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Non-Motorized Trailway

The proposed 25 mile non-motorized trailway would parallel M-22 and M-109 and connect park visitor sites and facilities, including campgrounds, historic sites, beaches, trailheads, and other points of interest within the National Lakeshore.  It would also provide a non-motorized trail connection between popular park sites and the villages of Empire and Glen Arbor.  The trailway would be on public land (either MDOT Right Of Way or National Lakeshore property), separated from the roadway where possible and would provide a safe, alternative transportation opportunity for park visitors and residents.   

Grant Funds will be used to contract with an architectural, design, and engineering firm to conduct a pre-engineering study and environmental assessment to determine the trail route and alignment, design concept, probable cost and range of uses for a multi-purpose trailway facility beginning at Manning Road (Leelanau County line) and extending approximately twenty-five (25) miles to County Road 651 along M-22 and M-109 through the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.  We anticipate that the information provided by this study will be the basis for a Federal/MDOT Transportation Enhancement grant to construct the trailway. Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes will be the fiduciary party requesting and administering grants for the project.    

The project falls under the umbrella of the Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route (LSHR), designated in 2001 under the Michigan Department of Transportation State Heritage Route Program and coordinated by the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments (NWMCOG).  The LSHR Committee who oversees the Heritage Route Management Plan (see appendix A) represents twelve (12) municipalities, SLBE, MDOT, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, The Leelanau Conservancy, the Leelanau County Road Commission, and citizens.

The LSHR Committee appointed a Trailway Work Group, which includes the NWMCOG, the National Park Service – SLBE & RTCA, Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, MDOT, TART Trails, local governments, and citizens.  The Work Group has been working together for nearly a year to complete the initial planning and scoping for the 25 mile trailway.  (Please see the Work Group membership and qualifications below).

The Work Group’s next steps are:

1) To conduct an environmental assessment to select a preferred trailway route and design

2) To conduct a pre-engineering study to determine engineering, design, and construction costs. 

The Trailway Work Group does not have the “in house” capacity to professionally conduct in a timely manner the next steps, so we are seeking funds to contract with an engineering and architect firm to do so.   

The Environmental Assessment will be ready for public comment in the Spring of 2008.

The Trailway Work Group will support the contractor’s efforts through providing data and resource information, maps and GIS ability, and planning expertise.  The Work Group will also work with the local municipalities to plan and route the trailway through their communities as well as discuss and seek agreement on management and maintenance options.

After completion and review of the environmental assessment and pre-engineering study, in cooperation with the MDOT and the NPS, the LSHR hopes to apply for Federal Transportation Enhancement funds to design and construct the trailway.  We will work to identify sources of any required match for the Transportation Enhancement Grant.

Residents and park visitors are excited about the proposed trailway.  We have kept the local municipalities, county, and other stakeholders informed through municipal board meetings, information flyers, representation at public events, and through local press.  We solicit and consider public input and invite interested individuals to participate on the Work Group. We have only received positive responses and support for the project to date!

Gozling Czubak, an engineering firm located in Traverse City, MI was selected to do the Environmental Assessment and Pre-engineering for the trail. Their report was submitted for review by the National Park Service in August, 2007. The plan is currently undergoing some revision and review and we hope to have it completed this fall and be able to make it available for public comment in the Spring of 2008.

A grant from the DOT Federal Highway Administration for $240,000 has been received by the Michigan Department of Transportation to conduct the design and engineering work for the trail. This work will begin following the Environmental Assessment and initial engineering is completed.

Trailway Work Group members include:

Patty O’Donnell, Regional Planner, NWMCOG

Barbara Nelson-Jameson, Program Coordinator and Outdoor Recreation Planner, NPS-RTCA, MI

Gary Neimi, Transportation Service Center in Traverse City, MDOT

Kerry Kelly, Chairperson, Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes

Tom Ulrich, Assistant Superintendent, SLBE

Steve Yancho, Chief of Resource Management, SLBE

Kim Mann, Historical Architect, SLBE

John Peck, Civil Engineer

Missy Luyk, TART, Inc.

Tom Nelson, Leelanau Conservancy

Frank Wilcox, Glen Arbor Township Planning Commission

Cheryl Fettes, Village of Empire Board

Lois Bahle, TART and Suttons Bay Chamber of Commerce

Eric Winkelman, Citizen

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