Larry Obrecht met with about 40 citizens Jan. 11 to answer questions and provide information about the controversial Polly Ann Trail pedestrian bridge, which will span M-24 in downtown Oxford.
The proposed $1.3 million bridge will connect the eastern and western portions of the 12.2-mile non-motorized trail between Center/Davison streets to the south and Church St. to the north. Included in the project is the re-surfacing of the entire trail.
The salient points Obrecht, who serves as the project manager, conveyed to the audience were as follows:
1. Money ? No local tax or millage dollars are being used for this project. Obrecht said the majority of the funding is derived from $1.5 million in federal monies ‘set aside? (specifically for recreational use, enhancement, trails, etc.) in the transportation bill passed by Congress every six years. That money was granted to the Polly Ann Trail through the ‘enhancement arm? of the Michigan Department of Transportation. More than $500,000 in matching funds for this grant were raised through private sources.
2. Tied ? The funding for the bridge and trail re-surfacing are tied together in one project and can’t be separated. ‘If there’s no bridge, there’s no trail,? Obrecht said. ‘I tried to separate them for six years. And they (MDOT) refused to separate the project.? Obrecht said MDOT told him if they were to separate the projects, it would have to be indentified how much money was for the bridge and how much for the trail re-surfacing. If there was a shortfall in one project and a surplus in the other, extra money would have to be raised to make up for the shortfall, while the surplus would be lost. The two couldn’t be mixed.
3. Traffic signal ? Using a traffic signal to regulate the trail crossing on M-24 was out of the question because of MDOT, the Michigan Department of Transporation and safety issues. ‘The degree of difficulty is extraordinary in attempting to get a traffic light on an MDOT road,? Obrecht said. ‘MDOT will have nothing to do with a traffic signal . . . MDOT won’t even entertain the idea of a light.? He added, that, ‘the DNR didn’t want any part of a traffic signal? either.
Obrecht said there’s ‘no way? MDOT would put a permanent signal at the trail crossing because it would be ‘too close? to the light at Burdick St. and the fire station’s emergency-activated signal.
Even if a push-button traffic signal was placed at the crossing ? a light that was only activated when a pedestrian needed to cross ? Obrecht said it wouldn’t be safe because the light change would be something ‘unexpected? to drivers, ‘a surprise.? ‘It’s not something they would be accustomed to,? he said.
‘Traffic wouldn’t stop just because you press a button,? Obrecht said. ‘Someone would be seriously injured out there.?
He referred to the ‘ungodly speed? of the gravel haulers as an added danger.
Obrecht said the ‘bridge is a safety issue? and ‘even if only one person used it? that would ‘be worth it? from a safety standpoint.
4. Maintenance ? ‘The issue of maintenance (on the bridge) will not cost any of the local municipalities any money,? Obrecht said referring to large-scale maintenance or repairs. ‘The maintenace is going to be picked up by someone else ? one of the state organizations.?
Obrecht said large-scale maintenance or repairs to the bridge will ‘not cost the local taxpayers dime one.?
However, ‘daily stuff? such as ‘filling potholes and shovelling snow? will be taken care of by the Polly Ann Trailway Management Council (PATMC).
Currently, each municipality pays the PAT Managment Council a certain fee as part of a ‘maintenance formula.? The fee breakdown is as follows ? Oxford Village $3,600; Leonard Village $1,175; Oxford Township $14,925; Addison Township $9,250; and Orion Township $29,550.
5. Potential ? Former member PATMC and former Oxford Township Trustee Shirley Clancy said the trail and bridge will make Oxford a ‘destination point.? She said people will be able to bike and hike to downtown Oxford ‘for lunch, to do some shopping or go to a movie.?
‘The potential is enormous for making it eventually something very lovely and a magnet for your community,? Clancy said. ‘I have no question in my mind that this will be a tremendous benefit for the Oxford community and I support the bridge wholeheartedly.?
In addition to local businesses, Clancy said the trail and bridge will benefit youth by offering them a ‘safe route? across M-24 to the high school and benefit everyone by offering a means of exercise. ‘It’s a good use of dollars,? she said of the bridge and trail.
Oxford Village Councilman Dave Bailey cited data from Shelby Township which indicated that businesses near the Macomb-Orchard Trail saw their ‘business double during the good season and on good days with good weather.?
‘So it really does have an economic impact on the community,? Bailey said.
Obrecht told the audience once the trail re-surfacing and bridge construction are complete it’s estimated the annual number of ‘trips? taken on the Polly Ann Trail will ‘exceed 300,000.?