he Ottawa County Housing Commission (OCHC) carried out an expedited strategic planning process in January and February 2026 that resulted in the following 2026 Action Plan.
Transportation infrastructure – the highways we drive on, the buses we ride, and the ports and railways that carry freight to distant markets – are all influenced by metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs). These federally-mandated entities act as a bridge between the federal government and local municipalities, performing a “continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive” planning process in disbursing transportation funds within the region.
This report focuses on metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and their transportation role within our region, including the functions they perform and how those efforts contrast and complement other planning efforts.
The West Michigan Pike was once the premier way to travel along Michigan’s western shores. This highway running along Lake Michigan was conceived of and built during the second decade of the 20th century to accommodate the “horseless carriage,” opening up the region to tourism and the development it would bring.
Staff is currently working with local historians on developing a route commemorating the path the West Michigan Pike once took through Ottawa County that could be enjoyed by motorists and cyclists alike.