MML CEO and Executive Director Dan Gilmartin was opening keynote speaker at the second annual Northern Michigan Placemaking Summit. Gilmartin spoke on the same day in Traverse City and Petoskey.  

The summit, hosted by the Grand Vision, Michigan Land Use Institute and Northwest Michigan Council of Governments, and co-sponsored by the League, brought together over 100 persons at both locations to hear about projects and activities taking place in the region around place-making. Breakout sessions included discussions on art and culture, downtowns, recreation, walkability and investment.

In his remarks, Gilmartin applauded the work of those in the region, noting that folks understand the need to be moving regional assets together for economic prosperity and that projects are being done at the local level by local people.

The summit once again showed that through the Grand Vision, this region of our state has perhaps the best example of a place and asset based regional economic development strategy that fits right in line with the League's work through the "Center for 21st Century Communities"

To learn more about what's going on view this video.

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives and Federal Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail.

A recent report from the Federal Highway Administration shows that small investments can go a long way.

The analysis comes from a pilot program that provided $100 million to four municipalities across the country ($25 million each) to invest in a infrastructure network for non-motorized transportation, (sidewalks and bike paths).

The program built 333 miles of on-street biking and walking routes, 23 off-street facilities and 5,727 bike parking spaces in the four areas. Compare this to the fact that $100 million would only get you five miles of new four-lane highway!

The FHWA report is full of data showing how a small down payment on active transportation can lead — quickly — to dramatic improvements in air quality, traffic levels, and public health.  Its why the League is supportive of a multi-modal transportation system and why transportation is a critical asset of vibrant 21st century communities as noted in the League's 21c3 program.

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives and Federal Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail. 

The League was present when transit advocates from across Michigan met in Flint on April 19th to hear from the Brookings Institution on reserach performed connecting transportation to jobs. The event was hosted by the Mott Foundation.

The research is included in a Brookings report titled, “Missed Opportunity:  Transit and Jobs in Metropolitan America.”  The report looks at the availability of transit as a means of getting residents to their jobs and studied the top 100 metros in the country, including Grand Rapids and Detroit.

The report notes that 70% of the population in these metros lives within 3/4 mile of transit.  This means that while 88 million Americans are covered, 40 million are not.  Of the 100 metros, Detroit ranks 49th in coverage but 83rd in job access while Grand Rapids ranks 78th in coverageby 14th in job access. 

The disparity comes from the fact that while most Detroit residents have transit coverage, 77% of Detroit metro jobs are 10 miles or more away clearly showing the disconnect between jobs and where people live.

This "transit paradox", between where transit is and where the jobs are is, according to Brookings, creating a unique opportunity to connect people to jobs.

As the governor, legislators, MDOT and others continue the discussion on Michigan's infrastructure we must remember that creating a multi-modal 21st century transportation network is of primary need in order to attract business and ensure Michigan's economic recovery.

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives and Federal Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail.

Such is the title of a new report that shows young Americans are forgoing cars for bikes and buses.

The report, issued by the U.S. Public Interest Group shows that from 2001 to 2009, the annual number of vehicle miles traveled by young people (16 to 34-year-olds) decreased from 10,300 miles to 7,900 miles per capita—a drop of 23 percent.”

And in turn, in 2009, 16- to 34-year-olds as a whole took 24 percent more bike trips than they took in 2001, despite the age group actually shrinking in size by 2 percent. 

And the report notes that between 2001 and 2009, higher income young Americans (16- to 34-year-olds who lived in households with annual incomes of over $70,000), increased their use of public transit by 100 percent, biking by 122 percent, and walking by 37 percent.”

Given the continuing debate in both our national and state capitol over how to fund transportation and for what uses, the report shows that policy makes need to be aware of the shifts taking place and the preferences of growing numbers of Americans to have other options available aside from the automobile.

The report once again shows that the strategies and tools being advanced through the League's "Center for 21st Century Communities" program, toward creating communities that are walkable and contain multi-modal transportation options are indeed rooted in what the market is calling for. 

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives and Federal Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail