A group of citizens formed the Kalamazoo Bicycle Pedestrian Coalition last July to get needed changes to make it safe for all users on Michigan Ave. This project was called the “Safe Streets Campaign”. Work with City and State personnel made us realize that a more comprehensive approach was needed to ensure Kalamazoo streets be made “Safe, Convenient and Accessible for All Users”. We changed the n
ame of the group to Complete Streets Coalition to reflect the comprehensive approach and to show the support we received from the community. Shortly before the group’s name change MDOT agreed to hold a charette for Michigan Ave. and KATS (Kalamazoo Area Transportation Study) came out with a draft Complete Streets Policy for the region. Those of us at working at the Coalition see our mission as two part:
Inform and encourage Kalamazoo County residents, businesses and community groups to attend and participate in MDOT's Michigan Ave design charette and
Support and comment on the Kalamazoo Area Transportation Survey's (KATS) Complete Streets policy
To accomplish this we have built a website that offers information about transportation concepts and contacts, projects and meetings in the area to make the streets in our community safer, more accessible and convenient for all users. Citizens told us many times during the past year it was not apparent how to initiate the process or how to participate in it to achieve needed improvements. The site will inform you about the process and make it more transparent so that citizens will have a chance to participate. Good transportation options make our community more livable and sustainable. Let's work together to improve our options. Take a minute to visit our website and get involved. http://completestreetscoalition.weebly.com/
