December 23, 2009, 12:23:24 pm »

This link should take you to series of maps showing draft routes along the length of the Michigan USBR 35 corridor:

http://maps.google.com/maps/user?uid=100659347579183230280&hl=en&gl=us&ptab=2

22

Corridor 35 Implementation / Re: Agenda Item 3, Destinations Along Michigan USBR 35

« on: December 18, 2009, 04:29:48 pm »

Here is a map of the destinations along the route:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&t=h&hl=en&msa=0&msid=115015011605738350148.00047b0855bf57fe17f12&ll=44.402392,-79.365234&spn=26.781307,56.513672&z=4

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Corridor 35 Implementation / Re: Agenda Item 2, USBR 35 Mission Statement

« on: December 18, 2009, 10:13:44 am »

I like that a lot.  Fun beach towns!

24

Corridor 35 Implementation / Re: Agenda Item 3, Destinations Along Michigan USBR 35

« on: December 18, 2009, 10:13:04 am »

Mark, thanks for responding.

The initial list of destinations is intended as cities through which the route MUST pass.  It is important not to include cities if the local groups might choose a different route.

Cedarville, Hessel: It might be a good route to use M134 to Cedarville and then north on M129.   From there the route could pass through Stirlingville and north on Riverside Dr.  I do not know this area and would like to hear from people who bicycle in that area.  It certainly would be nice to follow the coast as much as possible.

Cross Village, Harbor Springs: 119 is the Tunnel of Trees road and might be a good bike route, however it also adds a lot of distance to the route.  I remember 119 as being a narrow road, I wonder how bicyclists like it.  It does pass near Wilderness State Park Natural Area which is a bonus.

Suttons Bay, Leland, Glen Arbor, Empire: again, the question is how direct should the route be versus how much coastline and beautiful area should be included.

Arcadia: is directly between Frankfort and Onekema, so should be included.

North Muskegon: probably is on the route between Muskegon and Muskegon State Park, so would probably be included on the route.

Spring Lake: I would like to hear from local bicyclists as to the best way to get across the Grand River, and how the route should go in that area.  I only know of the US31 Bridge and from there I suspect that the route north would go through Ferrysburg rather than Spring Lake.

25

Corridor 35 Implementation / Michigan USBR 35 Corridor Committee Agenda, December 2009

« on: November 27, 2009, 10:38:00 am »

UNITED STATES BICYCLE ROUTE 35

MICHIGAN CORRIDOR COMMITTEE

AGENDA

FORUM MEETING

December 2009

Forum Location: Adventure Cycling Forum, USBR 35 Implementation

http://www.adventurecycling.org/forums/index.php?board=34.0


Due to the distances between participants, we will attempt to do business in an internet forum format.  Please bear with us as we try to learn how to hold a meeting on the internet!  We may also hold one or more conference calls if needed.

Please visit the forum location and register to join in the meeting.  The meeting will likely be held over a period of several weeks.

1. Call to Order

2. Roll Call:

Spencer Nebel (Sault Ste Marie)
Russ Soyring (Traverse City)
Mitch Deisch (Manistee)
Heather Venzke (Ludington)
Veneklasen, Bob (Muskegon)
Mark Vanderploeg (Holland)
Paul VandenBosch (South Haven)
Derek Perry (St. Joseph)

NEW BUSINESS

1. Questions and Answers regarding USBR 35.

2. Mission Statement

Draft mission statement:

The Michigan United States Bicycle Route 35 will run along the Lake Michigan coast north to Sault Ste Marie, and will pass through beach, harbor and tourist towns along the Lake.

3. Destinations along Route

Draft List of Destinations through which the route must pass:

Sault Ste. Marie
St. Ignace
Mackinaw City
Petoskey
Charlevoix
Traverse City
Frankfort
Onekema
Manistee
Ludington
Pentwater
Hart
Montague
Whitehall
Muskegon
Grand Haven
Holland
Saugatuck
Douglas
South Haven
Benton Harbor
St. Joseph
New Buffalo

4. Discussion on how to set up Local Route Meetings

5. Adjourn

Respectfully submitted,
Paul VandenBosch

26

Corridor 35 Implementation / Agenda Item 4, How to set up Local Route Meetings

« on: November 27, 2009, 10:16:02 am »

This thread is for use by the Michigan USBR 35 Corridor Committee.

The board will discuss the best way to manage Local Route Meetings.

27

Corridor 35 Implementation / Agenda Item 3, Destinations Along Michigan USBR 35

« on: November 27, 2009, 10:14:19 am »

This thread is for use by the Michigan USBR 35 Corridor Committee.

The board will discuss and approve a list of destinations through which the route will pass.

Destinations are locations that have lodging, restaurants and grocery stores, and which meet the mission statement for USBR 35, and which are on a reasonably shortest-distance-route through the corridor.

Draft List of Destinations through which the route must pass:

Sault Ste. Marie
St. Ignace
Mackinaw City
Petoskey
Charlevoix
Traverse City
Frankfort
Onekema
Manistee
Ludington
Pentwater
Hart
Montague
Whitehall
Muskegon
Grand Haven
Holland
Saugatuck
Douglas
South Haven
Benton Harbor
St. Joseph
New Buffalo

Please review a map and comment on whether these cities are appropriate as destinations, and whether other cities should be added to the list.

28

Corridor 35 Implementation / Agenda Item 2, USBR 35 Mission Statement

« on: November 27, 2009, 10:10:16 am »

This thread is for use by the USBR 35 Michigan Corridor committee.

The board will discuss and approve a mission statement for the Michigan section of USBR 35.

Draft mission statement:

The Michigan United States Bicycle Route 35 will run along the Lake Michigan coast north to Sault Ste Marie, and will pass through beach, harbor and tourist towns along the Lake.

29

Corridor 35 Implementation / Agenda Item 1, Questions and Answers regarding USBR 35

« on: November 27, 2009, 10:08:35 am »

This thread is for use by the USBR 35 Michigan Corridor Committee.

Please lists questions on the process to establish USBR 35 in Michigan.

30

Corridor Plan Updates & Routing Within Corridors / Re: Process to Approve a Route within a Corridor

« on: September 08, 2009, 08:46:11 am »

Ginny;

I would suggest a change to this section:

a. Forming a Corridor Committee

(i) The governing body of a municipality located in a Corridor may invite other municipalities to form a Corridor Committee.  A Corridor Committee may be formed for a state or may be formed with members from more than one state.

Instead:

(i) Any person or organization may invite municipalities to form a Corridor Committee.  A Corridor Committee may be formed for a state or may be formed with members from more than one state.