A task force to help guide downtown Oxford through the M-24 roadwork expected to happen in 2019 is currently being assembled.

Last week, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) board gave Executive Director Joe Frost the green light to form a committee consisting of business owners, residents and officials.

It has two goals.

One is to help determine what type of streetscape improvements should be made to the downtown area when the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) takes M-24 “down to the dirt” for a “complete rebuild” in 2019, according to Frost.

If the DDA wishes to add elements to the project to improve downtown’s aesthetics (such as light poles and benches), enhance pedestrian safety, improve walkability and calm traffic, it’s going to have to pay for them, Frost explained.

Right now, the DDA has $100,000 set aside for that purpose and officials are looking to at least double that amount when the current fiscal year ends June 30, 2017.

“Our budget has been fairly conservative,” Frost said.

The DDA is hoping to secure a state grant and use local funds as matching money.

Frost noted maintaining on-street parking and lobbying for more traffic signals are priorities.

“We certainly want to keep our on-street parking,” he said. “We feel that the on-street parking benefits our businesses.”

As for traffic signals, Frost would “love to see” more on M-24, particularly at Dennison/Stanton and East streets.

“That’s something that the village master plan calls for as well,” he said. “Right now, it’s over 900 feet from the Burdick St. crossing down to (the traffic light at) Broadway (St.). Those are the only two pedestrian crossings in our (downtown).”

Promotion is the task force’s other purpose.

Members will be expected to come up with ways to promote local businesses during the construction project and let the public know they’re still open.

“Our downtown businesses will be greatly impacted by that construction,” he said. “We want to put together a promotional campaign to ensure that we can weather that storm.”

“We’ve taken a look at a couple of other communities and how they’ve done things,” Frost noted.

The DDA currently has $10,000 set aside for promotions and expects to double that amount by next June.

Frost said the key to downtown businesses surviving these types of major road projects is to “plan ahead.”

“That’s where this task force comes in. We’re well ahead of it as far as time line,” he said.

During the meeting, DDA Board Member Rod Charles encouraged Frost to “look for some fresh faces” to serve on the task force.

He said one of the complaints often heard from the public is local boards and committees are prone to “exclusivity” and “closed-minded leadership.”

Charles wants the task force to “have some people that you don’t see at every meeting.”

Frost agrees.

“I want to find a nice balance where it’s not necessarily always the same people who are involved in everything,” he told this reporter. “I’d like to see a couple residents on there.”

When asked how large he would like this task force to be, Frost replied, “We don’t want 25 people. Of course, we’d like to limit it to a manageable number. Maybe 10 or 15, tops.”

Those interested in applying for a spot on the M-24 task force are asked to either call Frost at (248) 770-8587 or send an email to dda@thevillageofoxford.org.

Once MDOT has all the details worked out and approvals secured for the project, Frost said stakeholder meetings will be conducted locally.