Summary Report for the Lansing Metropolitan Area - Tri-County ...

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“Regional Growth: Choices for Our Future”
Summary Report
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Project Mission
The mission of the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission’s “Regional Growth: Choices
for Our Future” project was to actively engage the region’s citizens to examine implications of
regional land use and other growth trends on the region’s future. The project formulated
consensus on a shared vision of regional growth in order to assure an improved future regional
quality of life.
What Does the Project mean for the Region ?
The Tri-County “Regional Growth: Choices for Our Future” project provided the opportunity
for the whole region to consider how best to maintain our quality of life while continuing to
grow. The vision and policies will be implemented to encourage infill development in urban,
suburban and rural centers. New growth in the region will be planned for mature corridors
which connect regional centers where transit ridership potential is highest. The majority of new
development is expected to be focused in areas where public water and sewer systems are
available and it is anticipated there will be more investment in quality of life/livability factors,
such as sidewalks, landscaping and preservation of the tree canopy. The project created
consensus on a series of shared goals which the region’s governments can now implement.
If fully implemented, the preferred regional vision will:
• Reduce congested lane miles on regional roads by approximately 50 percent and
save taxpayers between 1.6 and 4.8 billion dollars in road improvement costs which
would otherwise be required if current trends are unchecked.
• Save the equivalent of three townships of agricultural land and open space.
• Reduce air pollutants by tens of thousands of kilograms per day, leading to public
health benefits and lower long term public health costs.
• Improve the region’s quality of life and economic competitiveness in an increasingly
global economy greater than would occur under current public policies.
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