With over 500,000+ annual visits to our trails, we know many residents and visitors use the TART for critical transportation and recreational experiences. The TART along Five Mile Road is one of the most scenic, yet also most precarious sections of trail. This segment offers a panoramic view of East Grand Traverse Bay, but is also the location of many incident reports including broken bones, rail crossing crashes, distracted motorists on the shared roadway and other serious issues with this section of trail. We have an opportunity to significantly improve this stretch when the road is reconstructed in 2026.
We anticipate completing design and engineering in 2025, and breaking ground on a reimagined, safer and more convenient segment of trail in the spring of 2026 when the Grand Traverse County Road Commission reconstructs 5 Mile Road.
This is an incredible opportunity to encourage participation in the shaping of multimodal transportation in one of Michigan’s fastest growing counties. Continued investment in non-motorized, multi-use trails is crucial because they provide residents and visitors with the ability to improve their physical and mental health, contribute to a vibrant economy, and build a greener transportation network. Trails can be a part of the solution in combating heart disease, obesity, mental illness and more. They also offer transportation independence through a consistent alternative mode of transportation. They help build more resilient communities through the myriad of benefits they provide. Investing in these projects not only fixes current issues, it also demonstrates our continued care for the trail network for future generations.
Objectives
- Enhance Safety and Accessibility: Redesign and reconstruct this precarious section of trail to minimize incidents and improve safety for all users, including addressing rail crossing hazards, shared roadway conflicts, and distracted motorists.
- Promote Multimodal Transportation: Support the development of a more connected and user-friendly non-motorized transportation network to encourage walking, biking, and other sustainable travel options in one of Michigan’s fastest-growing counties.
- Support Community Health and Sustainability: Provide opportunities for physical activity, mental health benefits, and eco-friendly transportation, contributing to more resilient and vibrant communities.
- Strengthen Regional Trail Connectivity: Create a seamless connection to the Nakwema Trailway, advancing the vision of a 325+ mile regional trail network that links communities across northern Lower Michigan.
Status
2025 | Design & Engineering
2026 | Groundbreaking
This section of the trail is also a connector to the Nakwema Trailway, where we are working with stakeholders to reimagine how we move around our region. Once complete, the Nakwema Trailway will create a connected network of 415+ miles of trails in northern Lower Michigan. Together, we can do something big. Thank you for your consideration of this proposal to continue investing in connected communities.