Pedestrian pathway will link Pittsfield Township's west side to its central park land
Pittsfield Township government recently approved plans for a pedestrian pathway that links residents from the township’s west side to its central park land, officials said.
The project, better known as the Lohr-Textile Greenway, will border Lohr Road south of Ellsworth Road and north of Textile Road. It also and stretches on Textile east of Maple Road and west of State Road.
Pittsfield Township Supervisor Mandy Grewal
It is financed by a $300,000 grant from the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission’s Connecting Communities program, and the township board unanimously approved creation of the capital fund to start the project at their last meeting, said Supervisor Mandy Grewal.
The corridor borders multiple subdivisions consisting of hundreds of homes.
It’s part of a larger vision to connect the Ann Arbor and Saline communities with pathways through Pittsfield Township.
“In terms of establishing a network of non-motorized connections for our communities, this is a very positive step,” she said. “For a one- to two-mile stretch we're getting a lot of bang for our buck.”
The push for more pathways on the township’s north side began in earnest last July after the death of Saline cyclist Tim Pincikowski, whose bicycle was struck from behind by a vehicle just south of where Maple and Ellsworth roads intersect in Pittsfield Township. Pincikowski, 45, died at the scene and is survived by a wife and two children.
The driver, Nicholas Wahl, pleaded guilty to one count of negligent homicide and in March was sentenced to two years probation and a $10,000 fine, court records show.
Grewal said the tragedy underscored the need for more routes of non-motorized transportation and more attention to the issue.
“It highlighted the problem and the need and to get proactive,” she said.
The grant limits funding to construction costs only and the township will cover costs for the initial design and engineering work out of general fund reserves.
The goal is to apply for additional grants to offset that cost, Grewal said. That is expected to happen before construction begins, according to the measure unanimously approved by trustees in late March, documents stated.
Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
momwhocares
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 9:19 p.m.
I am writing in protest of the Pittsfield Lohr Textile Greenpath. Pittsfield township is refusing to consider the idea of placing this "road" on the north side of Textile where there are no yards, homes or 125 year aged trees in jeopardy. The argument for the south side, is safety. If safety is such a concern, perhaps the township should consider the so frequent request of slowing down the speed limit on Textile. If the speed limit were lowered, there would be no issues with pedestrians and bikers crossing the road a Maple, or utilizing the road for biking, as so many bikers prefer. We are still trying to understand why crossing at Textile and Lohr is less of an issue than crossing at Textile and Maple. At the last "community meeting" the majority of the attendees were there to protest this project. The township insists they are negotiating with effected home owners, but they are refusing to listen to our requests. And they are willing to build these "linear parks" in our yard, and over the path of natural wetlands, and beautiful trees, instead of where there is little at risk. The project being on the north side of Textile (where there is a larger easement) just makes more sense! (Unless of course you are a resident (like Mandy Grewal- Pittsfield Township Supervisor) of the Centennial Subdivisions and you want the "ease" of having the path on your side of the road.) Additionally, on the same note, has the engineering team done the math regarding the number of people from the Lohr Rd subdivisions that would have to cross to get to the east side of Lohr? That is far more of a risk, then having to cross Textile at Maple (If the path were placed on the North side as the majority of the homeowners affected have proposed.). We hope more of the community will join us to protect these beautiful trees! George & Elizabeth Bairactaris (residents of Textile Rd)
momwhocares
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 9:16 p.m.
The township is refusing to consider the idea of placing this "linear park" on the north side of Textile where there are no yards, homes or 125 year aged trees in jeopardy. Additionally, if safety is such a concern, perhaps the township should consider the so frequent request of slowing down the speed limit on Textile. If the speed limit were lowered, there would be no issues with pedestrians and bikers crossing the road at Maple. We are still trying to understand why crossing at Textile and Lohr is less of an issue than crossing at Textile and Maple. At the last "community meeting" the majority of the attendees were there to protest this project. The township insists they are negotiating with effected home owners, but they are refusing to listen to our requests. The project being on the north side of Textile (where there is a larger easement) just makes more sense Then placing it on the south side where so many beautiful trees and home owners are at a loss! (Unless of course you are a resident (like Mandy Grewal- who is the primary advocate for this project) of the Centennial Subdivisions and you want the "ease" of having the path on your side of the road.) Additionally, on the same note, has the engineering team done the math regarding the number of people from the Lohr Rd subdivisions that would have to cross to get to the east side of Lohr? That is far more of a risk, then having to cross Textile at Maple (If the path were placed on the North side as the majority of the homeowners affected have proposed.). We hope more of the community will join us to protect these beautiful trees! Additionally, it is amazing to me that our roads need to be repaved, and we are spending $$$ on putting in "non-motorized paths"? Where are the checks and balances? George & Elizabeth Bairactaris (residents of Textile Rd)
momwhocares
Thu, Aug 19, 2010 : 9:11 p.m.
The township is refusing to consider the idea of placing this "linear park" on the north side of Textile where there are no yards, homes or 125 year aged trees in jeopardy. Additionally, if safety is such a concern, perhaps the township should consider the so frequent request of slowing down the speed limit on Textile. If the speed limit were lowered, there would be no issues with pedestrians and bikers crossing the road at Maple. We are still trying to understand why crossing at Textile and Lohr is less of an issue than crossing at Textile and Maple. At the last "community meeting" the majority of the attendees were there to protest this project. The township insists they are negotiating with effected home owners, but they are refusing to listen to our requests. The project being on the north side of Textile (where there is a larger easement) just makes more sense Then placing it on the south side where so many beautiful trees and home owners are at a loss! (Unless of course you are a resident (like Mandy Grewal- who is the primary advocate for this project) of the Centennial Subdivisions and you want the "ease" of having the path on your side of the road.) Additionally, on the same note, has the engineering team done the math regarding the number of people from the Lohr Rd subdivisions that would have to cross to get to the east side of Lohr? That is far more of a risk, then having to cross Textile at Maple (If the path were placed on the North side as the majority of the homeowners affected have proposed.). We hope more of the community will join us to protect these beautiful trees! Additionally, it is amazing to me that our roads need to be repaved, and we are spending $$$ on putting in "non-motorized paths"? Where are the checks and balances? George & Elizabeth Bairactaris (residents of Textile Rd)
David Jackson
Sun, May 16, 2010 : 8:41 p.m.
I guess I'm one of the few who don't want the addition of Costco to this specific area. It's not that I don't care for the company or the store, it's that I don't like the location. The addition of the site has encouraged surrounding sidewalk development that will literally go through my back yard. The city has begun marking areas for a sidewalk expansion that will require clear cutting at least (40) 25 year old trees from my backyard that provided my home some sense of privacy from Lohr Road. Although my property has a 12 foot easement the city has marked it for sidewalk expansion far greater than this completely ruining the value of my property. I must now take legal action to try to salvage what is left in the value of my home. What's even worse, the city has the option to locate the sidewalk on the west side of Lohr Road instead of the east side without anywhere the cost or property intrusion. I realize this is a little off topic from of the addition of Costco but such an addition causes substantial collateral damage. Since it involves only the homes on the east side of Lohr Road no one seems to care, it's only a few votes and that's what these decisions are all about.
Plubius
Mon, May 3, 2010 : 10:32 p.m.
More wasted money - when will the elected officials realize that dollar bills don't grow on trees?
SonnyDog09
Mon, May 3, 2010 : 9:57 a.m.
Did I read the article correctly? They are going to spend $300K for a one to two mile long side walk? Will this be paved with gold bricks? The cost seems rather high for a couple of miles of sidewalk.
Jeremy Hallum
Mon, May 3, 2010 : 9 a.m.
I would love to see this path come to fruition. Since I started running in 2001, the bike/running path situation has greatly improved in Pittsfield township, with the new sidewalks down Carpenter to Textile, the new bike path down Platt to Textile, and the proposed path from Lohr to Textile. Before I felt like I was taking my life in my own hands to run anywhere in South Ann Arbor, and it's gotten so much better. Kudos to the Township boards who have supported these enhancements! For my part, I would like to see paths complete the connections on Textile between Lohr and State after the path down Lohr is complete. The back road bike path connections in Avis farms and the subdivision next to it are nice, but a real path would also be really cool.
SalineDoe
Mon, May 3, 2010 : 7:46 a.m.
Pair-o-legal: It is interesting how you are complaining about the need to fill-in missing sidewalk segments. How about those of us who have absolutely no sidewalks or safe passageways whatsoever on the west side, to even walk let alone bike? Are you saying that the rest of the township should just ignore an available county grant, just wait until a solution is found to fix the blank spots in your bike route, all while we ride next to the fast lanes of traffic for miles after miles? If you have several sidewalk/path segments already in place, then that would suggest your region has been focused on to a degree over the years - not like other portions of the township. This isn't an east vs. west issue. Rather, it appears to be part of an overall plan to get everyone connected, and I support this. Such things don't happen overnight. And don't assume I am "wealthy" to make such a comment. I definitely am not, and being laid-off for the past several months would confirm that. How is your job working out for you? Finally, don't you dare talk about "body count" when a someone I knew "on the west side" lost his life last year because we have absolutely NO bike system available to us (not a mere missing link or traffic signal). You haven't earned that right. Nor have you earned the right to prioritize the value of people's lives on either side of the township.
Ron Torrella
Sun, May 2, 2010 : 9:01 p.m.
Well, it's good to see the Township being proactive about providing sidewalks, but does the Township seriously expect commuter cyclists to ride on that path (or worse, sidewalk)? Is the Township going to be maintaining that pathway during the winter months, keeping it free of snow so that commuter cyclist can continue cycling to work year-round? (Doubtful.) Frankly, I'm *peeved* that the Township seems to be ignoring the problem that pedestrians on the east side now face after the County widened Carpenter Road (from 2 to 5 lanes, with traffic now traveling 50-65 mph). ONE CANNOT SAFELY CROSS CARPENTER AT CLOVERLANE DRIVE and nobody from The Pines, The Hamptons, The Woodlands, or Arbor Ridge is foolish enough to go down to Morgan Road (dirt road, lots of heavy vehicular traffic), in order to get to a crosswalk! That's worth repeating: There is NO safe place for residents of The Pines, The Hamptons, The Woodlands, or Arbor Ridge to cross Carpenter Road at Cloverlane where, by the way, there IS an existing sidewalk! Morgan Road DOES NOT have a sidewalk, but the County thought that that would be a GREAT place to put in a crosswalk. NOBODY uses that crosswalk! I've appealed to the County to put in a traffic light, at least, at Cloverlane and Carpenter, and that fell on deaf ears. I've discussed the possibility of adding 1/4 mile of sidewalk on the east side of Carpenter between Cloverlane and Ellsworth with at least one Township Trustee, and this idea seems to have fallen by the wayside. Again, I'm glad they're doing something about providing a safe way to get from the (wealthier) west side of Ann Arbor to this central park (despite its questionable attractive value), but why can't the Township take care of an exist problem before diving headlong into this new project? Does the Township place a lower priority on providing safe passage for residents in a lower tax bracket? Surely not, but what explanation is there for their inaction? Perhaps the wheels aren't squeaking enough over here on the east side. And where is the WBWC on this? Are they even AWARE that this problem exists? I sure hope the Township does something about this BEFORE we start to accumulate a body count! Heaven knows, the County isn't going to do anything about it! Ron Torrella
CycloChemist
Sun, May 2, 2010 : 8:08 p.m.
Bicyclists and pedestrians should know that the local advocacy group, WBWC (www.wbwc.org), has actively pursued a connector between A2 and Saline for over a year. We've put our energy into a crossing in the area of A2/Saline Rd. Design and funding issues are formidible. The project is actualy better known as the Ann Arbor - Saline Trail. Names are important. MDOT may participate in non-motorized trail development but not sidewalks. Please contact the WBWC if you are interested in safe bicycle/ped facilities between A2 and Saline and elsewhere in Wash. Cnty.
lsm
Sun, May 2, 2010 : 7:37 p.m.
It would be great if the path could extend North on Lohr to include a pedestrian bridge to the Briarwood area! This would also allow safer passage for kids to ride their bikes to the mall, Pioneer and downtown Ann Arbor.
markguy
Sun, May 2, 2010 : 2:29 p.m.
Great news. A couple times a week in the summer I ride to work at Avis Farms and I take Lohr to avoid State. Too bad this can't include a path, sidewalk or bike lane on State south of Ellsworth. There are a surprising number of pedestrians on this stretch and an increasing number of bikers.
DBH
Sun, May 2, 2010 : 1:59 p.m.
A map would be appreciated.