Marquette adopts Active Transportation Plan supported by MDARD grant

The Marquette City Commission voted unanimously on March 19 to adopt the citys Active Transportation Plan, a grant-funded document that recommends improvements for biking, micro-mobility and pedestrian infrastructure and provides a manual for future capital planning.

City staff told the commission the plan was produced after a public participation process and in partnership with Tool Design, a planning and engineering firm. The total contract for the plan was $59,968, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) rural development fund grant covered $41,978 of that amount. The clerk emphasized approval fulfills the citys grant obligations and does not obligate the city to immediate construction or specific design decisions.

Commissioners praised the reports thorough public outreach and practicality. "I think it's a really good report. I hope the money to implement it is found," Commissioner Gotautle said. Commissioner Hanley and others highlighted the plan's community engagement and recommended pursuing available funding opportunities to implement priority items.

Deputy City Manager Sean Hobbins, who participated in the planning process, thanked residents and public boards for the input used in the final draft. The commission adopted the plan by a 6-0 roll-call vote; the clerk noted the adoption completes the citys obligations under the MDARD grant and positions Marquette to be competitive for future state and federal funding for implementation.