KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — The Kalamazoo County Commission has approved a complete streets policy after an extended debate in which the vast majority of both commissioners and the public comments overwhelmingly supported the move.
The county board had rejected such a policy once before, but it was brought back after the biking tragedy that left five dead last month. Most agreed it was just a baby step toward making Kalamazoo a more livable community by building roads in populated areas that are designed for everyone, not just motorists.
The public comments were all positive, urging the board to approve the new policy, including a few township officials who said they already had approved it in their communities.
Commissioners conceded that North Westnedge Avenue, where the nine bikers were struck last month, is already a “complete street,” and say this is just a first step, but they argued it was the right thing to do.
It was approved in a 9-1 vote.
