The Michigan Department of Transportation and the Michigan Municipal League are excited to announce the Better Streets, Better Michigan Award. This award recognizes Michigan cities and villages that have undertaken creative road projects. These projects should be aimed at improving the function and aesthetics of a busy street for a variety of transportation modes – cars, bikes, and pedestrians. Examples include road diets, complete streets projects, and similar investments within existing rights of way. The street must be one of the community’s main roadways that was primarily auto-centric at the start of the project.
The award will be judged on:
- Employing creativity
- Achieving a positive impact on the community’s economic development and placemaking
- Partnering with transportation agencies and stakeholders
- Developing a street project replicable by other communities
Projects accomplished through a team effort between a city or village and MDOT or a local or regional transportation agency are eligible to receive this award. The MDOT Performance Excellence Section will be accepting applications for the award through Feb. 15, 2017. To be eligible, a project must be substantially complete and ready for use between Jan. 1, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2016. The 2017 award will be announced at the Michigan Municipal Capital Conference in Lansing on March 22, 2017.
- Better Streets, Better Michigan Award brochure.
- Better Streets, Better Michigan Award entry form.
Submit the completed entry form in PDF format. Please note: The application system can only accept one PDF file. If you wish to include photos, they must be within the PDF file.
John LaMacchia is the Assistant Director of State and Federal Affairs for the League handling transportation, infrastructure, energy and environment issues. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.