Grand Valley Metropolitan Council (GVMC) is an alliance of governmental
units in the Grand Rapids, Michigan metropolitan area that are appointed
to plan for the growth and development, improve the quality of the communities
life, and coordinate governmental services.
Latest Developments
The Grand Valley Metropolitan Council offices are moving on July 7, 2009, to the Riverview Building, 678 Front Ave. N.W., Suite 200, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. Phone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses for all staff members will remain the same.
July GVMC Board Meeting will be held on Monday, July 13, 10:30 a.m. at the Prince Center
Growing Communities Conference, June 5, 2009 - United We Plan: Creating Community in the Information Age
With the world-wide internet now leading culture shifts in so many ways, there is an ever-increasing need for two things: (1) overhauling the way we engage everybody in planning for public investment and (2) reimagining our public places virtually, physically and in combination where they overlap. This year, at GVMC’s 16th Growing Communities Conference, we will be examining the many changes in our media, legal systems, politics, planning processes, technologies and techniques. Sessions will take a look at use of social networking websites, our outdated statutes tethering us to outdated methods, leadership among our younger generations, public involvement from all segments of society and the implications of seeing ourselves from everywhere all at once. Conferees will learn methods for improving the speed and effectiveness of public planning and how to create places which allow for continually changing demands. Conferees should also be prepared for some creative abandonment as we consider ways to both embrace our new “light speeds” as we plan for building places with longer, more sustainable “shelf lives”.
Key Note addresses:
Morning, - Paul Schutt, Co-founder and co-CEO of Issue Media Group, creator of Rapid Growth
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for more information click here.
Travel Time Study. A travel time study was initiated in 2007 with an objective of providing travel time and speed data for the travel demand model. A second objective of this study is to provide congestion indicator for use in subsequent congestion management process. GVMC will conduct travel time study every 2-3 years. To view the map click the links below. - Off Peak Travel Time - Am Peak Travel Time - PM Peak Travel Time
Regional Transit in West Michigan? A study is underway to examine the demand for new commuter and intercity bus services connecting communities in Ottawa, Kent and Muskegon Counties. You can help by taking a brief survey on-line at www.westmichigantransitsurvey.info and be entered in a drawing to receive one of several $25 gift cards.
Metropolitan Development Blueprint Award It’s time once again for showing off all the wonderful work being done throughout the region. Applications are now being taken for the Metropolitan Development Blueprint Award. The MDB Awarded is given each year to worthy projects meeting our measures of excellence in urban design, environmental design, regional collaboration, effective regulatory solutions, public involvement and other planning, development and community leadership efforts. For more information, click here…
GVMC Bicycle Lane Liability Workshop - Wednesday, Dec. 3 GVMC hosted a presentation on pedestrian and bicycle roadway design. Guest speakers included Josh DeBruyn, MDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, Ronald W. Emery, Assist. Attorney General representing MDOT, and Deirdre Thompson, MDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Engineer. To view their liability presentation click here...
Fisher Charrette - With generous funding support from several Grand Rapids-based foundations, the Grand Valley Metro Council is conducting a design charrette for Fisher Station, an area along south Division Avenue between 54th and 60th Streets that will house one of the transit stations planned for ITP-The Rapid’s proposed bus rapid transit (BRT) line. more...
GVMC Creates New, Regional Watershed Organization to Serve West Michigan - By unanimous vote, the Grand Valley Metropolitan Council has created the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds (LGROW), a region-wide, collaborative association of counties, municipalities, businesses, educational institutions, philanthropic organizations and individuals dedicated to restoring, enhancing and protecting water quality in the Lower Grand River and its tributaries. more...
2007 Federally-Obligated Projects List - GVMC has released is 2007 Obligated Projects List which outlines all transportation projects which used Federal transportation funds in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area in 2007. more...
REGIS Agency Receives Exemplary Systems in Government Award - The REGIS Agency wins the 2007 Exemplary Systems in Government (ESIG) Award in the Enterprise Systems category. The ESIG awards, inaugurated in 1980 by the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA), recognize extraordinary achievement by government agencies in the use of automated information systems. more...
GVMC Board Urges Lawmakers to Oppose Township Services Consolidation Act - By unanimous vote on June 7, 2007, the Grand Valley Metropolitan Council is urging all State Representatives and State Senators from West Michigan to oppose Michigan House Bills 4780-4788, the so called "Township Services Consolidation Act." In doing so, the GVMC Board joined a growing chorus of voices in opposition to this package of legislation which would require so-called "rural" townships to transfer to their respective county responsibility for delivering certain services, including assessing, taxation and elections. Unfer the bills, "rural townships" are defined as those under a population of 10,000 and those under 20,000 that do not provide police and fire service on a 24-hour basis and do not provide public water and sewer services to more than 50 percent of their residents. Read the GVMC letter to West Michgian legislators.
The Grand Valley Metropolitan Council has adopted, by unanimous vote, a major policy statement on State Budget and Taxation issues and has urged West Michigan to carefully consider the views of GVMC-member counties and communities as they work to solve the state's structural budget and economic problems. more...
GVMC Unveils Michigan's First Advanced Technology Tool to Analyze Pavement Conditions - Grand Valley Metropolitan Council's Mobile Pavement Management System (PaMS), a new advanced technology tool to gather data on pavement conditions and help local and state officials make better decisions about road repairs and reconstruction is now in service in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area. more...
West Michigan Toolkit for Local Green Inventories - The Local communities in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area wishing to protect important natural features, now have another tool in their tool box! GVMC and the Land Conservancy of West Michigan have developed a new guideline entitled the “ West Michigan Tool Kit for Local Green Inventories.”more...
GVMC's Land Use Department announces the completion of its Form-Based Code Study. - The report provides local governments a template for zoning ordinances that emphasize the urban design of places. This is a new approach to zoning that supports traditional town and city forms such as main streets, village greens, and neighborhood centers. more...
Grand Valley Metropolitan Council
40 Pearl St NW, Suite 410
• Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
Phone: (616) 77-METRO (776-3876)• Fax: (616) 774-9292
GVMC Board Meetings can be seen on GRTV Charter Communications Channel
24 the second Tuesday and Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Plus, starting
November 17th on Rogueview Community TV (RCTV) Charter Communications Channel
22 on Mondays at 11:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
GVMC Unveils Michigan's First Advanced Technology Tool to Analyze Pavement Conditions - Grand Valley Metropolitan Council's Mobile Pavement Management System (PaMS), a new advanced technology tool to gather data on pavement conditions and help local and state officials make better decisions about road repairs and reconstruction is now in service in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area.