STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

FULTON STREET STARTS JUNE 16TH

A number of reconstruction, restoration, and pavement preservation projects are beginning on City streets.

2025 Reconstruction & Restoration Projects

The City identified streets for reconstruction and repair for the 2025 construction season, evaluating their PASER ratings and necessary utility improvements.

Fulton Street (Jefferson Avenue to Randolph Street)

• Project Begins June 16, 2025 - June 30, 2025
• New gravel and paving with asphalt curbs for stormwater management.

Eleventh Street (Pine Street to Lake Avenue)

• Anticipated to begin July 7, 2025 - August 29, 2025
• Full Reconstruction including new curbs, asphalt, watermain, sanitary sewer storm sewer, bioswales, galvanized service replacements
• Utility Upgrades: Improving sanitary sewer, water main, and storm sewer utilities
• Mobility Improvements: Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RRFB’s) will be implemented at the intersection of Cass Street and Eleventh Street.
• No parking on the north side of East 11th Street from South Union Street to South Cass Street, with certain exceptions

E. Ninth Street (Union Street to Cass Street)

• Start Date: TBD
• Full Reconstruction including new curbs, asphalt, watermain, sanitary sewer storm sewer, bioswales, galvanized service replacements
• No parking on the east side of Ninth Street between West Union and Lake Avenue on the north side on even days and the south side on odd days

E. Twelfth Street (Union Street to Cass Street)

• Start Date: TBD
• Street Reconstruction including new curbs, asphalt, galvanized services, storm sewer, bioswales, and two hydrant replacements
• No parking on a section of East 12th Street during certain times and provides for two-hour parking during certain times for school days

Griffin Street (Pine Street to Locust Street)

• Start Date: TBD
• Asphalt, watermain, and sanitary sewer

The $3,491,000.00 investment is being funded by a FY 24-25 fund balance to cover authorized expenditures of funds in the Capital Streets, Water, Sewer, and Traffic Calming Funds. 

Cape Sealing

As part of a cost-effective maintenance strategy, the City will apply cape seal treatment to approximately 4 miles of local streets. This method, previously used in the City, can extend pavement life by 7 to 10 years. Cape sealing is a two-step preservation process involving a chip seal followed by a slurry seal or micro-surfacing. It seals minor cracks, improves surface quality, and enhances street usability without full reconstruction.The Cape Seal project is anticipated to begin in July 2025 and be completed in September 2025.

• 3rd St. (N. Elmwood Ave. to N. Cedar St.)
• Anderson Rd. (N. Garfield Ave. to Milliken Dr.)
• Birchwood Ave. (Western St. to Eastern Ave.)
• Boyd Ave. (Bates St. to S. Garfield Ave.)
• Carver St. (Woodmere Ave. to S. Garfield Ave.)
• N. Cedar St. (2nd St. to Randolph St.)
• Clinch St. (Carver St. to Baldwin St.)
• Fern St. (Boyd Ave. to Karla Dr.)
• Grant St. (Centre St. to Grove St.)
• Hannah Ave. (Hastings St. to Steele St. and Terrace Dr. to Belmont Dr.)
• Kinross St. (Fern St. to S. Garfield Ave.)
• Lincoln St. (Rose St. to S. Garfield St.)
• Locust St. (10th to 12th and 13th to 14th) 
• S. Madison St. (Circle Ave. to Circle Ave.)
• S. Maple St. (14th St. to 15th St.)
• N. Maple St. (Randolph St. to Front St.)
• Oak St. (8th St. to 13th St.)\Randall Ct. (Eastern Ave. to terminus)
• Steele St. (Hannah Ave. to 8th St.)
• Washington St. (Boardman Ave. to Railroad Ave. and Rose St. to Prospect St.)
• Wenonah St. (8th St. to Seneca St. and Iroquois St. to Shawnee St.)

The $573,685 investment is funded by the Street Fund and Complete Streets Fund, and includes striping, signage, and related traffic adjustments.

Downtown TC Street Improvements

The Streets Division is making improvements to Cass Street and Union Street in Downtown Traverse City. A resurface of Union Street north of E. Front Street was completed this week.

• Cass Street south of E. Front Street: Work scheduled for the week of June 16, 2025.
• Union Street south of E. Front Street: Anticipated to begin the week of June 23, 2025.

Expect street closures while the work is being conducted.

The cost of the project is being reimbursed by DDA TIF 97 Funds.

2025 HUMANITARIAN AWARD RECIPIENTS

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION TO HONOR AWARDEES JUNE 16TH



The City’s Human Rights Commission (HRC) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Sara Hardy Humanitarian Award and the 2025 recipients of the Humanitarian Business/Organization Award.

Sara Hardy Humanitarian Award

The HRC is honored to recognize the late Holly T. Bird as the recipient of the 2025 Sara Hardy Humanitarian Award. This annual award honors individuals who embody the Commission’s core values of mutual understanding, respect, and inclusivity within our community. Holly(ba) was a local attorney, Indigenous activist, and member of the Traverse City Area Public Schools Board of Education. A dedicated advocate for Indigenous visibility, racial and environmental justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and youth empowerment, Holly’s impact on the region was profound. As a founding board member of Title Track, she brought joyful optimism, tireless dedication, and fearless love to the work of advancing equity and community well-being. Holly was also a founding member of Northern Michigan E3 and the Children’s Garden. Though she is no longer with us, Holly’s legacy continues to inspire and guide.

Humanitarian Business/Organization Awards

The HRC is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Business/Organization Humanitarian Efforts Award. This award was established to honor and publicly recognize businesses or organizations that have shown a sustained and meaningful commitment to helping others in the Traverse City region. This year, two outstanding organizations will be recognized. Michigan Indian Legal Services and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.

Michigan Indian Legal Services (MILS), is a statewide provider of free legal assistance for those living in poverty with federal-Indian or tribal law issues. This year, MILS proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary, having called Traverse City home since its incorporation in 1975.

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB), protects the well-being of their present and future members by promoting the culture, sovereignty, treaty rights, natural resources, health, public safety, education, financial management, housing and agriculture. They also support the local and regional economy with over 1,540 year-round jobs and 350 seasonal employment opportunities in our Government, Economic Development Corporation, Gaming, and Resort. GTB proudly gives back to the community at large through 2% grants, issued twice a year, to local units of government and nonprofits.

Please join the HRC in celebrating the honorees on June 16, 2025, in the 2nd Floor Training Room located in the Governmental Center 400 Boardman Ave. at 5:30 pm. Following, awards will be presented at the City Commission meeting at 7:00 pm.

UNION STREET ZONING AMENDMENT CONSIDERATION

The Planning Commission public hearing to consider a zoning amendment along Union Street in the Old Towne District is scheduled for June 17, 2025. The proposal would rezone the area from C-2: Neighborhood Center District to C-4a: Regional Center District. The proposed change was prompted by a rezoning application for the properties at 418 and 420 S. Union Street. The request seeks to rezone the 300, 400, and 500 blocks of S. Union Street from C-2: Neighborhood Center District to C-4a: Regional Center District.

The key difference between the current C-2 zoning and the proposed C-4a designation is the requirement for residential units in taller buildings. Under C-2 zoning, buildings may be constructed up to 45 feet tall, but any structure exceeding 30 feet in height must include at least one story of residential housing. The C-4a zoning district removes this requirement, allowing buildings over 30 feet to be constructed without a mandatory residential component.

The public hearing offers an opportunity for residents, business owners, and other stakeholders to share feedback on the proposed amendment and the potential corridor-wide changes.

WATER SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT

WEEK OF JUNE 16TH

Michigan's 2017 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) designates galvanized water services as lead service lines if they "are or ever were" connected to a lead gooseneck, requiring utilities to pay for replacing private water services from the curb stop to the building. Lead goosenecks, installed before the mid-1940s, are 3-foot lead pipes used between the brass connection to the water main and a galvanized pipe.

The City has since installed copper services and has no known fully lead service lines. Not all private galvanized lines need replacement; those originally connected to City-owned copper services don't require replacement. The water service line replacement project started in May 2025 and is anticipated to be completed in fall 2025.

Week of June 16th Locations

The week of June 16th, the project will be conducted on the 700 and 800 block of Sixth Street, and the 100 and 200 blocks of S. Spruce Street. The work will cause sidewalk and intermittent street closures.

HANNAH PARK OVERLOOK

PROJECT COMPLETED



The Hannah Park Overlook project is complete. This overlook provides pedestrians with a relaxing resting spot and a scenic view of the Boardman/Ottaway River. Following the completion of the Union Street Bridge in 2022, the City and DDA identified repairs and enhancements for the Hannah Park overlook, located at the southwest corner of the bridge.

Improvements to the overlook conducted over the winter, and final elements such as the benches were placed last week. Construction involved removing and salvaging sidewalks, selective demolition of fieldstone walls, adjustments to existing features, and installation of new elements such as clay paver bricks, concrete sidewalks, fieldstone wall veneers, railings, and wall reinforcements.

The project is funded by the Old Town TIF ($109,000), Brown Bridge Trust ($12,000), City Parks Fund ($20,700), and the Capital Improvement Fund ($68,000).

EXPLORING TRAIL OPPORTUNITIES

HICKORY HILLS TRAIL SYSTEM

On June 5th, members of the Parks and Recreation Commission, along with Parks and Recreation Superintendent Michelle Hunt, joined the Hickory Hills Advisory Committee for an informative tour of the mountain biking and hiking trails at Palmer Woods Forest Reserve. The tour was led by Chad Jordan of the Leelanau Conservancy, who shared insights into trail design, maintenance, and user experience.

The visit served as an opportunity for the Advisory Committee to explore best practices and gather inspiration as they work toward the design and development of a new trail system at Hickory Hills, as outlined in the Park's Master Plan.

Pictured left to right: Tim Pulliam, John Kostrzewa, Rod Kivell, Laura Ness, David Grams, Michelle Hunt, and Paul Wilkins.

IN THE COMMUNITY

TRAIL SAFETY

A heartfelt thank you to TART Trails for their dedication to the City's trail network! Your commitment to safety and accessibility does not go unnoticed. From refreshed sharrows along the TART and Boardman Lake Loop connector to improved striping, your efforts help make every walk, ride, and roll safer and more enjoyable. Thank you, TART, for keeping our community connected and moving with confidence!

Photo courtesy of TART Trails