About/History

The Traverse Transportation Coordinating Initiative (TTCI) is the coordinating body for representatives from communities and implementing agencies within the census designated Traverse City urbanized area to discuss future transportation projects, real and potential, under a Metropolitan planning organization (MPO) format.  A MPO is a federally mandated and federally funded transportation policy-making organization that is made up of representatives from local government and governmental transportation authorities.

In 1988, the Grand Traverse County Commission and Road Commission formed the Grand Traverse Area Transportation Task Force, which was organized to investigate the long-standing issue of a bypass/beltline around Traverse City.  A preliminary alignment was established and right-of-ways were identified for the proposed project. Eventually, the Board broadened its scope to include all real or potential transportation projects, and how implementation affects transportation regionally.  This was the driver for the formation of the Traverse City Transportation and Land Use Study (TC-TALUS). 

TC-TALUS was proposed by MDOT to the Grand Traverse Area Transportation Task Force in 1990. MDOT believed the Traverse City area would be very near an Urbanized Area designation and felt the area's past growth history justified the organization of a formal transportation study that would examine how real and proposed transportation projects would affect the Traverse Region.  

In an effort to more effectively serve the region by focusing on transportation implementation efforts, TC-TALUS redefined and reenergized its role as a transportation planning resource for local communities, transportation agencies, and MDOT in 2015. This includes studying various challenges associated with east/west travel throughout the region by assessing potential new connections and studying access/travel demand management issues along dense corridors such as the Bayshore Corridor (US-31/M-72/M-22), South Airport Rd, and Eight St.

Moreover, new staffing, governance, and membership will better drive and shape the program as it transitions to the forthcoming MPO designation.  Additionally, as a means to further the reinvention of TC-TALUS, it was suggested by the Board to consider a name change. Criteria brought forth included: 1) eliminating “land use” and “study” in name; and 2) a name to better represent the role of the program.  In March 2016, the Board unanimously decided that TC-TALUS would be renamed the Traverse Transportation Coordinating Initiative (TTCI). 

TTCI is structured similarly to the other MPOs in the state. This consists of two committees: Policy (or Board of Directors) and Technical. The Policy board is represented by one member each and is responsible for guiding the goals and objectives of the TTCI. The Technical Committee is made up of planners/engineers from the member units of government as well and advises the Policy Board on technical methods, procedures, and standards to be used in developing transportation plans and proposals.