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January 28, 2025
Dear FOTBST Supporters,
We have been informed that MDOT has called for a pause in the construction of the North Section of the Trail (from the Kalamazoo River Bridge to Holland Street in Saugatuck TWP), which we had expected to go out to bid with construction beginning this spring (click here for updated maps).
As the project is expected to receive substantial federal funds, the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and the government-to-government consultation requirements of MDOT (as the designee of the Federal Highway Administration) require a review to identify and evaluate potential adverse effects to historic properties. During that review, the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi (a/k/a the Gun Lake Tribe) identified that the project is occurring within the boundaries of the Kalamazoo River Mouth Traditional Cultural Property (TCP). A TCP is one of the protected categories under the NHPA. According to the Tribe, the project, as currently designed, may have an adverse effect on contributing features to this TCP.
The Managers of the City of Saugatuck and Saugatuck TWP first met with representatives of the Tribe and MDOT on January 14. The next step in the process will be a walk-through of the Trail route by tribal representatives in the spring to determine whether additional archeological or environmental surveys are necessary to evaluate the type and scope of effects to the TCP.
While we are disappointed by this late-breaking development, we respect the concerns of the Tribe and are working closely with all our project partners to complete the reviews and resume the construction process as soon as possible. MDOT has assured us that its conditional award of grant funds for this section will remain in place throughout this process. In the meantime, we will continue to work on the connection to the Kal-Haven Trail in South Haven and advance work on sections of the Trail in between.
If you have any questions or comments, please email us at info@fotbst.org. Thanks again for your continued support—we can’t do it without you!
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