KALAMAZOO, MI — Citizens are invited to share their ideas as the city of Kalamazoo prepares to redesign streets that recently came under city control.

More than 100 people attended a Wednesday, Aug. 21, meeting at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, the first of a series to help guide the priorities for road reconstruction projects.

City officials gave an overview of the process and talked about planned group bike rides and walking tours where city officials will travel with citizens to gather input about routes throughout the city.

“This is the kickoff,” Kalamazoo Director of Community Planning and Economic Development Rebekah Kik said. Other meetings and community conversations will follow over the next year meant to help city staff understand the different points of view from people using all different modes of transportation.

“What do you see that’s going on in the city from your perspective?” she asked.

In January, the Kalamazoo City Commission approved a memorandum of understanding with the Michigan Department of Transportation to transfer control of sections of Stadium Drive, Westnedge Avenue, Park Street, Michikal Street, King Highway and M-43, to the city.

Several citizens said following Monday’s meeting they are in favor of changing one-way roads into two-way streets. Some spoke of calming traffic.

“They need to slow Wesntedge and Park down,” Anette Shutty said. She lives on the one-way section of South Westnedge Avenue in the Vine neighborhood.

The city needs to add more crosswalks and find other ways to calm traffic, she said.

“So they can’t race down the streets,” she said.

Mark Dunham said he has lived near the KIA for 40 years. The one-way streets have a detrimental effect on the core neighborhoods and make them unsafe, he said.

Dean Hauck, owner of Michigan News Agency at 308 West Michigan Avenue, another major one-way street in Kalamazoo, said she has been involved in discussions about redesigning the roads since 1988.

“I’m really pleased we are going forward,” she said. She noted how more people will be living downtown, with the addition of The Exchange building, creating an opportunity to make the downtown even more successful and vibrant.

The next meeting will be held on Oct. 23, place to be determined, Kik said. Data from planned walking tours and other meetings will be presented and the group will work to examine the data to see what routes and intersections are being highlighted. She said citizens can send in comments and ideas.

Another meeting will be held in winter, and another in spring, according to the plan, before moving forward with funding and design.