Tri-County initiated this project in late 2019 with the support of a technical assistance award from the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) through their Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program. Tri-County held two workshops in partnership with NPS in early 2020 to create a vision for the plan and brainstorm trail connections with stakeholders.

After efforts were paused at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Tri-County revived the project in mid-2021 – this time with assistance from consulting firm OHM Advisors – to explore the feasibility of developing three new trail routes between the existing Lansing River Trail network and major interregional trails that enter into the tri-county region, including the Clinton Ionia Shiawassee (CIS) Trail in northern Clinton County, the Paul Henry Trail in southwest Eaton County, and the Lakelands State Park Trail in southern Ingham County.

Throughout 2022, six advisory committee meetings with representatives from Ingham County Parks, Clinton County Parks and Greenspace, Eaton County Parks, City of Lansing, Michigan Department of Transportation, U.S. National Park Service, and Tri-County Bicycling Association were held to guide development of the plan. Numerous potential routes were studied from a bird's-eye perspective to assess how best to connect our urban center and rural communities, and along the way, to regional assets like local parks and recreation amenities, employment centers, municipal assets, and other community spaces and destinations. Following discovery and corridor analysis, a series of seven local meetings was coordinated throughout the region with municipal staff in the summer and fall of 2022 to review preliminary trail routes and provide feedback, including insight on financial and location feasibility. A final stakeholder input session was held in late 2022 to finalize draft routes to present to the public.

In May 2023, the community was invited to provide their input on the preliminary routes and conceptual trail designs at three public forums held in each county and via a survey and interactive comment map. Representatives from cycling advocacy and grassroots organizations, local governments, transportation agencies, and members of the public were asked to share their insight about local trail use, safety and design preferences, and priorities for trail connections. Collectively, over 100 attendees and responses were taken into consideration.

The final Regional Trails Feasibility Plan, which created a conceptual blueprint for a prioritized, "tiered" regional trails system of over 75 miles of trails that form interregional connections to the region’s core cycling, pedestrian, and recreational facilities​​, was completed and adopted in July 2023.

In late 2023, Tri-County announced a $2.5 million pilot project to foster the development of regional trails. This project, which is supported by a $2 million award from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) through their Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), will support initial implementation of the feasibility plan through the completion of several deliverables, including:

• Early Preliminary Engineering (EPE) and segmentation of identified routes in the Feasibility Plan

• Documentation necessary to apply for TAP funding for each segment

• Playbook to guide communities on ways to develop trail projects suitable for TAP funding

Tri-County has recruited PEA Group, with support from OHM Advisors and The Greenway Collaborative, to complete this pilot project by the end of 2026. Currently, the project team is hosting several community open houses to gather feedback from the public.

Additional updates will be shared as the project progresses.

At the heart of our region, we have a robust trails network - notably, the Lansing River Trail. However, we struggle to connect to major systems throughout the state and are less competitive for funding with an exclusively local approach.

Nonmotorized transportation, commonly referred to as bicycle and pedestrian travel, encompasses everything from bike lanes and marked shared lanes to sidewalks and paved shoulders. Trails, a nonmotorized transportation facility that is often associated with shared use paths, center on the user experience and connectivity to statewide trails, existing nonmotorized infrastructure, and other amenities. Trails planning focuses on prioritizing off-road paths that can be used recreationally by both pedestrians and bicyclists alike and contribute to interregional mobility and a seamless network. Trails have notable benefits to the community, including improving the local economy through tourism and property values, recreational options, health, transportation options, environmental conservation and stewardship, and general quality of life of residents.

The plan looks to capitalize on these benefits and establish a conceptual blueprint for over 75 miles of trails that can form interregional connections to the region’s core cycling, pedestrian, and recreational facilities. It primarily explores the feasibility of developing three new trails that provide a connection between the existing Lansing River Trail network with major trails in the state that enter the tri-county region, including the Clinton Ionia Shiawassee (CIS) Trail in northern Clinton County, the Paul Henry Trail in southwest Eaton County, and the Lakelands State Park Trail in southern Ingham County.

We need a plan that looks at the feasibility of connecting our existing assets to the larger community and state to help fill the gap in our region, as illustrated in the below map.

In addition to identifying trails that will enhance our region’s economy, transportation options, and attractiveness and expand the connectivity and accessibility to communities inside and outside the region, this plan will make our region more competitive for future funding opportunities and better position local governments and nonprofits in their planning efforts. The project’s goals are to:

Following the initiation of the project in late 2019 in partnership with the National Park Service, Tri-County developed the Greater Lansing region’s long-range 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan, Moving Mid-Michigan. This plan was adopted by Tri-County’s Board of Commissioners in December 2020 and identifies "regional trails planning" as one of six key implementation priorities for the agency.

Since then, Tri-County has led multiple initiatives to plan a regional trails network that will connect Lansing and Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties.

In 2023, Tri-County completed a trails connectivity feasibility study and conceptual plan with professional assistance from OHM Advisors and guidance from an advisory committee comprised of representatives from Ingham County Parks, Clinton County Parks and Greenspace, Eaton County Parks, City of Lansing, Michigan Department of Transportation, U.S. National Park Service, and Tri-County Bicycling Association. Local government staff, including the three counties and cities of Lansing, East Lansing, and Charlotte, also contributed their technical review.

In 2024, Tri-County initiated a multi-million dollar pilot project to further refine proposed routes that will connect the region’s existing Lansing River Trail system to other statewide trails and prepare them for future grant applications. Tri-County’s team of planners has procured assistance from PEA Group, with support from OHM Advisors and The Greenway Collaborative, to complete this project by the end of 2026, which is currently ongoing.

Questions regarding this work may be directed to info@mitcrpc.org.

Trails are more than a recreational asset - they bring economic prosperity and other benefits to our communities and to those who walk and bike in our region. Trails:

• provide low-cost recreational opportunities for families and other users

• boost spending at local businesses and improve tourism

• make communities more attractive places to live and increase property values

• serve as amenities to attract and retain top talent

• connect users to community assets and public spaces

• encourage exercise and other healthy outdoor activities

• offer an alternative means of transportation and connect our broader multimodal system

• promote conservation, revitalization, and purposeful development of outdoor assets and spaces

The connectivity and accessibility of a community’s parks, trails, and water amenities can play a crucial role in making the region a competitive place to live and play. They also can impact our economy – from home values to retail spending trends.

The Tri-County Regional Planning Commission is a public planning agency established in 1956, serving Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties in Mid-Michigan. Tri-County makes our region a more prosperous community by planning for a strong economy, reliable transportation, and sustainable infrastructure and natural resources.

We connect local organizations and governments to funding, technical assistance, data resources, and opportunities to discuss trends and challenges affecting the Greater Lansing area. Learn more about Tri-County’s current projects at mitcrpc.org/currentprojects.