Conducting an audit of M-24 between Indian Lake Rd. and Harriet St. to determine what the existing conditions/issues are for pedestrians and bicyclists, and what potential improvements could be made, received a 6-2 vote of support from the Oxford Downtown Development Authority (DDA) board last week.

DDA Board Member Dorothy Johnston, an avid bicyclist herself, pointed out that many in the younger generation prefer to walk, jog and ride their bikes to places as opposed to traveling by motor vehicle.

“I think we need to kind of keep that in mind,” she said.

The DDA’s vote was in response to a request from the Oxford Township Safety Path Committee. The committee is interested in applying for a grant of up to $50,000 through the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) to have a walkability/bikeability audit conducted along the aforementioned stretch of M-24, which would encompass the village/downtown.

According to literature from SEMCOG provided to the DDA board in their meeting packets, “the goal of the audit is creating a transportation network that safely serves all modes of transportation, such as automobiles, transit, bicycles and pedestrians.”

DDA Executive Director Glenn Pape explained the audit would be “an evaluation of the existing conditions” such as the lack of places for pedestrians and bicyclists to safely cross the busy state highway.

“Technically, there’s no place to cross M-24 between Broadway (Street in the village) and Drahner (Road in the township),” he said.

To improve that situation, Pape said the audit could, for example, recommend the installation of a special traffic signal that can only be activated during M-24’s “non-peak” traffic hours in order to allow pedestrians and bicyclists to safely cross the road.

DDA Board Member Elgin Nichols pointed out the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is the one that determines whether or not traffic lights are added to M-24 and he believes there is no chance the state will go for such a specialized light.

DDA Board Member and village President Sue Bossardet indicated her focus is on getting additional traffic signals and more pedestrian crossings in the downtown area, not south of it.

“We’ve been fighting for years to get a new traffic light to slow traffic,” she said. “So, I guess I’m more concerned about that than I am (getting) a bike from the east side to the west side of M-24.”

The problem with obtaining grant funding for the audit, according to Pape, is the township needs the village to sponsor the application because only entities that can receive road funding via Public Act 51 of 1951, a state law, are eligible to apply.

Act 51 created the Michigan Transportation Fund, which contains revenues from sources such as fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees. The law governs the distribution of this revenue.

Villages, cities and county road commissions all receive funding through Act 51.

Townships do not.

The other issue with the SEMCOG grant is funding. It requires a 20 percent match, which could be as much as $10,000. Given 35 percent of the portion of M-24 that would be audited is located within the village limits, Pape said the township is requesting that the village and/or DDA pay up to $3,500 to cover its share.

In an April 17 memo to council, Assistant Village Manager Drew Benson wrote that township Treasurer Joe Ferrari, who chairs the safety path committee, “indicated that the township is more interested in the (grant) sponsorship from the village than the inclusion of funds.”

Some DDA board members took issue with the potential expense.

“I would be against anything that the DDA would have to shell out money for unless (the argument was) very, very convincing and I don’t see that,” said Nichols, who’s also a trustee on the township board.

Bossardet indicated she understands the reasoning behind wanting to conduct such an audit and if the DDA budget or village budget had $3,500 to spare, “I’d say go ahead.”

“But the reality is that we don’t have that,” she said.

Skepticism was also expressed as to how this audit would help downtown Oxford.

“I just can’t imagine that we’re going to see caravans of people on bicycles going downtown (to the point that it’s) going to benefit our downtown,” Nichols said. “I just don’t see it.”

“And we just don’t have the funds right now in order to do it,” he added. “If we had the money, it wouldn’t be a big deal.”

Johnston, who owns Johnston Photography, disagreed. She cited the Rochester area as a prime example of how opening up a community to bicyclists can be beneficial to businesses.

“Their bike trails draw in people from all over,” Johnston said. “It’s amazing how those bike trails draw people into their downtown community (for dining and shopping).”

“I think we need to be a little more forward-thinking (with regard to) what we want for our downtown,” she noted.

As for the potential $3,500 expense, Johnston said, “It doesn’t seem like a lot of money.”

Nicole Ellsworth, who owns the 5-1 Diner, agreed with Johnston. “I have a lot of customers that come in on their bikes,” she said.

Although the DDA board ultimately voted to support the audit, with Nichols and Bossardet casting the dissenting votes, the final decision of whether or not to sponsor the grant application and potentially participate financially rests with the village council.

Council was scheduled to address the township’s request at its April 24 regular meeting. Ferrari was expected to attend to make the request in person.