EXPANDING STREET CONNECTIONS
Currently the street network of the DDA district consists of Lake Lansing and Wood Roads, and the internal circulation system of the lifestyle center and surrounding retail. To open the area north of Wal-Mart and the lifestyle center, and west of Wood Road to development, an internal circulation system for the DDA district is needed. In particular, an additional connection between the district and East Lansing via an extended Coleman Road, and improvements to the Lake Lansing Road interchange must be constructed. New connections and improvements will provide both access to landlocked parcels and help improve circulation by forming an interconnected grid of streets to disperse traffic and provide opportunities for biking and walking. The recommended new connections are identified on the graphic on page 61. Also, by identifying primary activity centers and an ordered, mixed pattern of land uses, future development will be transit-ready and potentially served by enhanced CATA bus service or even future light/commuter rail. The plan also calls for a more fully developed sidewalk and trail system to serve what is intended to be a fully integrated live/work/shop/play community, where residents have the option to leave the car at home.

VACATED RAIL RIGHT-OF-WAY
Extending Coleman Road along the abandoned rail right-of-way that traverses the northern part of the district will increase circulation within the DDA and the southern area of Clinton County to development, provide a direct connection with the Northern Tier of East Lansing, and help alleviate traffic congestion on Lake Lansing, Coolidge, and Chandler Roads. As a major regional open space element, the corridor may also accommodate a number of other uses and activities such as bike trails, walking paths, and even future commuter transit. While these eventualities may be many years away, the future use and development of the corridor should not foreclose on these future opportunities. For example, adjacent new development should be oriented toward the right-of-way so that it will frame a public street and excess right-of-way should be reserved for the creation of a trail system.

The timing of the construction of this road is critical as it relates to the improvements to Lake Lansing Road. This road will be needed to maintain access to the DDA district during the reconstruction period. This project should be the Township’s highest priority over the next few years. Given that it will require the cooperation of four units of government as well as affected property owners, the Township must begin immediately to built cooperation and support for it.

SAM’S WAY
An extension of Sam’s Way west to Chamberlain Street will access the area west of Wood Road for development, create a local circulation system between the Medical Campus and the lifestyle center, and will help unify the DDA district. This extended street is intended to be the main pedestrian route that ties several of the district’s main elements together: Eastwood, the civic area, and the Medical Campus. Key pedestrian nodes along this route include the intersection of Wood Road and Sam’s Way, a proposed trail head near the intersection of Chamberlain and Sam’s Way, and the main pedestrian court at Eastwood. This street is to be furnished with pedestrian scale appointments, multiple crosswalks, and active street edges.

WESTSIDE
Internal circulation within the Medical Campus should be improved by developing connections from David and Barritt Streets to Lake Lansing Road. David Street should transition to a parkway that snakes around the golf course and the Barritt Street extension should provide additional access to proposed and future medical offices. These additional connections will improve access between the City of Lansing and the Township as well as alleviate traffic pressure on Lake Lansing Road.

CHAMBERLAIN DRIVE ROUNDABOUT AND EXTENSION
Extending Chamberlain Drive to the north and south will provide another critical connection and improve local traffic circulation throughout the district, increase access of the Medical Campus and Groesbeck neighborhoods to district amenities, and alleviate traffic pressures on Lake Lansing and Wood Roads as the DDA district builds out. South of Lake Lansing Road, Chamberlain Drive will expand access into the medical office cluster. A northern extension of Chamberlain could provide future access to reclaimed portions of the Granger Landfill when land filling operations end.

A traffic roundabout at its intersection with Lake Lansing Road would provide a visual terminus along Lake Lansing Road from the east and west sides of the district and help accent development in the Medical Campus. The Chamberlain Drive roundabout is one of two planned along Lake Lansing Road that are intended to slow traffic and provide visual relief in the Medical Campus. The second roundabout near the district’s edge will serve as a community entry feature and pedestrian refuge for greenway users.