Task force recommends immediate investment to save city roads
Caroline MacGregor February 27, 2013 | WGVU
A task force
is recommending immediate investment to upgrade streets in Grand Rapids or risk
allowing the entire system to fall to ruin. That’s the sobering word from members of the Sustainable Streets Task Force.
Right now 63% of Grand Rapids Streets are in
such bad shape that the number will rise to 94% in nine years’ time if action
is not taken quickly.
Suzanne Schultz is the head of the Sustainable Streets Task Force. For over a year the task
force has met twice a month looking at road conditions, assessing how the
situation deteriorated so quickly and finding funding sources, and solutions. Schultz
says state and local investment is needed now to save the system.
Task Force
recommendations include: A Vital Streets approach for the city’s economy. Public
right-of-way that
increases access to businesses, schools, and medical services.
The Task
Force is recommending new local investment of $9 million per year. A series of
focus groups and citizen input sessions will be held before the task force makes
final recommendations by the spring.
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