Barwin, Thomas W.

Tom Barwin was city manager of Ferndale, Mich., a suburb of Detroit, from 1998 to 2006.

Tom Barwin, as city manager of Ferndale, Michigan from 1998 to 2006, was involved in many developments relating to regional growth, transit issues, and community planning. Through his work, Barwin was credited with the economic and social revitalization of Ferndale.

While city manager, Barwin was involved in two large debates over transportation planning and administration. In 2003, MOSES (Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength), a group of activists sued the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), maintaining that their voting structure was unfair as it allowed richer communities to receive more money for transportation and city improvements. The lawsuit was later dismissed.

The 8 Mile and Woodward Avenue overpass, a bridge linking Detroit and Ferndale, was another significant debate. In 2003, the Michigan Department of Transportation conducted a series of studies on the deteriorating bridge, ultimately deciding to rebuild the bridge. Many citizens and officials, including Barwin, wanted to tear the bridge down, maintaining that the bridge was not only unattractive but acted as more of a divider between Ferndale and Detroit than a link. Advocates of rebuilding the bridge argued that rebuilding the overpass would not only be cheaper but would also provide a safer and more efficient traffic flow.