Introduction

This page serves as an initial plan of action for the Township; implementing the goals, projects, actions, and future land use categories outlined during the process. Each implementation step is categorized into the plan themes as well as the Cascade Village sub area plan.

Responsibility & Partners

Primary responsibility for implementing this plan rests with the Township Board, the Planning Commission, and Township staff. Many entities and organizations will need to cooperate in order to fully implement policies, recommendations, and vision.

Transportation & Mobility

Transit & Transportation Management

Action #1

Strengthen the Township’s relationship with The Rapid and extend the pilot trial for the bus service extension along 28th Street to Cascade Village and make the route permanent.

Strategy
Work with The Rapid to make the Route 28 permanent and help increase awareness of the route with local employers and transit dependent populations. 

Responsibility & Partners
The Rapid, Township Staff, Downtown Development Authority, Township Board.

Success Indicator
Route 28 will be permanently established and existing ridership will be maintained or increase.

Timeframe:
Short – 1-3 years

Action #2

Expand The Rapid service to access 60th and Broadmoor to provide access to employers.

Strategy
Work with communities and employers in the “four corners” area such as the City of Kentwood, Caledonia Township, Gaines Township, and Amazon to develop a successful transit model for the area.

Responsibility & Partners
City of Kentwood, Caledonia Township, Gaines Township, The Rapid, Amazon, local employers, Township staff, Township Board.

Success Indicator
Transit service is established servicing the 60th and Broadmoor area.

Timeframe:

Medium – 3-5 years

Action #3

Establish a park and ride lot near the 36th Street and I-96 Interchange in partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

Strategy
Work with the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport to develop a park and ride on MDOT or airport property.

Responsibility & Partners
Michigan Department of Transportation, Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Township staff, Township Board.

Success Indicator
A park and ride lot near 36th Street and I-96 is established and constructed.

Timeframe:

Long – 5-10 years

Action #4

Continue work with the CSX railroad, the Grand Valley Metro Council, and regional townships and municipalities to work toward a long-range commuter rail connecting Lansing, Grand Rapids, Cascade Charter Township and Holland.

Strategy
Maintain a seat at the table regarding discussion future planning for commuter rail.

Responsibility & Partners
CSX, Grand Valley Metro Council, State of Michigan, neighboring townships, City of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Township staff, Township Board.

Success Indicator
A commuter rail line is established connecting Lansing, Grand Rapids, Cascade Charter Township, and Holland.

Timeframe:

Long – 5-10 years

Freight & Rail

Action #1

Support the continuance of freight rail service in and through the Township.

Strategy
Maintain communication with CSX and local employers who rely on freight rail service regarding existing and future needs; advocate for continuance of rail corridor.

Responsibility & Partners
CSX, freight rail reliant businesses, Township staff, Township Board.

Success Indicator
Freight rail will be maintained in the Township.

Timeframe:

Short – 1-3 years

Action #2

Maintain truck route corridors which support the shipping needs of business and industry.

Strategy
Maintain communication with the Kent County Road Commission and local employers who rely on trucking service for existing and future needs; advocate for existing or expanded truck routes.

Responsibility & Partners
Kent County Road Commission, trucking service reliant businesses, Township staff, Township Board.

Success Indicator
Truck routes in the township will be maintained.

Timeframe:

Short – 1-3 years

Trails + Pathways

Action #1

Establish dedicated pathway links to Lowell Township, Caledonia Township, Grand Rapids Township, and the City of Kentwood.

Strategy
Identify existing or future non-motorized pathways near Township boundaries in adjacent communities and work with neighboring jurisdictions to establish connections.

Responsibility & Partners
Lowell Township, Caledonia Township, Grand Rapids Township, City of Kentwood, Township staff, Planning Commission, Township Board.

Success Indicator
Pathway links to Lowell Township, Caledonia Township, Grand Rapids Township, and the City of Kentwood will be established.

Timeframe:

Short – 1-3 years

Action #2

Connect trail and pathway system to all Township Parks.

Strategy
Identify Township parks which are underserved by non-motorized access and plan for preferred future trail extensions.

Responsibility & Partners
Cascade Township Parks and Recreation Committee, Township staff, Planning Commission, Township Board.

Success Indicator
All township parks will be connected to the non-motorized pathway system.

Timeframe:

Short – 1-3 years

Action #3

Expand the pathway system into the southeast quadrant of the Township.

Strategy
Identify preferred routes and destinations for future connections or loops into the southeast quadrant of the Township.

Responsibility & Partners
Cascade Township Parks and Recreation Committee, Township staff, Planning Commission, Township Board.

Success Indicator
The pathway system will be expanded into the southwest quadrant of the Township.

Timeframe:

Long – 5-10 years

Streets + Roadways

Action #1

Adopt a Vision Zero street safety policy and support and advocate for changes and improvements in street design.

Strategy
Work with the Kent County Road Commission and Michigan Department of Transportation in drafting policy language to define a Vision Zero policy in the Township; incorporate as a city to take control of the street system.

Responsibility & Partners
Cascade Township Parks and Recreation Committee, Township staff, Planning Commission, Township Board.

Success Indicator
The pathway system will be expanded into the southwest quadrant of the Township.

Timeframe:

Short – 1-3 years

Action #2

Modify the Cascade Road and Old 28th Street cross-section in Cascade Village to promote walkability and traffic calming.

Strategy
Work with the Kent County Road Commission and Downtown Development Authority to construct a street cross-section which is reflected in the Cascade Village Master Plan vision; incorporate as a city to take control of the street system.

Responsibility & Partners
Kent County Road Commission, Downtown Development Authority, Township staff, Planning Commission, Township Board.

Success Indicator
Cascade Road cross-section will be modified per the recommendations in the Cascade Village Master Plan; walkability will be improved by traffic slowing and pedestrian improvements.

Timeframe:

Short – 1-3 years

Action #3

Improve pedestrian and bicycle facilities on bridge in Cascade Village by adding pots and planters or bike lanes to separate vehicles from the sidewalk.

Strategy
Work with the Downtown Development Authority and the Kent County Road Commission to install pots, planters, and bike lanes; incorporate as a city to take control of the street system.

Responsibility & Partners
Kent County Road Commission, Downtown Development Authority, Township staff, Planning Commission, Township Board.

Success Indicator
Pots and planters and/or bike lanes are added; more pedestrians and bicyclists are seen using the bridge.

Timeframe:

Short – 1-3 years

Action #4

Modify the Thornapple River Drive cross-section near Cascade Village by adding street trees and a sidewalk to promote walkability and traffic calming.

Strategy
Work with the Kent County Road Commission and Downtown Development Authority to construct a street cross-section which is reflected in the Cascade Village Master Plan vision; incorporate as a city to take control of the street system.

Responsibility & Partners
Kent County Road Commission, Downtown Development Authority, Township staff, Planning Commission, Township Board.

Success Indicator
Street trees and a sidewalk are added; traffic is slowed and more pedestrians are seen utilizing the sidewalk.

Timeframe:

Short – 1-3 years

Action #5

Install sidewalk crossings in known conflict areas so that residents have safe access to services, parks, and regional trails.

Strategy
Work with the Kent County Road Commission, Michigan Department of Transportation, and Downtown Development Authority to study conflict areas by utilizing the Michigan Traffic Crash Facts query tool and improve pedestrian crossings, install signalization, add bulb-outs, and narrow streets; incorporate as a city to take control of the street system.

Responsibility & Partners
Kent County Road Commission, Michigan Department of Transportation, Downtown Development Authority.

Success Indicator
Sidewalk and pedestrian crossings are improved or installed where indicated by the conflict area study; streets are narrowed in pedestrian corridors.

Timeframe:

Short – 1-3 years