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City of Warrens connection of Connor Creek Greenway

By Olivia Ferrington

Wayne State University

Com 2100, March 6, 2017

By spring, Warren residents can expect to ride on a new bike path going through their

city to the city of Detroit.

This non- motorized pathway is being built along Outer Drive from Connor Street to

Van Dyke Avenue and along Van Dyke Avenue from Outer Drive to Stephens Road.

Warren is in contract agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation for

the building of this pathway. The path is part of the Connor Creek Greenway. This is an

outdoor transportation program in Detroit with intentions to help better Detroits environment

for outdoor activities and trails.

The first step of this project entails a nine -mile non- motorized pathway with

connections through the city of Warren.

In city documents regarding construction of the bike path and estimates from the

engineering department, it is shown that Warren was originally supposed to spend $129,174

on their cost share. After two increases since the original proposal in 2015, including the most

recent increase of $22,218 approved at the Feb. 14 council meeting, the citys share will

ultimately cost $209,193.

With assurance from City Engineer James Van Havermaat that the pathway will be

complete by this spring, the council approved the request.

On a video of the council meeting, Councilman Scott Stevens said, When we

approved this originally, it was definitely not explained this way to us and has turned into

such a huge white elephant that its unbelievable.

 This statement summarized the express displeasure of other council members with the

cost overrun as well as with the government contract entirely.

Council President Cecil St. Pierre said via video, Yeah I figured thered be some

discussion.

Pierre continued, We get involved with these government contracts on the outside,

and they seem to somehow roll downhill and pick up money as they go downhill, more than

what they were originally.

Van Havermaat stated that only $8,307 of the $22,218 was needed for clean up and

landscape completion of the pathway and the rest of the increase had already been spent.

We do not believe there will be anything further and do believe were going to be

able to close off this project shortly, Van Havermaat said.

Councilwoman Kelly Colegio said that she personally finds the path to be dangerous

which is why she voted no on the approval to begin with, though she knows it is no fault of

the engineer himself but more fault of the situation.

Because of where it was being placed, the idea of taking a bicycle path and putting it

on our busiest highways in the city just didnt seem like the place that I would feel safe

biking or having somebody bike, Colegio said.

Colegio stated that she was in agreement with the council about their frustrations and

that the lengthily process was not what they were proposed.

Though the city engineer said that everything should be complete come the spring, the

council members are unsatisfied and hope it will be completed as soon as possible with no

more cost increases.

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 Source List

City document, E-packet found on Warren City Council webpage

Scott, T. (2015, January 5). Tag Archives: Conner Creek Greenway. Retrieved March 05,
2017, from http://detroitgreenways.org/tag/conner-creek-greenway/

User, S. (n.d.). City Council. Retrieved March 05, 2017, from

http://www.cityofwarren.org/index.php/government/city-council

Name: Kelly Colegio

Title: Councilwoman
Phone: (586) 795- 3304
Email: kcolegio4@aol.com

Name: Cecil St. Pierre

Title: Council President
Phone: (586) 457- 1800
Email: cdspjr@yahoo.com

Name: Scott Stevens

Title: Councilman
Phone: (586) 486-4438
Email: scs425@wowway.com

Name: James Van Havermaat

Title: City Engineer
Phone: (586) 759- 9300
Fax: (586) 759- 9318