City improvement plan to change structure of streets

Mount Pleasant’s 2010 to 2014 Capital Improvement Plan was approved at Monday’s city commission meeting, along with revisions to the original plan that were introduced June 3.

Revisions include moving several projects up to 2009 as a part of the city’s mini-stimulus package, according to the meeting. Several other projects were added and moved, such as a downtown parking study in 2011 and moving Michigan Street and Fancher Street construction dates.

Michigan Street will now be designed in 2009 and built in 2010, and Fancher Street reconstructions will be moved to 2011.

Other projects now slated for 2009 are Lincoln Street and Mosher Street improvements as well as the addition of downtown roundabouts and constructing mini circles in community neighborhoods.

Mosher Street can look forward to additional parking improvements for additional long-term parking spaces, according to the city’s Capital Improvement Plan.

Lincoln Street will also be looked at for long-term parking additions to “alleviate long-term parking strain around the Isabella County Courthouse,” the plan stated.

The need for additional parking arose because area businesses owners, employees, customers and the Isabella County office employees and visitors all share a single parking lot, according to the plan.

The Public Works and Community Services department is now looking to build a roundabout in a downtown intersection to eliminate the need for a traffic signal. Two likely targets, according to the city plan, are Main Street and Mosher Street or Broadway Street and Washington Street.

Neighborhood mini circles will also be constructed, beginning in 2009.

According to the packet, the city plans to add a mini circle to Mosher Street and Fancher Street, as well as mini circles on Washington Street, Main Street, and University Street.

Mini circles have been tried in areas such as Seattle, Wash. and were shown to reduce motor vehicle crashes by an average of 90 percent, according to the City Improvement Plan. The circles have also been recommended to increase pedestrian and bicycle safety.

The downtown parking study in 2011 will cost $20,000 and will evaluate current parking conditions, as well as a possible need for a parking structure in the area.

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