Systems Planning Unit

Craig Hupy, P.E., Unit Manager

Systems Planning Staff Directory - Includes new phone numbers as of January 2, 2009

The Systems Planning Unit is a multi-disciplinary unit with responsibility for asset management planning for the city. The Systems Planning Unit is committed to long-range and strategic planning and coordination of constructed and natural infrastructure systems, to be achieved through customer engagement and the development of environmentally sustainable practices.

Asset Management Goals

The Systems Planning Unit works to achieve the following goals:

Protect the public health and safety
Ensure that our assets are reliable and meet the desired level of service for all users
Maximize & enhance the long-term utilization and economic life of our assets
Reduce our assets’ use of non-renewable energy
Protect & enhance the natural environment
Meet or exceed regulatory requirements

What's New?

Fuller Road Station

In September 2009, community members were invited to attend the first of several public meetings about Fuller Road Station, which is proposed to be an intermodal transportation facility that will serve AATA and University bus service, non-motorized transportation (walking and bicycling), rail service and City and University parking needs. This is a collaborative project between the City of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan. The location of the Fuller Road Station will be in the vicinity of the parking lot on the south side of Fuller Road, just east of East Medical Center Drive and Maiden Lane.

Click here to go to the project webpage.

Virginia Park Neighborhood Meeting on City Forestry Practices
On June 29, 2009, a meeting was held to discuss City Forestry practices. The meeting included a presentation by City staff describing the history of the forestry program, current tree trimming and removal practicies, and the future direction of the program. Neighborhood residents had many questions and concerns about the current state of the program.

Meeting Comments and Questions: Virginia Park Mtg Q&A
Meeting Presentation: City Presentation 062909

Tree Inventory/ Urban Forest Management Plan

The inventory of city managed street and park trees has been completed! The tree inventory provides the species, size, diameter, geo-coded location, condition and maintenance needs of all street trees and park tree in mowed areas. The Tree Inventory information has been added as a layer on the city’s geographic information system (GIS) and integrated with our asset management software Cityworks, which will enable us to manage the trees as we do the other City assets. Click here for additional Tree Inventory information.

The City began its inventory of all city-owned trees in the right-of-way and city parks in February 2009 as an initial step in developing the City's first urban forest management plan. The City contracted with the Davey Resource Group, a Division of the Davey Tree Expert Company to conduct the inventory.

Now that the Tree Inventory is complete, the City is preparing to develop an Urban Forestry Management Plan. The first step in developing the Plan will be to form a Committee comprised of staff, residents and other stakeholders who will guide development of the Plan. When complete, the plan will be used to guide the city in developing policies to manage the urban forest.

Any questions regarding the tree inventory, data, or the urban forestry management plan can be directed to Kerry Gray, Urban Forestry and Natural Resources Planning Coordinator at 734-794-6430 x 43703 or kgray@a2gov.org.

Transportation Plan Update

The City of Ann Arbor last completed a Comprehensive Transportation Plan Update in 1990, laying the framework for improvements to the transportation system over the following years. Since the completion of this plan, the City has experienced tremendous growth and change which alter the way transportation must serve the community:

Regional Population Growth

Regional Employment Growth

Expansion of University Medical Center

Central Campus Improvements

North Campus Expansion

Downtown Development

As a result of these changed conditions, the City of Ann Arbor is preparing an update to the Transportation Plan that considers the effects of changes in growth patterns and development in order to prepare new recommendations to meet transportation needs and the goals of the community well into the future. The plan will be mindful of previous findings and recommendations for the transportation system, and work to incorporate other current efforts, such as the Citywide Non-Motorized Transportation Plan, into a comprehensive framework for addressing current and future transportation issues.

For more information, go to the project website at www.a2transportationplan.com.

Updated September 15, 2009

This page is maintained by the Systems Planning Unit and is updated regularly. If you experience any technical difficulties or have suggestions regarding this site, contact the webmaster.