Talking Michigan Transportation

Michigan DNR works to provide access for all to popular state park beach

• Michigan Department of Transportation • Season 7 • Episode 232

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On this week’s edition of the Michigan Department of Transportation podcast, Scott Bowen, director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), addresses concerns about access to the beach for campers at the highly popular Traverse City State Park, which is divided by US-31.

Bowen explains that the MDNR is investing in major improvements at the park, including changes that require removing the 60-year-old pedestrian bridge over US-31 (Munson Avenue). The bridge pre-dates laws that require accessibility for people with disabilities. 

The existing bridge is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. "This creates accessibility challenges, especially for pushing strollers, carrying coolers, etc.," the MDNR posted on Facebook. "Some campground patrons opt to drive between the campground and the day-use area, increasing traffic congestion and using limited beach parking."

When the agreement was inked to build a pedestrian bridge over the highway in 1965, MDOT was the Michigan State Highway Commission and the MDNR was the Michigan State Department of Conservation. 

Photo credit: Traverse City State Park photo taken by Tyler Leipprandt and Michigan Sky Media LLC.

Jeff Cranson:

Hello, welcome to the Talking Michigan Transportation Podcast.

Jeff Cranson:

I'm Jeff Cranson.

Jeff Cranson:

This week I took the unusual step of speaking to someone at another state agency about a bridge of theirs that crosses a state trunk line, in this case US 31, in Traverse City, and to clear up some misunderstandings and misconceptions about what's going on with that.

Jeff Cranson:

This is a pedestrian bridge that links the Traverse City State Park on each side of US 31, also known as Munson Avenue locally. So, Scott Bowen, who is the director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, will talk about what's in store for crossing US 31 for people at the state park, campers, who need to get to the other side to access the beach. This pedestrian bridge that's stood there since 1966 has to come down because of improvements that they're making at the state park at the entrance and some significant changes that'll make things much better for people that use the park, but also concerns about what would be involved in acquiring land to build another pedestrian bridge and to make it accessible under ADA requirements that's not accessible now to people with disabilities or others. So we talked about all of that and I hope you enjoy the conversation. So, director Bowen, first time appearance on the podcast, thank you for taking time to talk.

Scott Bowen:

My pleasure.

Jeff Cranson:

I explained in the intro. I kind of set the table for the background on what's going on. But let's talk about this pedestrian bridge that connects the state park on both sides of US 31 and Traverse City, why it would have to come down even if a truck with an excavator hadn't hit it and damaged it a couple weeks ago, the major improvements that you're making at the park and how that got us to where we're at.

Scott Bowen:

Yeah, so we did do a bunch of improvements thanks to the ARPA influx of money we had and we wanted to fix up the Charters Park there and it's a great park. The pedestrian bridge was replaced by a plan to essentially put a walkway through a safe, accessible walkway at grade across Munson Avenue, across 31 there, and we didn't plan for replacing it because we simply thought that there was going to be satisfactory ingress and egress for pedestrians to use this new walkway, and we still think that's true. But the community gave a real strong argument in favor of adding also a pedestrian bridge over 31 that they had before and we can't go there. So we're going to have to find a new place to put it and we have limited options there. We'll either have to buy property to do that. Part of the reason we didn't land for it was just resources. We didn't have enough money to do the other projects that we so desperately need to do across the park's system need to do across the park's system.

Jeff Cranson:

We'll have to find land and find the money in order to build a pedestrian bridge, but we're committed to trying to do that and we should make it clear that, either way, this at-grade crossing with a traffic light to stop traffic so people can safely cross as they do on many busy roads across the state that's going to happen either way.

Scott Bowen:

That's right, so they'll have. If we can build the pedestrian bridge over 31, we'll have two real safe ways to get in and out of the beach property on the water.

Jeff Cranson:

So, from a historical standpoint, I should note that when this agreement was reached between MDOT, which owns the road, and the DNR, which needed the bridge to connect its park in 1965, MDOT was the Michigan State Highway Commission and the DNR was the Michigan State Department of Conservation.

Scott Bowen:

Yes, that's right, and my grandfather worked at MDOT at that time, so it shows you how long it has been, grandpas been gone for a while. But yeah, he was in MDOT or Department of Transportation then.

Jeff Cranson:

Yeah, I forgot about that. So talk about accessibility and why that's such a major factor here and why that existing bridge was obsolete anyway. You've done so many other things to try to make the parks and I should mention this is one of the most popular, busiest state parks in the state. We have many beautiful state parks In Michigan. We're very proud of our state parks. I know other states are too, but they seem to really hold a special place for a lot of us, and you guys have done a lot to help people with disabilities and people who otherwise can't access recreation in the outdoors. So why is that important for, for this, uh crossing?

Scott Bowen:

Well, it's the law one. If you're, if you're building a new uh, you know way to get into a park, it has to be accessible. So that that's just a requirement. But it's also the right thing to do and, especially given you know people drag so many things to the beach, you really need to have a non-step, gradual way to get into these parks. So that's part of it. But making it accessible is just a requirement now, and we do that with all new builds.

Jeff Cranson:

Yeah. So, as you've been making the case for funding for some time, not unlike road agencies across the state, including MDOT, you guys are in a long-term funding crisis. There's not enough money to do all the things that you do and that people expect and that people take for granted. How does that fit into this and, I guess, your plans and improvements and things you've already done, historic investments that you've made in parks across the state?

Scott Bowen:

Yeah, I mean it's a $750 million shortfall on infrastructure. So everything that we postpone or delay to fix and don't invest in infrastructure, then we just add it to the list of things that need to be fixed later and we're trying to stay up with it. This slug of money was a huge quarter billion dollar investment in critical infrastructure needs and that park got some of that money. It's just one of those things where you know we don't get a lot of general fund support. People. It used to be where you know we don't get a lot of general fund support. It used to be that you know, half the budget for our state parks was paid for by the general fund. Now it's less than 2% of the money that goes into state parks.

Scott Bowen:

So we really need an influx of resources in order to catch up on all the infrastructure needs that. We have resources in order to catch up on all the infrastructure needs that we have. Whether it's making all our electrical outlets up to code, to fixing the sewers, to keeping the bathrooms clean. All those things require money, and so we're doing everything we can to stay on top of it, but it requires additional resources in order for us to be able to do stuff like this at a bridge. That wasn't a part of the original plan, but it would certainly be nice to have over a busy street like Munson.

Jeff Cranson:

So, just like the 2015 agreement that was reached for roads by the legislature, and the administration at that time called for $600 million in income tax funds to go into roads each year long term, there are a lot of questions about whether that's sustainable, and what you're telling me is that for many years, you've relied on an executive recommendation and a legislative appropriation from the general fund to help fund parks and other things that DNR does, and that's not sustainable.

Scott Bowen:

Yeah, that's right, it's exactly right. And you fund what you value. So people value the park system and are willing to do it, but there isn't an organized political organization lobbying to raise park rates or to give more of general fund money to the parks. That doesn't exist. That's not a powerful political organization that's advocating for us. So we're trying to make the case ourselves, and our best case is people who go to the parks and enjoy the parks talking about their willingness to give more in either entry fees or passport increase or general fund contributions.

Jeff Cranson:

We'll be right back. Stay tuned.

MDOT message:

Avoid the wait and remember the Mackinac Bridge is closed to traffic Labor Day for the annual bridge walk, starting at 6:30 am. Spend some extra time in the UP or take your time heading north, since the bridge won't reopen to traffic until noon to allow walkers to clear the bridge. For more information, head to mackinacbridge. org/ walk.

Jeff Cranson:

So what do you learn from friends and neighbors and constituents and lawmakers and members of the public as you've gotten into this job over the past couple years and I should mention that I've known you a long time I knew you as a Grand Rapid City Commissioner, as a judge, as a state employee, as a lottery commissioner. You came back into state government to head up this department because you're an outdoors kind of guy and really care about the environment and what you can do. So what do you find? Most people don't even know about the DNR and how it operates and how it's funded. Is it just that user fee question?

Scott Bowen:

Yeah, I think so. I mean, the most interesting thing to me is everything is funded in such a user fee basis in what we do. It's not general tax dollars. I got a passport on my vehicle. It cost me $14. And for that I get to go to every state park for an entire year that I want to, and I can use a boat ramp anywhere in 1,300 locations across Michigan for $14 a year. You can fish in Michigan for $26 for an entire year, all species, all seasons, for $26. It costs $28 to park downtown Grand Rapids for one night. There's no relation to the fact that inflation has eaten the value of a dollar and is continuing to go up and costs us every year 3% and 5% more to run the department, but our fees remain pretty much locked in place.

Jeff Cranson:

Yeah, well said, I'm guessing you probably don't want to get into the debate about parking in downtown Grand Rapids.

Scott Bowen:

No, I think that that's market-based, most of that's market-based and you know people complain a lot when we try to raise hunting and fishing fees. The truth is 26 bucks is a real value to fish an entire year in the greatest freshwater fishery in the world and it is. It's that good and we're, you know, in the top five states for hunting opportunities and we're one of the cheapest in the Midwest. So you know the funding challenges to me are the biggest surprise and usually it's bipartisan. It's become more polarized, more partisan, but used to be. Natural resources was something that Milliken did such a great job with. In the history of Democrats and Republicans, cooperating on natural resources issues was sort of a Michigan thing to be proud of and it's just not that way anymore and that's a shame.

Jeff Cranson:

Yeah, it really is a shame, but in spite of that, in spite of these challenges, because of the influx of some federal funds and some creativity on the parts of your colleagues at the DNR, you've been able to do some good things. Do you want to talk about more of those?

Scott Bowen:

Yeah, we've done I mean it's just the people that are in this organization, just amazing people and their commitment and creativity, like you said. But that influx of money really supported so many projects at Interlochen, at Ludington State Park, at Belle Isle in Detroit. It's just a great upgrade on the assets that we had and some of them are not all that visible, like the interlock and sewer project. You wouldn't see it from a camper's perspective or a visitor to the park. But it was a huge investment about $8 million to fix almost century-old wastewater treatment facility and you have to have those things in order to be able to flush the toilets and have that work.

Jeff Cranson:

And so yeah, a state park is basically a small village, right?

Scott Bowen:

So it's like a little city really. I mean, some of them are that big. They require fresh water and sewer services and cleaning crews and parking lots and all those things. So it requires dedication of the people that work here the 1,930 people that work here full time and they're just terrifically dedicated folks that make all the difference and all our volunteer groups that help clean the trails, and friends of the state parks that do all the volunteer groups that help, you know, clean the trails, and friends of the state parks that do all the volunteer work that we couldn't get along without them. It's just really a community of people around the DNR that have built an organization that we're really proud of and I don't mind asking the legislature to get more to support it.

Jeff Cranson:

Yeah, well, along those lines when it comes to transportation. Obviously, trails are a form of transportation and there's been some great partnerships between MDOT and the DNR over the years ongoing to enhance those and make them more accessible, and we find they're more popular than ever. People that used to question whether that was the best use of money are now some of the biggest champions for trails, and that's a cool thing to see.

Scott Bowen:

Yeah, sure is.

Jeff Cranson:

OK, well, is there anything else you want to say or that we didn't cover in terms of where we started on the Traverse City pedestrian bridge and in the future? I know it's really. It's really going to be a challenge to to be too specific right now as you figure out how to get the land and how to get the resources.

Scott Bowen:

Well, first things first. We're going to take down the old one. It's now what? 60 years old or thereabouts, and it got hit by an excavating truck, so we have to remove that and then we're going to engage the community and try to plan for a new one over Munson.

Jeff Cranson:

Good. Thank you, director, for taking time to talk about this, and we'll be watching closely. Obviously, it has to be done in partnership with the Department of Transportation, since the bridge crosses a very busy road there.

Scott Bowen:

Yeah, yeah, thank you. Thanks for the time.

Jeff Cranson:

I'd like to thank you once more for tuning in to Talking Michigan Transportation. You can find show notes and more on Apple Podcasts or Buzzsprout. I also want to acknowledge the talented people who help make this a reality each week, starting with Randy Debler, who skillfully edits the audio, Jesse Ball, who proofs the content, Courtney Bates, who posts the podcast to various platforms, and Jacke Salinas, who transcribes the audio to make it accessible to all.