Two Sides, One Story — Michigan’s First Highway

CM credit hours for mobile workshops are awarded based on the planned dedicated instructional time. Adjustments to CM hours will not be made after the live event.

Woodward Avenue, metro Detroit's "Main Street," goes through Detroit and and several suburbs before ending in Birmingham. Presenters discuss efforts to reinvent the road through a unified, multi-jurisdictional approach. Enhancements being considered for Woodward include dedicated transit lanes, cycle routes, pedestrian improvements, and additional green space.

In downtown Birmingham, tour leaders touch on past and present downtown influences. The tour features new retail and housing, redesigned city parks, new and small redevelopments, and streets reconfigured into walkable, vibrant places.

Downtown Birmingham's story highlights:

• Actions taken at various times, including the brand-new, comprehensive Birmingham Plan 2040 (an update to the successful 2016 Plan), that provide specific strategies for responding to interventions, disruptors, and challenges;

• An unyielding commitment to the pedestrian experience and walkability, applied through policy, zoning, and infrastructure improvements; and

• Demand for housing that has affected its character and cost in both the downtown and surrounding areas.

Birmingham, one of Michigan's wealthiest communities, exhibits little diversity of race, but significant diversity of age and other demographics. Presenters emphasize the importance of presenting and planning for an inclusive community wherever possible.