Your Input Wanted at Complete Streets Interactive Community Event

The Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) will hold three days of interactive community events on May 20, 21, and 22 as part of its Woodward Complete Streets master planning effort, heralded as the single largest Complete Streets planning effort ever undertaken in North America. This is the second in a series of five planned for the Woodward corridor, and will target the cities of Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills. The event will be held at 555 S. Woodward (on the west side of the building, facing Old Woodward). 

This three-day event is called a “charrette” and will focus on the cities of Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills; however, all area residents and community stakeholders are encouraged to attend and help make Woodward a road that functions for everyone. 

This effort is being led by the WA3, in conjunction with consulting firm Parsons Brinckerhoff and a Steering Group comprised of representatives and policy makers from Wayne and Oakland counties, the 11 municipalities along Woodward, MDOT, M1 Rail, SEMCOG and associated advocacy groups. 

The Woodward Complete Streets master planning initiative is designed to make the entire 27-mile Woodward corridor more friendly and accessible for users of all modes and abilities. The project is community-driven and the public is encouraged to attend and participate. The upcoming interactive Complete Streets events will feature presentations, design sessions and a walking audit with walkability expert Dan Burden of the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute on Tuesday, May 21st from 9 am - Noon. 

The three-day Woodward Complete Streets event will be held at 555 S. Woodward (on the west side of the building, facing Old Woodward). For more information, visit: www.transformwoodward.com. These events are free. No registration is required and all ages are welcome. The schedule is: 

Monday, May 20

• Community meeting & presentation: 5–7 p.m. 
• Drop-in hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Tuesday, May 21 

• Walking Audit and Interactive Design Workshop: 9 a.m.-Noon 
• Drop-in: Noon–8 p.m. 

Wednesday, May 22 

• Come hear what we have done/Plan Concepts Presentation: 5-7 p.m. 
• Drop-in: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

“We want to create a street that truly works for everyone. Imagine a corridor that accommodates people of all ages and abilities, including pedestrians, bicyclists, seniors, mobility-challenged individuals, transit riders and motorists,” said Jason Fowler, WA3 and Woodward Complete Streets Program Manager. “By engaging the residents and businesses along the corridor, as well as industry experts in this visioning process, we can develop a wide variety of innovative solutions and create a successful master plan.” 

Walkability expert Dan Burden, who will be in Birmingham leading the workshops and walking audits, remarked, “The Woodward Avenue Complete Streets master plan, which will cover 27 miles, could be the single largest Complete Streets planning effort ever undertaken in North America.” 

Upcoming Complete Streets meetings in other communities include: 

• Bloomfield Township/Pontiac – June 3-5 
• Pleasant Ridge, Huntington Woods, Royal Oak and Berkley – June 10-12 
• Downtown Detroit through Highland Park – June 17-19 

Source: Woodward Avenue Action Association