What Happened?
The city of Birmingham, MI, is seeking to improve quality of life and economic growth through a “Multi-Modal Master Transportation Plan.” That’s a fancy way of saying that the city wants to improve and expand opportunities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users.
Backstory
The concept, also known as “Complete Streets,” often entails a complete and integrated vision for “people-flow,” no matter how they choose to get around. The plans typically involve more than just adding crosswalks and bike lanes, but rather complete analyses of flow of use. Birmingham is hiring a consultant to help develop a master plan; the RFP for hiring this person should be available soon.
The Goal
According to media reports of a May 7 meeting, the 18-page RFP has states three goals:
- Improve transportation choices through “enhanced” facilities and safety for nonmotorists
- Promote energy conservation through alternative modes of transit allowing for non-use of vehicles
- Improve quality of life through better accessibility and mobility
First Steps
Once a consultant is hired, the city plans to focus on a small subset of streets that are either currently under construction, or will be soon.
Research
Recent coverage of the May 7 meeting is available here.
Details on Birmingham’s Complete Streets program, and the actual city resolution are also available.
Information on Complete Streets initiatives can be found at CompleteStreets.org, and we have pulled together a list of other cities with “Complete Streets” initiatives, many of which have live RFPs: