Public Meeting Summary

---

In order to reach the broadest range of the people potentially interested in this study’s findings, two methods of public involvement were used: public meetings and an internet website.  Both the meetings and the website were advertised in the Westside Advance Newspaper (week prior to the public meetings) and was circulated to 30,000 households in the Study Area.

Two public meetings were held on June 27 and 28, 2000.  Because the Study Area was so large, two meeting sites (Georgetown Township and the City of Walker) were chosen to provide reasonable citizen access to view exhibits and offer comments and concerns about the study.

The exhibits presented at these meetings included:

• Map of Study Area

• Population Trends

• Traffic Volume Trends

• Parks and Non-Motorized Paths

• Existing and Proposed Traffic Generators

• Proposed Road and Intersection Improvements

• Existing and Proposed Transit/Car Pool Services

• Other Suggested Road, Bridge, Intersection, etc. Improvements

The primary purpose of the meetings was to obtain the public’s perception of what issues or projects were needed or desired within the Study Area for the next 25 years.  Staff facilitating the meeting encouraged the attendees to express their desires and concerns about all transportation issues. These comments were either directly placed on an exhibit, put into a “comment box” or discussed with staff from GVMC, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) or consultant staff.  A public meeting summary was prepared at the close of the comment period and included in Appendix C of this report.

The majority of the comments related to:

• Plans for improved access to I-196 in the Chicago Drive/Baldwin Street area,

• Various intersections along M-45 (Lake Michigan Drive),

• M-11 (Wilson Avenue),

• Non-motorized trails, and

• The South Beltline freeway’s impacts.

There were also several general comments expressing concerns about the rapid growth of the area and an uncertainty as to how to deal with traffic, speeding motorists, commercial development, loss of farm land, etc.

The website provided the same information that was presented at the public meetings, but in more detail on a municipality by municipality basis, as well as things like a list of “Frequently Asked Questions”, and how to contact the Study Team via e-mail.  The website can be accessed through Grand Valley Metro Council’s website at www.gvmc.org.

You're Invited to a Community- Wide Discussion on the Southwest Grand Rapids Traffic Study, Transportation Improvements Through 2050

The  Grand Valley Metro Council is currently in the process of identifying future transportation improvements that will be needed to meet anticipated growth in your area for the next 25 years.  The purpose of these meetings is to provide you an opportunity to participate in this study and share your ideas and suggestions for: Improving your area's roadways Intersections/Freeway interchanges Bridges/Railroad crossings Relieving traffic congestion Providing bicycle and pedestrian facilities Transit services
For more information call the Grand Valley Metro Council Office and ask for Jim Snell at (616) 776-7610 or e-mail him at snellj@gvmc.org.
A web page for this study will be added to Grand Valley Metro Council's web page, http://www.gvmc.org, and will be available in early July, 2000.

SUMMARY OF COMMENTS RECEIVED AT TUESDAY’S (6/27/00) MEETING

• Interested in what might be possible at the future M-6/8th Avenue interchange and the area surrounding it.
  

• If a new road is built connecting 20^th Avenue and 18^th Avenue in Georgetown, the intersection of 20^th Avenue and Port Sheldon Drive should be closed, and a traffic light should be installed at the new intersection.  If a new connector is not built, traffic lights should be installed at both the 20^th Avenue and the 18^th Avenue intersections with Port Sheldon Drive.
  

• The angle of the New Holland Street/Chicago Drive intersection is a problem and needs improvement.   
  

• The service drives for Chicago Drive between 32^nd and 36^th Streets cause hazardous intersections and should be improved along with Chicago Drive.
  

• Add Hillside Park (off Highland Drive) to graphics.
  

• Add existing bike paths south of Port Sheldon to graphics.
  

• Supports some widening of 32^nd Street in Hudsonville.
  

• Concerned about selling house near proposed Baldwin and I-196 access improvement
  

• Bike path planning is underway in Jamestown Township

 

SUMMARY OF COMMENTS RECEIVED AT WEDNESDAY’S (6/28/00) MEETING

• Widen Wilson Avenue.
  

• How much extra land would be needed to widen Wilson Avenue?
  

• Make Wilson Avenue into a boulevard like the East Beltline within 5 - 10 years.
  

• Consider a future freeway along the Kent/Ottawa county line that connects I-96 to I-196 near Jenison.
  

• Concerned about the future growth of the City of Walker and the need to have better traffic flow like in other parts of the Grand Rapids area.
  

• Recommends the construction of a bike path along Leonard Street due to the danger of walking or bicycling in the street.
  

• Would like to know the possibility of enclosed vs open drains along Leonard Street east of 8^th Avenue, similar to what is being done west of 14^th Avenue.
  

• Maintain contact with local planning commissions to ensure that planned developments are updated along with preliminary road plans.
  

• Widen Wilson Avenue from I-96 south to 28^th Street.  Design as a boulevard similar to the long range plan used for the East Beltline.
  

• Improve Wilson Avenue.  Include bike paths.
  

• Give Wilson Avenue priority for widening.
  

• Traffic on Wilson warrants 4 or 5 lanes.  School buses stopping on and making left turns from Wilson are very dangerous. Something should have been done 10 years ago.
  

• M-45 needs widening on the east end of the Standale business district

  

SUMMARY OF POST MEETING (by 7/21/00) WRITTEN COMMENTS

• Trying to cross M-45 in Allendale area is hard to do and a traffic light is needed.
  

• Most M-45 motorists do not obey “Do not pass on shoulder “ signs.