.:Traffic Congestion Relief

The Martin Parkway Extension from Oakley Park Road to Pontiac Trail is a Reality

Commerce Township residents can finally breathe a little easier – traffic congestion relief at M-5 and Pontiac Trail is on the way!

Construction has begun on an extension of Martin Road as Martin Parkway that will connect at M-5 and Pontiac Trail. The Commerce Township Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has worked tirelessly to make the new Martin Parkway a reality. The project is expected to be completed in late fall, 2008 with a roundabout at M-5, Pontiac Trail and Martin Parkway completed in 2009.

The final nod for the project came in December from the Federal Highway Administration and the Michigan Department of Transportation. The approval, known as a FONSI (Finding of No Significant Impact), gave the DDA approval to officially start construction.

“The DDA is committed to the long–term economic health and stability of Commerce Township,” said Wynn Berry, DDA director. “We have conducted extensive surveys and research with many environmental, engineering, traffic and transportation firms. The DDA board, the township board, the planning commission and many others have spent long hours discussing alternatives, the means and methods to handle problems and opportunities to keep Commerce a wonderful place to live, work, play and visit.”

Berry said that over the years the DDA has worked with the Road Commission for Oakland Country, the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration and environmental agencies to find a solution to the traffic problems the township faces.

“We also hired consultants to study ways to preserve and create wetlands, protect the water quality of the area and safeguard the wildlife,” he said. “We’ve had numerous traffic studies which showed that the commercial re-development along Haggerty Road and Pontiac Trail will continue and will generate additional traffic.” He said that commuter traffic passing through or around the area is expected to increase through 2030. “

The extension of Martin Parkway is the initial step in solving both current and future traffic problems by providing additional routes for traffic distribution from M-5 to surrounding areas,” said Berry.

Preparation for Martin Parkway

The DDA has already begun work with Advanced Tree Moving Company to transplant and preserve over 400 mature trees to a temporary nursery to make way for the roadway. They will be moved to their permanent locations within the development as early as this fall. The decision to transplant the trees within the property will be beneficial to the development environmentally, as well as aesthetically. The mature trees bring added value in the overall appearance they will add to the final project and will attract more people, as well as wildlife.

When complete, Martin Parkway will be a four-lane boulevard with four roundabouts from M-5 to Oakley Park Road. It will connect to M-5, but it will not be a freeway as the maximum speed limit will more than likely be set at 35 mph.

In 2004, in order to construct Martin Parkway from Oakley Park to M-5, the DDA purchased two golf courses and 50 acres of Huron Clinton Metropolitan land, totaling 330 acres located in the area north of M-5 between Welch and Haggerty Roads. The land was purchased to provide relief from traffic congestion at M-5 and Pontiac Trail, while providing the community the opportunity to preserve 125 acres of open space, and to direct the improvements of the remaining property.

“There will be no increase in the tax rates to pay for these improvements,” said Wynn Berry, DDA Director. “The purpose of these road improvements is to allow traffic to move through our community easily and to reduce road congestion.”

Commerce Commons – a Community Asset is Coming

One of the most valuable projects to the community is Commerce Commons, a 330-acre DDA project located on property between M-5 at Pontiac Trail and Martin, and Oakley Park and Haggerty Roads. In addition to a new roadway, Martin Parkway, there will be a lifestyle center with shops and restaurants. A new library is already operating in the former El Dorado clubhouse. There will also be a new town hall and 125 acres of open space in a park-like setting.

The DDA is planning to build six miles of paths throughout the open space and restored wetlands, and a possible boardwalk to provide viewing access to Carus Lake. A pathway will travel beneath a natural stone-faced bridge, providing pedestrians safe access to all areas as it crosses under Martin Parkway. A community setting with approximately 800 – 1,200 new residences is an integral portion of the overall plan.

“Commerce Commons will help the township to welcome new residents and businesses while retaining extensive open space elements that have attracted many Commerce Township residents,” said Berry.

Relieving the substantial traffic delays will certainly be of some help to the area property values both short- and long-term. This project will greatly improve the quality of life and economic viability of the township. It is expected to generate $600 million to $700 million in revenue, increase property values and create a total of 8,000 new jobs; 3,500 new jobs will be created during the construction phase.

Additional Projects and Growth

Other planned projects include Haggerty Road, which will be widened to five lanes after Martin Parkway is complete.

Since 1950 Commerce Township has grown more than 700 percent. During the 1990s the accumulated population growth in Commerce and the surrounding areas caused an overload in the road system that has served the community since 1930 with few improvements to handle such an increase in traffic burden.

One of the key research projects was to find out the magnitude of the traffic problem. An origin and destination study showed that 21 percent of traffic exiting M-5 at 14 Mile, 15 Mile and Pontiac Trail, comes from West Bloomfield, Commerce Township (20.7 percent), Farmington Hills (8.84 percent), Novi (7.81 percent) Waterford (5.85 percent), White Lake Township (4.97 percent); with Wixom, Walled Lake and Wolverine Lake representing approximately 15 percent, showing that most of the traffic is local.

In 2006 the Fifth Amended Development Plan was approved by the DDA Board and the Commerce Township Board of Trustees to help with infrastructure improvements in the DDA district. The purpose of the expansion was to enable the DDA to assist the township in managing the dispersion of the tremendous amount of traffic generated by the M-5 extension to Pontiac Trail. The expanded DDA boundaries also allowed for the improvement of the Glengary Creek areas that were outside the DDA limits.

The Road Commission for Oakland County and the DDA held a Public Hearing last August at the Links of Pinewood to offer area residents the opportunity to communicate their views on the project. A majority of residents demonstrated their support and were enthusiastic about the new Parkway and the additional projects. A new Commerce First Citizens Action Group was organized by a group of concerned citizens who wanted to facilitate the project.

“I commute to Van Buren Township every day via M-5 and 275,” says Commerce Township resident Larry Kaufman. “It takes me approximately 30 minutes to go 22 miles and approximately another 25 to go THREE miles! Widening Haggerty and extending Martin can’t come fast enough as far as I’m concerned.”