The City of Portage has launched its annual update of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Input from Portage residents, business owners and other interested people is critical to the development of the program. A CIP open house is planned on Monday, September 30, 2019 from 4:30 to 6:30 PM at Portage City Hall (7900 South Westnedge Avenue) to garner public input and encourage citizen engagement.
The CIP is a 10-year financing plan that identifies both short and long-range physical development and capital investments, such as:
- major and local streets, including non-motorized transportation;
- municipal water, sanitary sewer and storm drainage facilities;
- parks, bikeways and multi-use trails;
- public facilities such as City Hall, Senior Center, Public Services and technology; and
- public safety facilities, vehicles and equipment.
The CIP is an important implementation tool for various City of Portage planning efforts. The purpose of the Open House is to gather initial public comments about future capital improvement projects in the city. Stop by to learn about the CIP, proposed municipal projects and interact with city staff to review preliminary concepts, ask questions, and provide important feedback into the process.
One example of a CIP street project involves a proposed reconfiguration of traffic lanes along Portage Road, also known as a “Road Diet.” Preliminary plans will be available for review for a:
- 4-to-3 lane road diet from Wetherbee Avenue north to Lakeview Drive, and a
- 5-to-3 lane road diet from Lakeview Drive north to Ames Drive, with a traffic signal at Forest Drive.
Information will also be provided on a feasibility study of a 5 to 3 lane road diet from Forest Drive North to Zylman Avenue.
In addition to the open house, an online survey is available during the month of September 2019. Residents and business owners can submit ideas for capital improvement projects and/or provide feedback on projects already in the planning stages. To complete the survey or learn more about the planning process, proposed projects and investments, please visit portagemi.gov/665.
For more information, contact the Department of Community Development at 329-4477.
