A construction date has been announced for the next phase of the Marquette Greenway Trail in Michigan. The 58-mile long trail is set to connect Chicago to Southwest Michigan by the end of 2027. The path is being led by the governments of the three states it crosses through, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, and is partially funded federally.
Proposed trail via Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission
YIMBY originally covered its construction in 2022, with 36 miles of trail still left to build. The project as a whole has been supported by volunteers and local municipalities while also being funded via donations. In 2022, Michigan started their fundraising efforts to reach the $5.6 million necessary for their portion of the project.
Proposed stretch of trail through Michigan via Crain’s
While the Illinois portion of the trail from Calumet Park to the state line has been completed. In Michigan the 10-foot-wide trail will eventually connect to New Buffalo. The first phase will take from New Buffalo south to Grand Beach, set to be built from spring to winter 2024. The second phase will span from Grand Beach to the Indiana state line, which is currently in the pre-development stage and set to be complete by 2025 now that financing is in place.
Proposed trail through Indiana via Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission
In 2022 Indiana also received $17.8 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation as they will hold the majority of the path. However the Indiana portion will attempt to connect with the National Park and requires further planning, however they anticipate a 2027 completion date which will complete the full 58-mile run. Future potential expansions will see the trail stretched up the peninsula to Mackinac Bridge.
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How does this chunk of IN function compared to the rest of the state?
Such vast different priorities regarding infrastructure and focus on healthy development as opposed to the rest of the state burning in hell cause you didn’t text TRUTH.
But as the state capitol is making bus infrastructure illegal, trains and greenways and TODs are taking over the smaller urban centers. IN may have Jesus on their side, but damn do they suck at building highways. Their roads are pretty embarrassing for being the Crossroads of America.
Rural portions are focused on screwing over Indy when Indy tries to do this, instead of the region.
I love these recreational trails, but I wish we (as a region) would celebrate trails that connected people to jobs, schools, etc. as much as we celebrate greenways.