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City of Warrens connection of Connor Creek Greenway

By Olivia Ferrington

Wayne State University

Com 2100, April 28, 2017

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

city to Detroit.

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

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

Warren has a contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation for the

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

City documents regarding construction of the bike path and estimates from the

engineering department show that Warren was originally supposed to spend $129,174 on its

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 path will ultimately cost

$209,193.

With assurance from City Engineer James Van Havermaat that the bike path 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.

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This statement showed 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.

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, Pierre said.

Van Havermaat said 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 said that she agreed with the council about their frustrations and that the

lengthy process was not what they were proposed.

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

council members are dissatisfied 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