Full traffic control plan back in place for Saturday's Michigan game against EMU
The University of Michigan is asking the city of Ann Arbor to provide a full range of traffic control services during Saturday's football game against Eastern.
That includes the signs and signals services that U-M has argued in recent weeks the city charges too much money for providing.
"They have decided for the Eastern game this weekend to go ahead and utilize the full services of the signs and signals," said Tom Crawford, the city's chief financial officer. "They're going to be assessing the traffic flow during that game."
Fans flock inside Michigan Stadium prior to the start of last Saturday's night game against Notre Dame.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
But for the night game against Notre Dame last Saturday, the full range of services historically provided were in effect — the only time that was expected to happen this season.
The city and the university struck a deal in August where limited services would be provided for all other games but Notre Dame. But city officials have argued that's going to increase traffic congestion, and now U-M appears to be taking a hard look at the issue.
Jim Kosteva, a U-M spokesman, said the university used last week's game to conduct an assessment of game day traffic. He said U-M wants to do the same again this weekend to further study existing patterns and the technological and personnel systems used.
"Saturday's noon start gives us and our consultants the opportunity to review pre-game arrival patterns in their most compressed time frame," he said. "This compares with the previous two weeks where the 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. kick-off times enabled individuals to arrive in Ann Arbor over a more extended period. We wanted to review and evaluate Saturday's traffic with the full array of city signs and signals personnel being deployed."
Ann Arbor officials had complained it was costing the city about $100,000 a year to provide signs and signals services on game days and those costs were not being reimbursed by U-M.
The Ann Arbor City Council unanimously passed a resolution in August requiring U-M to reimburse the city or accept the fact that signs and signals services wouldn't be provided this season. But the deal reached recently covers only a limited range of services.
Crawford estimated earlier this month the city would collect about $22,000 from U-M for the reduced signs and signals services this season.
Kosteva argues nothing in the new agreement precludes the city from providing the level of services it thinks is necessary to ensure public safety and welfare.
Documents provided by the city show the per-hour cost U-M is being charged for each signs and signals technician works out to $87.30, including $27.48 for salary, $15.35 for benefits and $44.48 for support costs. That means the support costs — which include administrative overhead, equipment and other items — equal 104 percent of salary and benefits.
Previous coverage: Ann Arbor warns University of Michigan football fans to expect 'excessive traffic delays' on Saturday
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.
Comments
Kai Petainen
Sat, Sep 17, 2011 : 3:28 p.m.
If the road is closed only when important people are here (I think 110,000 people are important, not just a select few).... then that tells the bad guys, when we have important people at the stadium. Those important people head up to the press box. Terrorists don't necessarily act on the day that you think they will act. If the road was closed because a current/former President/Vice President was at the game, then I understand that. But, if that road was closed to provide easier transportation for other important people, and 911 / homeland security and fear-mongering was used as the excuse -- then that's possibly insincere and dishonest. If you don't close the road for each game, then it speaks volumes as to how important the other 110,000 people are, and it tells the bad guys when we have important people at the game. Close the road at every game. That way, you will comply with homeland security recommendations and it shows respect to the other 'unimportant 110,000' people. Public safety should be #1, and it should not be used as an excuse to provide easy transportation for those of higher economic/social status to the press box (except for current/former Presidents/Vice Presidents). Either keep the road open at each game, or keep the road closed at each game, but don't base it on who is attending.
GreenPus
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 6:05 p.m.
FYI, Washtenaw county amateur radio volunteers assist the AAPD with game traffic monitoring. This costs U of M nothing.
grs
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 5:38 p.m.
Yeah, why would a program that brought in $44 Million in profits last year with an institution that is tax exempt want to actually pay for city services? <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/data-visualization/texas-tops-college-football-with-75-operating-profit/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.bloomberg.com/data-visualization/texas-tops-college-football-with-75-operating-profit/</a>
Kai Petainen
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 4:04 p.m.
Question. Will Main Street be closed due to security concerns, as it was last time? We'll still have 110,000 people at this game, no matter what social/economic/political status they may have. Will they continue following the Homeland Security recommendations?
ViSHa
Sat, Sep 17, 2011 : 11:35 a.m.
Of course not, didn't you know only security concerns happen around 9/11 and no other time of year, lol?
ArthGuinness
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 3:34 p.m.
Compared to the income to the university and city generated over 8 games (is it 8 this year?), this is chump change. That said, the city and the university have a symbiotic relationship and I'm sure they'll work something out. I calculate 143 man-hours per game, which seems slightly excessive for what I imagine they do (mostly along Main/Ann Arbor-Saline), but somebody who actually knows what they're talking about could probably whittle down the costs a little bit if necessary.
racerx
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 3 p.m.
"gives us and our consultants the opportunity to review pre-game arrival patterns in their most compressed time frame," At least the university is collecting data to make a more informed decision going forward, than the city's usual assessment that they think it cost them $100K a year.
Rusnak
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 2:14 p.m.
"That includes the signs and signals services that U-M has argued in recent weeks the city charges too much money for providing." From the University that charges $4 for a bottle of water at the game. Hope the city tells them to go kick rocks on this one.
Bradley Pearsall
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 2:54 p.m.
Just to be fair on this one: the U of M and stadium management have zero control on what is charged at the concession stands. Sudexo is contracted to run the stands and uses volunteers from local organizations to staff them. Sudexo sets the prices, not the stadium, and the organizations get 10-11% of the profit for their organization. Aside from that the U should pony-up the money!
tdw
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 1:51 p.m.
At first I was thinking " it's only Eastern " then I thought "" wait a minute,U of M could be playing against a pee-wee team and there would still be 110,000 + people there "
Stag58
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 1:22 p.m.
But my newspaper that arrived yesterday states in bold print on page B1: Kickoff: 8 p.m. Eastern Michigan at Michigan TV: Big Ten
a2cents
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 1:20 p.m.
" Kosteva argues nothing in the new agreement precludes the city from providing the level of services it thinks is necessary to ensure public safety and welfare. " Disgusting ! This amounts to saying that the u may trash the city at will & then expects the city to deal with it.
craigjjs
Sat, Sep 17, 2011 : 12:35 p.m.
Let them eat cake.
semperveritas
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 1:07 p.m.
set aside the jibber-jabber and the gobbledygook and the truth is------the university has caved. as well it ought.
xmo
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 12:44 p.m.
1/3 of the signal Tech's pay is benefits? I guess what they say about the Public sector being paid more than the private sector is true. Most of it is in benefits.
Ross
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 2:10 p.m.
Um, my PRIVATE sector job typically accounts for almost the same losses in benefits as in salary. I.e. 1/2, or MORE, than 1/3. Please don't spread anti-government propaganda.
a2roots
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 12:16 p.m.
How in the world do you make any logical or valid assessment by comparing traffic patterns from this Saturdays game and the prior two? A noon game that will be have far less traffic due to the the no nothing game, the first game of the year and new era and the first night game ever against another nationally prominent team. There is know way these first three games and subsequent traffic are comparable. Come on, lets compare apples and apples.
ViSHa
Sat, Sep 17, 2011 : 11:33 a.m.
There will no doubt still be a crowd for the game, but last weekend was "an event". I bet more people came without tickets to just hang out last weekend than will this weekend. UM hedged their bets last weekend as far as traffic control and lost, probably had phone calls all week from alumni.
jrigglem
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 10:22 p.m.
Um, not all EMU fans will travel by bus. Secondly, the stadium will still be full of 100k plus people, plus all the tailgaters which regardless of who UM plays still seem to be out in full force. Don't give me that crap about a "no nothing" game. A game is a game.
njoy1
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 6:13 p.m.
I agree, many of the EMU fans going to the game live nearby and will travel by bus to the game. It doesn't compare to other weekends.
Ross
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 2:08 p.m.
Yeah... the stadium will still be full, only the ticket holders have less time to arrive, and will likely leave quicker after due to lack of enthusiasm, etc.
a2citizen
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 1:09 p.m.
"...A noon game that will be have far less traffic ..." Which do you think presents moer problems? a. 110,000 people arriving between 8am and 11am and leaving at 3:30pm b. 114,000 people arriving between 8am and 7 pm and leaving at 11:30pm
Tim Belcher
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 1:07 p.m.
Notre Dame, EMU or Delaware State, there will still be more than 100,000 people attending the game and most coming from "out of town".
jcj
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 12:11 p.m.
"Documents provided by the city show the per-hour cost U-M is being charged for each signs and signals technician works out to $87.30, including $27.48 for salary, $15.35 for benefits and $44.48 for support costs. That means the support costs — which include administrative overhead, equipment and other items — equal 104 percent of salary and benefits." Sound like a lot. BUT Shall we go into what the U charges for some of it's "services"? And then there is this. U-M is planning to purchase a .14-acre parcel near the Law Quad by the end of the month. The $730,000 price tag is more than triple the property's assessed value.
Mokay
Sat, Sep 17, 2011 : 3:59 a.m.
$12,288. That's how much in taxes we will be NOT COLLECTING every year due to this purchase. I find it completely ridiculous that they aren't required to pay that. Were the ones that have to pay for it when they bring rapists to town. Tax History Year Property taxes % Change Tax assessment % Change More entries 2010 $12,228 -0.0% $205,581 -0.3% 2009 $12,233 -0.0% $206,200 0.9% 2008 $12,233 2.3% $204,267 2.3% 2007 $11,956 4.1% $199,675 3.7% 2006 $11,486 3.2% $192,551 3.3%
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 1:32 p.m.
"Shall we go into what the U charges for some of it's "services"?" Like $100 per hour for a softball field.
Blu n Tpa
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 11:02 a.m.
Well, just in time. Tell my friend goober that he will be paying to support Michigan football this weekend, although it's still a great deal for the city and the area businesses. And since it is now safe to travel the hyways and byways of A2 my son and I will be attending this weekend's game. Anyone know a good place downtown to watch football after the game? TiM Go Blue!
Stephen Landes
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 2:15 p.m.
The Arena Pub and Grill at Fourth and Washington.