"Transmission Trails" Offer Natural Beauty and Recreation in SE Michigan Communities

NOVI, Mich., Sept. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Michigan's vast network of trails traverse 12,500 miles of state-designated trails, 2,600 miles of rail trails, and "transmission trails" and programs that offer hikers, bikers, nature enthusiasts and others the opportunity to appreciate and enjoy nature. In recent years, ITC has partnered with urban communities where open space is at a premium -- including Canton, Novi and West Bloomfield -- to develop recreational trails in its transmission corridors.   

"ITC takes pride in being a good neighbor in our local communities. We work with communities to keep these transmission corridor trails clear of excessive vegetation that can overtake the trails and interfere with transmission lines, ensuring area residents are able to enjoy the natural beauty of the trails and continue receiving safe and reliable power," said Simon Whitelocke, president of ITC Michigan.

Canton Trail System

The development of Canton's trail system began over 10 years ago as a result of community input identifying open space and trails as one of Canton's most desired amenities. The most recent phase of trail development was constructed on an ITC transmission corridor. This section of trail is approximately 3 miles long and runs through the ITC power line corridor and connects the Lower Rouge Trail to both Flodin Park and Griffin Park.

ITC Corridor Trail in Novi

The ITC Corridor Trail in Novi will provide a non-motorized recreation link in the Novi trail system traversing the entire City of Novi from north to south. Ultimately, this trail will link regional facilities ? such as Maybury State Park, the I-275 Corridor and Hines Park ? in the neighboring communities of Northville, Livonia and Westland with parks in Novi. Once the ITC Corridor Trail is complete, park enthusiasts will be able to hike and bicycle between different parks and communities instead of risking sharing traffic lanes with larger motor vehicles. This project will allow people to get between parks and to local communities safely while improving their personal health and cutting back on motorized vehicle emissions.

"The ITC Corridor Trail is one of Novi's jewels, providing a quiet respite from city life and connecting not only neighboring communities but people," said Novi Mayor Bob Gatt. "With the final link under construction, we look forward to the trail's completion in the spring as it is an important connector in the overall plan for linking recreation throughout Michigan."

West Bloomfield Charter Township

West Bloomfield Parks worked closely with ITC to successfully transition the transmission corridor along the township-owned West Bloomfield Trail from incompatible, tall-growing tree species to a tall grass prairie. Prairie grass was chosen as the vegetation, because the old railroad corridor was once a maintained prairie, and this type of habitat is compatible with electric power lines beside the rail trails. Electric transmission line and rail road corridors often coexist, and when the trains stop running these corridors become ideal spaces for trails and sustainable greenways. In Michigan there are more than 2,600 miles of "rail trails," including the Clinton River Trail, which connects to the West Bloomfield Trail to the west, and the Macomb Orchard Trail to the east. Additionally, ITC is working with West Bloomfield Parks to create a new trail kiosk with historical and nature interpretive information at Arrowhead Rd. ITC also supports the Walk West Bloomfield Program, a free wellness program which features walks ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 miles throughout the Township. In 2018, walkers traveled more than 2,500 number of miles through the program collectively.

In addition to these transmission trails, ITC supports a number of trail programs and events in conjunction with Stony Creek Metroparks' Shelden Trails in Shelby Twp., the Polly Ann Trail in Oakland County, and the Kalamazoo Valley River Trail in Kalamazoo County, among others.

About ITC Michigan

ITC Holdings Corp., the nation's largest independent electricity transmission company based in Novi, Michigan, owns and operates two subsidiaries in the state: ITCTransmission and METC (collectively, ITC Michigan). The two systems comprise approximately 8,700 circuit miles of transmission line serving most of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. For further information visit www.itc-holdings.com. ITC is a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry. For further information visit www.fortisinc.com.

Sources and additional information:

Michigan Department of Natural Resources 
Canton Park Office 
City of Novi 
City of Novi Trail Video 
West Bloomfield Trail 
Shelden Trails 
Polly Ann Trail 
Kalamazoo Valley River Trail 
Ebw.tv 

SOURCE ITC Holdings Corp.