[verobound]

I love Traverse city! It seems like it has got it all. Just curious what anyone might feel it is lacking?

[michmoldman]

To us, TC has it all. Great location, great food, almost every kind of store you could want, boating, skiing, beaches, wineries, awesome breweries, hiking...what more could you want? That's one of of the many reasons we will be moving there asap. Love it!

[ludwigvondrummer]

Traverse City has all of the modern conveniences that people need. It is a hip town for people to visit and many of them decide to stay. Which is good other than Traverse City has not kept pace with its population growth. The roadways within the city limits are in poor shape, with routes leading in and out of the city being narrow and congested. There are basically two major roads for crosstown traffic, each being a hassle during morning/evening commutes. There is a reason that many locals refer to it as "Traffic City". I'm not sure how to address the problems or if there is a way to remedy the situation. We used to have summer tourist season traffic issues, but now the traffic is year around.

I'm 35 and have lived and worked in Grand Traverse county for most of my life. Other than college in East Lansing and 6 years in Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti. I have been a lurker here on CD for about 5 years and see a lot of posters relate information about the TC area. Many of them do not live here and I thought I'd finally post a little of what I experience daily.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by ludwigvondrummer

Traverse City has all of the modern conveniences that people need. It is a hip town for people to visit and many of them decide to stay. Which is good other than Traverse City has not kept pace with its population growth. The roadways within the city limits are in poor shape, with routes leading in and out of the city being narrow and congested. There are basically two major roads for crosstown traffic, each being a hassle during morning/evening commutes. There is a reason that many locals refer to it as "Traffic City". I'm not sure how to address the problems or if there is a way to remedy the situation. We used to have summer tourist season traffic issues, but now the traffic is year around.

I'm 35 and have lived and worked in Grand Traverse county for most of my life. Other than college in East Lansing and 6 years in Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti. I have been a lurker here on CD for about 5 years and see a lot of posters relate information about the TC area. Many of them do not live here and I thought I'd finally post a little of what I experience daily.

Congestion = commerce, embrace it. If you build a ring-highway around TC, you will forever regret it.

Incorporate more shuttle buses or a trolley from the hotel area on 31 to downtown.

[MSwartz]

Originally Posted by ludwigvondrummer

...with routes leading in and out of the city being narrow and congested. There are basically two major roads for crosstown traffic, each being a hassle during morning/evening commutes. There is a reason that many locals refer to it as "Traffic City". I'm not sure how to address the problems or if there is a way to remedy the situation.

I definitely sympathize with you. Traffic is one of the main reasons I haven't vacationed in the Northwest towns in several years. They are just too congested and stressful during the summer months. The older I get, the more I appreciate a quiet getaway, and in spite of the beauty of cities like TC and Petoskey, the traffic can be completely overwhelming. But, that is going to come naturally to a place like yours.

I think Magellan is right though-- constructing thurofares has a high potential to backfire. Those roads will end up just as congested as all the others soon enough, but instead of having a city congested, you'll have a slightly uglier, congested city. I think the trolley could be a real solution.

[Luzette]

I agree traffic can be bad in TC. However, the town has so much to offer that I don't consider it to be more than a minor distraction. I can see how those who live there can tire of it on a day after day basis.

Traverse has everything I could ever want. Shopping is great and food is really excellent. The natural setting around the bay is gorgeous. It's got culture and many things for people to be involved in. I feel so lucky we have such a great city here in northern Michigan.

[michmoldman]

Originally Posted by Luzette

I agree traffic can be bad in TC. However, the town has so much to offer that I don't consider it to be more than a minor distraction. I can see how those who live there can tire of it on a day after day basis.

Traverse has everything I could ever want. Shopping is great and food is really excellent. The natural setting around the bay is gorgeous. It's got culture and many things for people to be involved in. I feel so lucky we have such a great city here in northern Michigan.

I totally agree about traffic being a minor inconvenience. We usually just park wherever...and walk. Whenever we have been caught up in the traffic, I usually just find myself staring out at the bay, or just thinking I really didn't care because I am just happy to be in a city I love so much.

[DTWflyer]

Needs more non-tourism or non-service industry jobs.

[dylvargas]

Traverse is beautiful. Stunning water views. It all depends on your want/need/desires. Place is expensive to many on a year around basis. Used to just be Summer now you pay for year around tourism. Traffic I still dont get as it is fine even on 4th of July compared to any metropolitan area. Jobs are mostly based on service industry. If you have the dough or live very simply without a family or kids Traverse is amazing. If you have the dough and can afford the area then Traverse is perfect. Young families starting out that need factory type work or tourism jobs then Traverse can be a struggle because of housing costs and commute costs. Restaurants are very expensive as far as I am concerned. I truly feel Traverse has lost its "it" factor but still is amazing for many people. Roads are horrific at best, just horrible. Go down 8th street or on the waterfont by the state park and you have pothole heaven.

[JoulesMSU]

It's missing neighbors. Way too isolated up there, nothing is nearby except a lot of even smaller towns. For example, I love Lansing partly because of what it has, but also partly because it's by practically everything. Within 90 minutes (or less) you can get to Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint, Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, Jackson, Coldwater, Mount Pleasant, Bay City, and even Indiana or Ohio. Within 90 minutes of Traverse City... Charlevoix, Gaylord, Grayling, and Houghton Lake; and none of those really have much either.