HOME > PROGRAMS & SERVICES > ENVIRONMENT > PLANNING AREAS > GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE All Program Planning Areas Environment & Natural Resources Water Resources Water Trails Infrastructure Resilience Air Quality Green Infrastructure Energy Green Infrastructure Green infrastructure is an interconnected network of greenspace that conserves our natural ecosystems and serves as an ecological framework for environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Green Infrastructure differs from other conservation approaches because it works in concert with land development, growth management, recreational planning, and built infrastructure planning, such as roads, bridges, and utilities, to improve our communities' quality of life. Green infrastructure practices offer sustainable approaches to managing trails and rivers, farms and markets, parks, and waterways, and is also an approach to water management that protects, restores, or mimics the natural water cycle. With support from the Mid-Michigan Program for Greater Sustainability HUD grant funding, Tri-County led Greening Mid-Michigan , a regional vision for green infrastructure planning for Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties. We collaborated with regional groups over a three-year period, including the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance, The Greater Lansing Regional Committee for Stormwater Management, Clinton and Eaton Conservation Districts, the Land Use and Health Resource Team, local and county park and recreation departments, Ingham and Clinton Agricultural and Open Space Preservation Programs, and others. Eaton County, Clinton County, Ingham County, the City of Lansing, the City of East Lansing, Meridian Charter Township, Williamstown Township, Delta Charter Township, Eaton Rapids, Delhi Charter Township, Watertown Township, and Lansing Charter Township have all adopted our Greening Mid-Michigan Poster Plan . Greening Mid-Michigan: A Vision for Green Infrastructure released a video highlighting green infrastructure success stories in the region. The video is available at www.youtube.com/user/GreeningMidMichigan . You can view our four audience-tailored videos on green infrastructure in our Projects & Documents Library 's environment section. For ideas on green stormwater infrastructure, visit our Greater Lansing Regional Committee on Stormwater Management's resource page .

Tri-County houses and staffs several water resource groups that work to educate the public, exchange knowledge about best practices, and assist local governments to keep our drinking and surface water resources clean. Stormwater and groundwater management and watershed protection are our core programming areas. HOME > PROGRAMS & SERVICES > ENVIRONMENT > PLANNING AREAS > WATER QUALITY All Program Planning Areas Water Resources Environment & Natural Resources Water Resources Water Trails Infrastructure Resilience Air Quality Green Infrastructure Energy Our Tri-County Water Policies & Programs Guide is an informational tool and guidance document for decision makers and citizens looking to to protect the region's water resources. It offers a full programming analysis of what's being done to maintain clean and sustainable drinking and surface waters. Learn more about how we protect and enhance our water resources above and below the surface and promote stewardship of our built and natural assets below. STORMWATER MANAGEMENT & WATERSHED PROTECTION We all live in a watershed and can help care for it by keeping our stormwater clean! Learn more about your role in water protection here. Learn More GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT & WELLHEAD PROTECTION Groundwater is used for drinking water by more than 50% of the people in the U.S., including almost everyone who lives in rural areas. Learn More Tri-County houses and staffs several water resource groups that work to educate the public, exchange knowledge about best practices, and assist local governments to keep our water resources clean. One group is the Greater Lansing Regional Committee for Stormwater Management (GLRC) , a guiding body comprised of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) communities within the Greater Lansing region. The Committee was established to guide the implementation of the stormwater program for participating communities within the Grand River, Red Cedar River and Looking Glass River watersheds. The GLRC framework of engaged membership provides a forum to collaboratively address surface water issues and regulatory requirements. Tri-County staff assist in the development and implementation of municipal stormwater management plans, provide training and professional development opportunities, and perform required public education on behalf of the GLRC. Tri-County's and GLRC’s regional approach provides uniform messaging to the public and consistent development standards throughout the permit area. Tri-County also manages the Groundwater Management Board , a group of communities in the Greater Lansing area working together to protect our drinking water at its source - groundwater. Interested in the recreational use of our surface waters? Tri-County partnered with the Middle Grand River Organization of Watersheds (MGROW) to create a water trail development plan to improve the connectivity, accessibility, and quality of our region's main water trail, the Middle Grand River. The plan has led to the Middle Grand River becoming one of the first state-designated water trails, strengthening our region's opportunities for future project funding.

We are diving into past studies and confirming previous community input to create a single, unified vision for Michigan Avenue that is technically feasible and implementable. Help us envision our current and future transportation needs - like walkability and ease of driving, riding the bus, and bicycling - and development desires - like access to businesses and emergency services, placemaking, and other designs that inspire vibrant public spaces for people and businesses along the corridor. THE VISION FOR LEARN MORE Learn More The Place. Michigan Avenue is more than a road. It connects world-class talent at Michigan State University in East Lansing to our State Capitol in Lansing, where decisions about the lives of Michiganders are made every day. This is Michigan's Avenue. LEARN MORE The People. We are passionate. We are engaged. We care. Join us as a member of our community and share your voice and vision to help create a vibrant future for Michigan's Avenue! EVENTS The Time. There have been many studies over the years for Michigan Avenue. Road construction is planned and development is happening! Now is the time to agree on a single, unified vision for the corridor. IMPLEMENTATION We've got history. Over the years, extensive studies have been conducted to explore ways to improve the corridor, including the 2014 Capitol Corridor Study by Tri-County and the 2017 Shaping the Avenue project by Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA). The timeline below outlines previous studies that have been completed, which are now setting the stage for a final, collective vision moving forward – The Vision for Michigan’s Avenue . Past Studies Button Button Button Button Button Button How is this study different? You've shared your ideas for years - we hear you! Since the most recent study in 2017 - Shaping the Avenue - our nation, region, and local communities have seen change. Michigan Avenue has new housing developments, road improvements, and more. We've also experienced a global pandemic that effectively shut down our world and potentially changed our priorities. We are diving into past studies and confirming previous input from the community to create a single, unified vision for the corridor that is technically feasible and implementable. This study is an opportunity to clarify our community's goals and objectives for the Michigan Avenue Corridor as we envision our current and future transportation needs - like walkability and ease of driving, riding the bus, and bicycling - and development desires - like access to businesses and emergency services, placemaking, and other designs that inspire vibrant public spaces for people and businesses along the backbone of our region's urban core. We can't wait to see what Michigan's Avenue will look like, together. What's Different This Time? Project Timeline Pre-Design Project Timeline Get Involved! September 22nd Join us for a Community Input Session on Thursday, September 22, 2022 from 5:30-7 p.m. at 2222 E. Michigan Avenue. RSVP today to hold your spot! RSVP NOW VIEW THE PRESENTATION Get involved. We recognize that the community's priorities and values may have changed in the past several years, especially with a global pandemic. Help us confirm public input that has been collected through previous studies and share new goals and desires for Michigan's Avenue! Our survey is now closed. Stay tuned for more opportunities! Explore the Corridor! Navigate the map below to view signalized intersections, bus stops, planned construction projects, cultural districts, and more along Michigan's Avenue! We encourage you to use this information as food for thought when sharing your input and thinking about what you want to see along the corridor. What cultural district do you spend the most time in? Do the bus stops along the corridor meet your needs? Do you use intersections more than others? These are just a few questions you can think about when you take the survey or attend a community event ! Why Now? Implementation is coming. With the City of Lansing's planned road construction along Michigan Avenue in 2023 and 2024, this is a pivotal moment to take a step forward in enhancing the corridor and making sure our community's projects work toward a shared vision! Below are frequently asking questions and thought starters that we will continue to update throughout the duration of the project to keep the community informed as the study and future road projects proceed. Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions Why does another study need to be done? A lot has changed since the last study was completed in 2017 (Shaping the Avenue). There have been new developments, placemaking and events, and infrastructure investment in recent years along Michigan Avenue, and we’ve experienced a global pandemic that shut down our world and potentially changed our priorities. This study provides an opportunity to voice those changes and confirm past ideas shared. The City of Lansing also has road projects scheduled for construction in 2023 and 2024 - this study will help inform the design for these projects to make sure we are working together toward a shared vision! Lastly, many studies have been completed over the years. Public feedback, technical analysis, and recommendations from that work are being considered for this study to create a single, unified vision that we all - residents, business and property owners, local governments, and more - can compromise on and agree to implement. Who is involved in this study? When is planned road construction supposed to begin? How much will planned road construction cost? How long will construction last? Where can I find media materials? Stay in touch. If you’d like to stay in the know on this project, please leave your contact information! Have more questions? Contact info@mitcrpc.org or attend a community event. Stay In Touch Meet the technical team. CONTACT INFORMATION 3135 Pine Tree Rd. | Suite 2C | Lansing, MI 48911 | Directions P: (517) 393-0342 | F: (517) 393-4424 | Email Us Visit our staff page for questions about specific programs. CONNECT WITH US STAY IN TOUCH SUBSCRIBE THINKING AHEAD. MOVING FORWARD. © 2018 by the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission. All rights reserved. Disclaimer | Accessibility | FOIA | Sitemap Top of Page Learn More Past Studies What's Different This Time? Project Timeline Get Involved! Why Now? Frequently Asked Questions Stay In Touch

Traffic congestion impacts the mobility of people and goods in the tri-county region, which affects quality of life and economic growth throughout Greater Lansing. Tri-County maintains a federally required Congestion Management Process (CMP) to improve transportation system reliability, safety, and performance. HOME > PROGRAMS & SERVICES > TRANSPORTATION > PLANNING AREAS > TRAFFIC CONGESTION All Program Planning Areas Traffic Congestion Transportation Transportation Improvement Program Metropolitan Transportation Plan Performance Measures Pavement Condition Safety & Operations Non-Motorized Traffic Congestion Public Transit Freight Regional Travel Air Quality (Conformity) Traffic congestion impacts the mobility of people and goods in the tri-county region, which affects quality of life and economic growth throughout Greater Lansing. Congestion is the level at which transportation performance is no longer acceptable due to traffic interference resulting in decreased speeds and increased travel times. As the region experiences population and job growth, congestion is addressed by a systematic process, called the Congestion Management Process (CMP), that provides for safe and effective integrated management and operation of the multimodal transportation system. Tri-County maintains a federally required CMP to improve transportation system reliability, safety, and performance. Tri-County's Congestion Management Process is a systematic and regionally accepted approach for measuring and diagnosing the causes of current and future congestion. It provides accurate, up-to-date information on transportation system performance and assesses alternative strategies for congestion management that meets the identified regional need. A CMP is required in Census-designated Urban Areas with population exceeding 200,000, known as Transportation Management Areas (TMAs) . Federal requirements state that in all TMAs, the CMP shall be developed and implemented as an integrated part of the metropolitan transportation planning process. This CMP is an on-going process, fully integrated into Tri-County's transportation planning process. It is a "living" document, continually evolving to address the results of performance measures, concerns of the region, new objectives and goals, and up-to-date information on congestion issues. The CMP uses an objectives-driven, performance-based approach to planning for congestion management. Through the use of congestion management objectives and performance measures, the CMP provides a mechanism for ensuring that investment decisions are made with a clear focus on desired outcomes. This approach involves screening strategies using objective criteria and relying on system performance data, analysis, and evaluation. In Transportation Management Areas that are in non-attainment of ozone or carbon monoxide (CO) standards, federal funds may not be expended for any new project that will significantly increase the carrying capacity for single-occupant vehicles (SOVs) unless the project results from a CMP. For the tri-county region, a significant increase in carrying capacity for SOVs is defined as a project that adds one or more through-travel lanes for a distance in excess of one mile or more on a roadway classified as a Collector or higher on the Federal functional class map for the area.

PROGRAM PLANNING AREAS Infrastructure Resilience Transportation & Mobility Pavement Condition Safety & Operations Non-Motorized (Bicycle & Pedestrian) Traffic Congestion Public Transit Freight (Movement of Goods) Regional Travel (Passenger Air, Rail, & Bus) Air Quality (Conformity) Performance Measures Short-Range Planning (TIP) Long-Range Planning (MTP) Environment & Natural Resources Water Quality & Management Water Trails Air Quality Green Infrastructure Energy Community Development Talent & Workforce Development Placemaking & the Arts Urban & Rural Development Housing Recreational Access & Greenspace Hazard Mitigation Economic Resiliency

Our region offers several local and regional bus services, including public transit, paratransit, and private provider services. These transportation services directly link to the economy via businesses and access to jobs, reduce fuel consumption and your carbon footprint, and provide mobility to restricted groups. HOME > PROGRAMS & SERVICES > TRANSPORTATION > PLANNING AREAS > PUBLIC TRANSIT All Program Planning Areas Public Transit Transportation Transportation Improvement Program Metropolitan Transportation Plan Performance Measures Pavement Condition Safety & Operations Non-Motorized Traffic Congestion Public Transit Freight Regional Travel Air Quality (Conformity) Our region offers several local and regional bus services, including public transit, paratransit, and private provider services. These transportation services have many benefits: they directly link to the economy via businesses and access to jobs, reduce fuel consumption and your carbon footprint, and provide mobility for groups who would otherwise be restricted. Part of Tri-County’s role in the region is to support planning efforts and to promote public transit facilities and specialized transportation to connect individuals to their community. Public transportation in the tri-county region includes various modes, such as linehaul, van pool services, paratransit for senior citizens and people with disabilities, and local and express bus service. Tri-County works closely with the staff and leadership of the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) , the region’s primary transit provider, to plan for the current and future transportation needs of residents across the region. Several efforts are underway to assess the need for transit in new services in the region, as well as to provide enhanced service within existing coverage areas. Additionally, the 2050 MTP reviews all transit services in the region and analyzes possibilities to enhance communities’ quality of life. To learn more about public transit services available for the tri-county region, visit each service providers' website: Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) Clinton Area Transit System ("The Blue Bus") Eaton County Transportation Authority (EATRAN)

Tri-County maintains a Tri-County Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, created to protect the health, safety, and economic interest of residents and businesses and reduce the impact of natural and technological hazards in our region. HOME > PROGRAMS & SERVICES > COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT > PLANNING AREAS > HAZARD MITIGATION All Program Planning Areas Hazard Mitigation (Disaster Preparedness) Community Development Talent & Workforce Development Placemaking & the Arts Urban & Rural Development Housing Recreational Access & Greenspace Hazard Mitigation Economic Resiliency A hazard mitigation plan for the tri-county region is maintained to protect the health, safety, and economic interest of residents and businesses and reduce the impact of natural and technological hazards in our region. The plan provides the process for evaluation of land use development from a hazard mitigation perspective that will protect lives and property. It also provides eligibility for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs and grant funding for our local communities, as it meets the requirements of the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. The latest update of the Tri-County Hazard Mitigation Plan was completed in 2023 by the Ingham County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The plan is also housed on th eir website . In 2015, Tri-County created the Tri-County Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan . We worked closely with our region’s emergency management offices, land use development agencies, the Michigan State Police, affected businesses, and interested members of the public to develop a plan that addresses the purposeful use of land during development and provides recommendations to avoid damage from disasters our region may experience. The plan will be updated as needed for local communities to be eligible for Hazard Mitigation and FEMA funding that can be used for projects across the region.

As the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the region, Tri-County coordinates transportation planning initiatives, determines policy priorities, and channels all federal funding for transportation projects throughout Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties. HOME > PROJECTS & DOCUMENTS > TRANSPORTATION & MOBILITY > MPO POLICIES & PROCEDURES Document Library MPO Policies & Procedures The Tri-County Regional Planning Commission was designated by the Governor as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in 1973, responsible for fulfilling all federally required transportation planning requirements in the Lansing-East Lansing Metropolitan area throughout Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties in the state of Michigan. Federal funding for transportation projects throughout the three counties are channeled through Tri-County. Learn more about our role as the MPO for the tri-county region here . Federally required processes and analyses that are specific to the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), such as Environmental Justice and Air Conformity, are included in their respective documents. Additional agency-wide policies and publications, such as financial and operating procedures, may be viewed in the Projects & Documents Library . MPO Planning Area Boundary Bylaws Public Participation Plan Stakeholder Engagement (Consultation) Process Title VI Non-Discrimination Plan Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan Regional & Unified Planning Work Programs Certification Agreements & Memoranda of Understanding Transportation Performance Measures Certification Public Participation Plan

We have a dedicated staff of 11 professionals working to serve our member communities and make the Greater Lansing area more prosperous. HOME > ABOUT > OUR TEAM Tri-County Staff James Snell Executive Director 517-999-8906 jsnell@mitcrpc.org Meet Jim Jim Koenig, AICP, PTP Senior Transportation Planning Manager 517-999-8909 jkoenig@mitcrpc.org Meet Jim Sydney Sheaks Finance Manager 517-899-9489 ssheaks@mitcrpc.org Meet Sydney Nicole Baumer Deputy Director 517-999-8900 nbaumer@mitcrpc.org Meet Nicole Lauren Schnoebelen Environmental Planner 517-999-8912 lschnoebelen@mitcrpc.org Meet Lauren Shanice Tan Data Analyst 517-393-0343 stan@mitcrpc.org Meet Shanice Amanda Hathaway Frattarelli Environmental Planner 517-999-8905 ahathawayfrattarelli@mitcrpc.org Meet Amanda Valonda Sesi Marketing & Community Engagement Manager 517-999-8903 vsesi@mitcrpc.org Meet Valonda Laura Tschirhart Senior Transportation Planner, GIS Coordinator 517-999-8910 Ltschirhart@mitcrpc.org Meet Laura ©

As the Economic Development District for the region, Tri-County develops a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) every five years to provide goals and actions for communities within the region that promote economic prosperity and improve quality of life. HOME > PROJECTS & DOCUMENTS > COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & QUALITY OF LIFE > CEDS Document Library Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy As the Economic Development District for the region, Tri-County develops a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) every five years to provide goals and actions for communities within the region that promote economic prosperity and improve quality of life. Management of the CEDS enables municipalities in the tri-county region to compete for federal project funding. To complete the CEDS, Tri-County brings economic development professionals together to collaborate with transportation and land use planners, elected officials, educational universities and school systems, nonprofits, workforce development agencies, housing experts, community and business leaders, tourism representatives, and environmental groups to update the region's planning strategy for community and economic vitality, prosperity, growth, and sustainability. The CEDS contributes to effective economic development in America’s communities and regions through a locally-based, regionally-driven economic development planning process. Economic development planning – as implemented through the CEDS – is not only a cornerstone of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) programs, but successfully serves as a means to engage community leaders, leverage the involvement of the private sector, and establish a strategic blueprint for regional collaboration. The CEDS provides the capacity-building foundation by which the public sector, working in conjunction with other economic actors (individuals, firms, industries), creates the environment for regional economic prosperity. Simply put, a CEDS is a strategy-driven plan for regional economic development. The CEDS provides a vehicle for individuals, organizations, local governments, institutes of learning, and private industry to engage in a meaningful conversation and debate about what capacity building efforts would best serve economic development in the region. Annually, Tri-County publishes updated data metrics and trends (appendix reports) to monitor the progress of our region. Tri-County is currently updating the region's 5-year CEDS for 2023-2028 in coordination with the Regional Economic Collaborative and a supporting leadership team. It is anticipated to be completed in September 2023.

We maintain a variety of data that tell the story of our region. Check out datasets, dashboards, and our map gallery for more information! DATA & MAPPING Mapping & Interactive Data Maps provide a key method of visually communicating our plans and regional trends to policy makers, the public, and our local communities. Tri-County maintains a map gallery of both static and interactive maps, applications, story maps, and mapping and forecasting tools to help tell the story of our region and its transportation options, accessibility to essential services, and other factors that impact our quality of life. View Our Map Gallery Databases & Dashboards We provide a variety of data analysis, forecasting, and data-centric information to help citizens, businesses, and municipalities make informed decisions about living, working, and doing business in the Greater Lansing area. Our databases, tools, and dashboards provide up-to-date information on demographics and socioeconomic trends, land use, economic key indicators, environmental considerations, and transportation-related data. View Our Data & Tools Services & Technical Assistance Tri-County offers services to the community to help advance local and regional goals for improving the Greater Lansing area. Our services help fulfill both our local communities' technical needs and implementation strategies outlined in our federally-mandated planning documents for the tri-county region. Local governments, community partners, and other regional organizations are eligible to participate in our variety of technical services offered by staff. Learn More Databases & Dashboards Databases & Dashboards MI Capital Region Data Dashboard Wellhead Protection Viewer Tri-County Virtual Trail Explorer Middle Grand River Water Trail Navigation Tool Traffic Count Database System Interactive Map: 2050 Population & Employment Data Michigan Traffic Crash Facts Tri-County Population, Number of Households, & Employment Census 2020 Tri-County Demographics, US Census 2020 Maps and datasets are created for planning purposes from a variety of sources. They are neither an official survey nor a legal document. Information provided by other agencies should be verified with sources where appropriate.

The Greater Lansing Regional Committee for Stormwater Management (GLRC) provides a forum for stormwater program managers to discuss challenges, share solutions, and collaboratively address MS4 Phase II permit requirements. Back to Committees Greater Lansing Regional Committee on Stormwater Management The Greater Lansing Regional Committee for Stormwater Management (GLRC) provides a forum for stormwater program managers to discuss challenges, share solutions, and collaboratively address MS4 Phase II permit requirements. The GLRC is guided by elected officers and an Executive Committee, which provide direction to the committee and Tri-County staff. Three subcommittees – the Public Education Plan Committee, the Total Maximum Daily Load Committee, and Illicit Discharge Elimination Program Committee – make recommendations and assist the GLRC membership in achieving permit compliance. Check the calendar for upcoming meetings of GLRC's membership. Membership Agendas & Minutes Meetings Calendar MOA