ACROSS. Getting our point... It s Working as Advertised! friends of the

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1 friends of the News from the Friends of the Clinton River Trail Spring, 2014 Getting our point... It s Working as Advertised! Friends of the Clinton River Trail, and supporters of trails everywhere, have long maintained that trails are engines for economic development and can add value to surrounding property. Logically then, it seems likely developers would look for opportunities to build in the vicinity of trails. Guess what? That is exactly what is happening. This trail season will see new housing developments established in multiple locations in Rochester, Rochester Hills and Auburn Hills and all directly abutting the trail. Some trail users may find news of these developments threatening to the natural environment of the trail. Certainly construction right beside the trail can be distracting. However, FCRT s role is not to oppose development (we have no legal standing to do so anyway) but rather to work with the communities and the developers to establish the best possible interface design between the trail and surrounding developments and to maintain the integrity of the trail before, during, and following construction. Look for more details on these new trail neighbors in the story on page 3. Housing developments are not the only new construction along the trail. FCRT s efforts to improve road crossings have been implemented this season. Check out the lead story for all the details. FCRT is also waiting to hear whether a MDOT Transportation Alternatives Grant has been awarded to Rochester, Rochester Hills and Auburn Hills. If received, this grant will fund installation of several new amenities including signage at most major road crossings. Should this grant be turned down, FCRT will pursue other funding sources to implement these improvements along the trail. The Friends group is working to insure the safest and most enjoyable trail experience possible for all trail users. If you have comments or concerns please be sure to attend one of our meetings or drop us a note at: info@clintonrivertrail.org. See you on the trail Fred Phillips, President Produced by the Friends of the Clinton River Trail Meetings last Tuesday of each month (check website for location) ACROSS How FCRT worked with towns, counties, the state & private foundations to build safe road crossings For the past few years the number one priority of FCRT has been to improve the safety of major road crossings along the Clinton River Trail. Especially concerning were the gateway ends of the trail where users had to deal with particularly difficult crossings. At the western end of the trail, crossing Orchard Lake Road in Sylvan Lake brought the dual challenge of a very long diagonal crossing of nearly five lanes plus 35 mph or higher speed traffic. Dequindre Road in Rochester, the eastern gateway to the trail, has high traffic volumes as well as a long downhill run yielding near expressway vehicle speeds. Through the effort of FCRT, both of these crossings have now been redone in ways that significantly improve safety and the ease of crossing. continued next page

2 trailways Getting Our Point Across WEST END: SAFE CONNECTION TO WBT Thanks to UPS Foundation! Connecting from the CRT to the West Bloomfield Trail necessitates crossing Orchard Lake Road. That crossing location now features the first in the county, mid-block trail crossing with a High-intensity Activated cross-walk, or HAWK, beacon. This pedestrian or cyclist activated device signals traffic to stop to allow safe crossing. Although funding for this installation came from several sources, the overall project was enabled by a $25,000 grant from UPS Foundation. Oakland County uses a Tri-Party program that divides the cost of unique, high priority roadway improvements three ways. Oakland County pays 1/3, the Road Commission for Oakland County pays 1/3, and the local municipality pays 1/3. The City of Sylvan Lake participates in that program and Oakland County had funds available; however, despite the recognized safety risk at the crossing, the City of Sylvan Lake had been unable to commit its estimated $38,333 share since 2008 when the project was first suggested. By 2012 Oakland County was threatening to remove the project from Tri-Party eligibility if Sylvan Lake was unable to commit the needed funds. continued from cover EAST END: SAFE CONNECTION TO MOT The anticipated requirement for a pedestrian safety island on the Dequindre Rd. crossing between CRT and the Macomb Orchard Trail was first identified in the 2004 CRT Master Plan. However, other priorities and the economic downturn of 2008, meant no action had been taken by 2011 when increasing traffic and complaints led the FCRT to stress the criticality of improving the crossing. At that time the City of Rochester and Oakland County Planning called the key stakeholders together including FCRT to assess possible crossing alternatives. Rochester City Manager Jaymes Vettraino took a leadership role and approached the City Council for support. Unlike Sylvan Lake, the Rochester City Council was able to authorize spending Rochester Tri-Party funds and agreed to approach MDOT for additional funding under the MDOT Transportation Alternatives Program. In total $193,000 was reserved to cover realignment of the lanes on Dequindre and to establish the planned pedestrian safety island. Having seen the success of the Livernois Rd. crossing, as well as the disappointment surrounding the Crooks Rd. crossing design, Rochester and RCOC agreed to mimic the design at Livernois. FCRT still maintains crossing safety as a short-term, high priority focus. The Friends group continues to fight to have better signage and pavement markings at all road crossings. Any users who see there is a particular crossing that has an issue should be sure to let FCRT know their concerns. AFTER: The new crossing will afford a break midway and avoids having to cross both directions of Dequindre traffic at once. Fortunately FCRT, with help from Oakland County Planning, was able to secure a $25,000 grant from UPS Foundation to be used toward the crossing. With further help from private donors FCRT was also able to commit the needed balance of $13,333 to fully cover the Sylvan Lake share of the anticipated $115,000 project cost. The UPS Foundation grant and FCRT s commitment allowed the project to proceed. The final result is a long anticipated and greatly needed improved crossing. During the HAWK installation, trail users and other passers-by were so thrilled at the prospect of these improvements, they were thanking the construction crews on an almost daily basis. 2

3 Spring 2014 Someone s Movin In Next Door Trails attract growth. Over the course of this summer CRT users will likely see direct evidence of that springing-up right along the trail. In most cases the Friends group has been in direct contact with either the developer or respective city officials to try to insure the interests of trail users are recognized and protected. FCRT has generally found developers and city staffs receptive to our suggestions to improve the interface with the trail. In some cases developers have even offered to provide amenities directly for the benefit of trail users. Starting from the east end, the first proposed development is Overlook. It is just east of the Second St./Letica trailhead near downtown Rochester. This 70 unit condominium project abuts the CRT; however, the site plan and typography are such that most of the development will hardly be noticeable from the trail. Another project in downtown Rochester will have a more direct impact on the trail. The City of Rochester has worked a land-swap deal with the developer of the proposed Mill Town project so that the CRT will actually be re-routed to make way for this 131 unit high-end apartment development. The re-routing will move the trail closer to the river starting at the west end of the Paint Creek Bridge and extending roughly ¼ mile to the west. The new route will provide a much more scenic and interesting path. Going west into Rochester Hills, Sanctuary at River s Edge will be a high-end housing development abutting the north side of the trail slightly east of the Clinton River Bridge. The developer plans 19 large, singlefamily homes which will be separated from the CRT by a tree-lined fence with a gated private access point to the trail. On the south side of the trail and just west of the Clinton River Bridge is Rochester College. The College has invited members of FCRT to participate in its effort to make this area more accessible to the public. Not far from the trail, but generally not visible, is Lake Norcentra which is a key feature on the campus. The specifics on what facilities or amenities will be made available to the public will be the subject of on-going design efforts over the summer. Anyone interested in this project is encouraged to visit the website: Leaving Rochester Hills and entering Auburn Hills trail users will likely see the new Parkways development just west of Adams Road along the north side of the trail. Once completed this project will include 76 townhouses, 72 stacked flats, a 160 unit senior living complex, and a new City owned park. The site plan features a tree-lined border and calls for a pathway to connect from the complex to the CRT. The path will also provide CRT users with access to the proposed park area. Jumping over to Pontiac there is the potential for the interesting 338 unit car condos at the M1 Concourse. This project would be located along the CRT temporary route on South Boulevard going west from Woodward. It appears this project is in a conceptual stage. Construction is not anticipated this spring. Contact the respective City s Planning Department for more detailed information on any of these developments. No Map? No MOBI? No Problem! For the past couple years FCRT has been using a MOBI tag to allow smartphone and tablet users to access the CRT map along with several other functions. It turns out the MOBI tags have not become as popular as first anticipated. We have found that not all users have the app to scan MOBI tags, plus Microsoft has announced it intends to abandon the support for these tags within the next few years. So, to keep the mobile website working as intended, FCRT is now introducing a new QR code that will take users to the same destination as the current MOBI tag. Both scan codes will work for now; however, look for the QR code in all future FCRT literature and on signage along the trail. If you haven t already explored the FCRT mobile website, scan either of the above codes. There you will find information about the CRT; trails maps for CRT as well as Macomb Orchard, Paint Creek and West Bloomfield trails; information on the upcoming Fall Classic; and access to the full clintonrivertrail.org website. Situated in the shadow of the M-150 bridge near the Diversion Street trailhead, Clinton River Landing at Rochester will provide an intimate amphitheater plus direct connections between the river, the trail and downtown Rochester. This proposed development by the Clinton River Watershed Council would be the first of a chain of WaterTowns sites along the river. 3

4 trailways Positives In Pontiac Unfortunately, everyone in the area has probably heard something negative about the financial woes in the City of Pontiac. When it comes to the Clinton River Trail, however, there are a number of positive actions that have taken place or are planned for the near future. Despite the shortage of City funds for recreational facilities, Pontiac has been applying for grants for CRT with significant success. The first obvious success is the new road crossing sign installed near the entrance to Beaudette Park along Orchard Lake Road. The sign was installed last fall using funds from a Michigan Department of Community Health Obesity Prevention Grant received by Oakland County Health Department on behalf of the group Healthy Pontiac, We Can! Healthy Pontiac, We Can! has developed a strategic plan to improve the overall well-being of Pontiac residents through a combination of healthy diet and exercise. The Clinton River Trail provides an excellent opportunity for recreation and exercise, however, it was felt too few residents realized what it is and where it goes. By showing the exact route as well as amenities and destination points along the trail, it is hoped people will be more inclined to use the trail. Those who are already frequent users are encouraged to explore a little further on the trail. Look for additional similar signage to appear at other key locations in Pontiac. A long-term goal for FCRT is to eliminate the temporary by-pass around the city by establishing a definitive CRT route into downtown Pontiac. The straight forward way to do so would require the purchase of a section of abandoned railway known as the North Spur. There are also several engineering challenges involved in finalizing the trail route extensive bridge repairs and tricky road crossings among them. This is not going to be quick or easy said John Balint, Pontiac City Engineer, but the City is committed to improving the trail. One critical step toward that goal was the recent awarding of dual grants from MDOT and the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund providing limited funding for Pontiac to approach the railroad and pursue acquisition of the North Spur from Opdyke at the Auburn Hills border up to Jaycee Park on the north edge of Pontiac. One other action in the earliest stages of consideration is the creation of a new trailhead. Although it is too soon for details to be available, there is general agreement that a facility including things like a bike rack and perhaps restroom right in downtown would be an excellent addition to the trail as well as helping support the businesses in the area. Despite all the challenges facing the City of Pontiac, the City continues to move forward with improving the CRT. 4

5 Spring 2014 You ve Got Friends Friends of the Clinton River Trail may not be the cleverest name for a group, but for efficiency of word and description, it can t be beat. We are true Friends, who met and share an interest in the Clinton River Trail. While our official friend count numbers in the hundreds, the active group of real Friends numbers about 25. Think of your Facebook friends compared to the real live people you can go to a ball game or have a beer with. The active Friends joined for many reasons, including: I wanted to work on something that helped people get up and out of their houses, getting some exercise and enjoying the outdoors. I stayed with this group because of the fun group of people on the steering committee all working for the same thing. I had a long-standing love of trails as a mountain biker and hiker. I wanted to improve trails in our area and maybe help establish some in the city of Troy. I enjoy the friends I ve met on the Steering Committee and the satisfaction of improving the CRT. I took a chance and started going to FCRT meetings. I like that you can participate as much as time and interest allow. I ve never met a nicer group of folks. I wanted to spend time with people who DO things and I love being on our local trails. I wanted to meet other people and make a positive difference in preserving the natural beauty of this area. Would you like to make more real Friends? If so, come to the next FCRT meeting (check the website clintonrivertrail.org for date) or indicate your interest on the included donor envelope and FCRT will contact you. FCRT S 2014 FUNDRAISING APPEAL Our Trailways newsletter helps illustrate some of the impact FCRT is having on the Clinton River Trail. If you received this newsletter in the mail it is because you have indicated your desire to be a Friend of the trail sometime in the past. In past years we have sent a separate donor appeal letter about a month after the newsletter, but this year we are making the donor appeal here, in the newsletter. That s why mailed copies include a pre-addressed return envelope. FCRT is hoping you will make an investment of at least the cost of a postage stamp to indicate your on-going support for the trail. Since membership in FCRT is free, it sometimes is difficult to know which individuals are still actively interested. Please return the enclosed envelope to indicate your continued interest. Any and all donations to help FCRT in its mission are greatly appreciated. You can also use the envelope to indicate whether you might be willing to play a more active role by joining the FCRT Steering Committee or by helping as a volunteer at the annual Fall Classic. Steering Committee members are critical in guiding the Friends group and advocating for the CRT. Anyone who has participated in the Fall Classic knows that volunteers are the key element in making it a successful event. Annual Meeting A Success Friends of the Clinton River Trail welcomed about 60 members, families, and folks just interested in trails to its annual General Membership Meeting on January 29, Specific action taken at the meeting was the election of the group s Board of Directors for With the needed official business out of the way, the floor was turned over to Todd Scott, Coordinator for Detroit Greenways Coalition. Todd spoke about all the exciting trail activities going on within the City of Detroit. As Todd said, Detroit gets it! meaning that the City staff has really embraced the inclusion of trails and bikeways within the City. For example, both the Riverwalk and Dequindre Cut have become recognized destinations across the region and beyond. Governor Snyder recently announced a planned 599 mile Showcase Trail. That trail, will stretch from Belle Isle in a generally north-south orientation through the Lower Peninsula, then head west all the way to Wisconsin. It will be another step in expanding the City of Detroit trail network as well as connecting Detroit to its northern suburbs. Todd also highlighted the Great Lake to Lake Trail system that will cross Michigan in the opposite direction, i.e. east-west. The Clinton River Trail is a key component in the Great Lake to Lake Trail. CRT is also a critical connector for a section of the Showcase Trail. Name JOIN FCRT! membership application/donation There is no membership fee, however, donations are greatly appreciated and increase the effectiveness of our activities. All donations are tax-deductible through the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester, a 501(c)(3) organization, which has exclusive legal control over the contributed assets. Address City/State/Zip Phone Donation: $20 $50 $100 $200 other (Circle one) Credit Card: Visa MC Account #: Signature: Expires: Make any checks payable to Community Foundation FCRT and mail to FCRT, PO Box 81971, Rochester Hills, MI

6 Friends of the Clinton River Trail PO Box Rochester Hills, MI From the Friends SAVE THE DATE! of the Clinton River Trail Saturday, September 27 Friends of the Clinton River Trail 2 4 Register online at clintonrivertrail.org FALL CLASSIC RIDE & WALK OUR 10TH ANNUAL EVENT! MARK YOUR THANKS AGAIN TO OUR 2013 EVENT SPONSORS: CALENDARS NOW! Peak trail season is underway, and Friends of the Clinton River Trail are already in high gear planning the 10th Annual Clinton River Trail Fall Classic. If you enjoy using the trail, you ll enjoy this event. It s family friendly for walkers and riders of all ages. The start and finish point is Riverside Park in Auburn Hills. Amenities/activities include a shirt, continental breakfast, 5K walk, 5-40 mile independent rides, a guided ride, sponsor and vendor displays, lunch and a lot of fun. Enjoy and support the trail by joining FCRT for our only annual major fund raiser. Online registration is open now, so check the website clintonrivertrail.org for complete registration details. It s easy, fast and secure. FCRT is looking forward to seeing you in September! Bring your family, bring your friends. THANKS TO OUR 2013 PRESENTING SPONSORS: DTE Energy Genisys Main Street Bicycles Republic Services Outdoor Action Company Performance Bicycle 7:39 ers Bike Club Advenovation A. Raymond Tinnerman Walmart Letica Slow Spokes Rochester Bike Shop Sam s Club