Ann Arbor agrees to split cost of new roundabout at State and Ellsworth with Road Commission
The preliminary plan for a new roundabout at State and Ellsworth roads where a new Costco store is expected to open in the coming weeks. (Download larger PDF version.)
Courtesy of DLZ
The Ann Arbor City Council voted 10-0 Monday night to approve the agreement with the Washtenaw County Road Commission for the $2.5 million project.
The agreement spells out that the Road Commission will design and construct the project, acquire all necessary permits, and provide the construction engineering services.
Homayoon Pirooz
The total project cost is estimated to be about $2.5 million. The Road Commission has secured a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant from the Federal Highway Administration in the amount of $1.4 million and Costco plans to contribute $500,000.
With the exception of any landscaping, decorative concrete or public utility upgrades, the Road Commission and the city will split the remaining costs for the roundabout. The city will be solely responsible for all costs associated with public utility upgrades.
When constructed in 2013, it will be the 10th roundabout in the county. It’s expected that construction would begin next April or May and be completed by Labor Day.
"I think it's a significant change," said Council Member Jane Lumm, an Independent representing the 2nd Ward.
Council Member Marcia Higgins, D-4th Ward, said her only concern is the ability of large trucks to navigate it without forcing other drivers out of the way.
The Road Commission already contracted with DLZ Michigan Inc. to design the roundabout and prepare detailed construction drawings and specifications.
Homayoon Pirooz, head of the city's project management unit, said the design is still in the preliminary engineering phase. Items being considered that may be added include landscaping in the center island and decorative concrete, he said.
As designed now, the roundabout is 150 feet in diameter with all intersection approaches having at least two lanes to accommodate traffic entering and exiting.
The southbound approach on State Street includes a third lane that allows the anticipated high volumes of right-turning traffic onto westbound Ellsworth to bypass circulating traffic.
Other project features include non-motorized paths in all intersection quadrants that connect with the existing sidewalk system and new on-road bicycle lanes, street lighting, and underground electrical conduits for the future addition of HAWK or Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon signals at the crosswalks should they be required.
The city will be replacing a 20-inch water main within a portion of the project limits. That's a transmission main that transports untreated water from the Steere Farms wells on the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport property to the Water Treatment Plant.
That work was to have been part of a larger future capital project. It was accelerated and incorporated into the roundabout project to avoid future disruption to the intersection.
Area residents voiced a mix of support and concerns about the roundabout when The Road Commission held a public meeting on Feb. 29.
The Road Commission and the design team from DLZ spent 90 minutes answering numerous questions about the project. Pirooz said a second meeting is planned prior to the start of construction that will cover more of the project details.
Pittsfield Township Supervisor Mandy Grewal recently said she's ensuring that seniors will receive instructional presentations on roundabouts, including practice rides in cars.
Pirooz said there already are capacity and traffic operational issues causing delays at the intersection, which is jointly controlled by the city and the Road Commission.
Given the amount of traffic that's already there, and the increased traffic that will result from the opening of a new Costco, officials believe the best solution is a roundabout.
Recent traffic studies indicate that continued growth and development will further compound the issues and impede the functionality of the intersection, Pirooz said.
Early analysis by DLZ compared a traditional signalized intersection improvement with a modern roundabout and revealed that a roundabout is a better alternative.
A more detailed examination determined a two-lane roundabout would best accommodate the traffic projected at the intersection.
Pirooz said the city had difficulties getting the traffic through the busy intersection about 10 to 12 years ago and it added more lanes then.
"It worked fine for a little bit of time," he said. "Now with all of the development, especially Costco going to the neighborhood, I cannot think of any good traffic signal that would handle that amount of traffic."
Based on the engineer's estimate, the city's share for the improvements at the intersection is $135,000. Pirooz said the final numbers likely will be different. He estimated it will cost another$350,000 to replace a section of an older water main.
Council Member Margie Teall, D-4th Ward, was absent Monday night.
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 email newsletters.
Comments
Silly Sally
Thu, May 10, 2012 : 12:44 p.m.
"Pittsfield Township Supervisor Mandy Grewal recently said she's ensuring that seniors will receive instructional presentations on roundabouts, including practice rides in cars." Wow, what a smart Supervisor, supervising older drivers as they sit in cars. Not ever actually driving in cars, which would be useful, but only as a passenger. Oh, so silly.
Scott Batson
Wed, May 9, 2012 : 8:09 p.m.
Where to begin, The FHWA has a video about modern roundabouts that is mostly accurate (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhHzly_6lWM ). Modern roundabouts are the safest form of intersection in the world. Search www.iihs.org for FAQs and safety facts. The safety comes from the 'slow and go' operation instead of the 'stop or go fast' way a stop light works (or the 'keep going fast' large traffic circle fantasy). The smaller size of the modern roundabout is what makes them safer and keeps speeds in the 20 mph range. This makes it much easier to avoid a crash or stop for pedestrians. It also means that if a crash happens the likelihood of injury is very low. Safety is the #1 reason there are over 2,400 modern roundabouts in the US today and many more on the way. Slow and go also means less delay than a stop light, especially the other 20 hours a day people aren't driving to or from work. Average daily delay at a signal is around 12 seconds per car. At a modern roundabout average delay is less than five seconds. Signals take an hour of demand and restrict it to a half hour, at best only half the traffic gets to go at any one time. At a modern roundabout four drivers entering from four directions can all enter at the same time. Don't try that with a signalized intersection. Here's a quote: "By 2025, a quarter of all drivers in the United States will be over the age of 65. Intersections are the single most dangerous traffic environment for drivers of any age with left-hand turns being the single most dangerous traffic maneuver that any of us can make. Forty percent of all crashes that involve drivers over the age of 65 occur at intersections. This is nearly twice the rate of experienced younger drivers. AARP would like to see more roundabouts constructed because of the many safety benefits that they present for drivers of all ages." - Jana Lynott, AARP Public Policy Institute
Chris Hall
Thu, May 10, 2012 : 6:35 p.m.
Thanks Scott. Learning to use a roundabout is a little like learning to ride a bike. Sure, they're a little tricky the first or second time, and then it becomes second nature. Shortly after this one is installed most people will move on to more important things - like lambasting the next roundabout, until it's forgotten, and then the next. In the meantime all of the cost savings and safety benefits will begin accruing.
archdek
Wed, May 9, 2012 : 1:17 p.m.
I wonder if any of the so called planners actually studied the traffic flow through this intersection in the morning hours. The volume of traffic from southbound State onto eastbound Ellsworth is tremendous and will leave very little opportunity for the northbound State traffic to even enter the roundabout. What a disaster waiting to happen. (This comment from a(previous) 24 year traveler of this intersection.) As a professional who performs planning studys constantly, I'm guessing I would be terminated from my position if I suggested such a solution. I hope a widenening of Lohr Road is in the near future.
AAW
Wed, May 9, 2012 : 11:57 a.m.
Sure the traffice circle will keep traffic moving, save gas and reduce air pollution. When will Ann Arbor, Pittsfield and Washtenaw County Road Commission address the need to widen Ellsworth Road from Lorh Road to Platt Road. So when the traffic circle is complete during rush hour and accidents on I-94 Ellsworth Road and State will be a parking lot. Can't wait!!!!
JRW
Wed, May 9, 2012 : 12:59 a.m.
Is there going to be any other way to enter COSTCO without using the roundabout????
sellers
Wed, May 9, 2012 : 3:21 a.m.
Yes, there will be another way. You can see details here: http://pittsfieldtwp.org/masterplan.html Basically, Airport will be the main entrance.
JRW
Wed, May 9, 2012 : 12:58 a.m.
Somehow the new IKEA store in Canton manages its huge amount of traffic WITHOUT a roundabout. Imagine that! It uses a dedicated turn lane with a stop light! Roundabouts are way overused in A2, and a hazard. Cars bolt through without looking in any direction and cut off drivers already in the circle. They are being built way too small and in totally unnecessary situations. Who is making these ridiculous decisions?
melissa
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 3:34 a.m.
You've clearly never been anywhere near that nightmare intersection around rush hour.....
jrtluvr1959
Tue, May 8, 2012 : 9:23 p.m.
I wonder if you tube has any instructional videos. Yikes I hate roundabouts.
Katie
Tue, May 8, 2012 : 8:45 p.m.
Wouldn't it be nice if people actually knew how to use roundabouts? Why put them in if they are not going to educate people on how to use them?
Ron Granger
Tue, May 8, 2012 : 8:36 p.m.
Why is Ann Arbor paying for this Pittsfield Township project? It looks like the cost to A2 taxpayers could approach $1 million before it is done. We had no say in this project, so why subsidize Pittsfield? In what other ways is this project utilizing Ann Arbor city infrastructure to the benefit of Pittsfield?
sellers
Wed, May 9, 2012 : 3:17 a.m.
The city gets to replace water mains too
Kara H
Tue, May 8, 2012 : 9:03 p.m.
It's a Washtenaw county project, FWIW. Pittsfield doesn't control it's roads or projects on them. But also, Pittsfield losses tax dollars to AA with the truck depot, MRF, landfill and landfill greenbelts. I think that's why neighboring municipalities cooperate, it's hard to keep score on everything. But go ahead, try.
Ron Granger
Tue, May 8, 2012 : 8:35 p.m.
"the future addition of HAWK or Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon signals at the crosswalks should they be required." Why aren't those crossing aids already part of the project? How is a pedestrian expected to cross an extremely busy round-about? How does this $2.5 million dollar plan accomodate pedestrians and bicycles? Where is the plan to allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross over i-94 on State Street? Why is Ann Arbor paying for this? It looks like the cost to A2 taxpayers could approach $1 million before it is done.
ranger007
Tue, May 8, 2012 : 8:14 p.m.
Ill add one more area to my list of intersections to avoid if this happens.
Rod Johnson
Wed, May 9, 2012 : 2:05 p.m.
Yet somehow Ann Arbor will manage to survive.
nowayjose
Tue, May 8, 2012 : 8:02 p.m.
Pretty generous considering only a 1/4 the intersection is city property.
Basic Bob
Tue, May 8, 2012 : 6:33 p.m.
Why didn't Costco pay the full amount?
Silly Sally
Thu, May 10, 2012 : 12:48 p.m.
'cause they don't have to do so. Would you if you were them, and a sucker city such as Ann Arbor steps in and offers to do so?
Alan Goldsmith
Tue, May 8, 2012 : 6:23 p.m.
"...and underground electrical conduits for the future addition of HAWK or Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon signals at the crosswalks should they be required...."
rkb0929
Tue, May 8, 2012 : 6:21 p.m.
I don't know why not in Ann Arbor, unlike other cities - we can't have left turn signals that let you turn left if traffic is clear rather than sitting and waiting when there's no traffic...that alone would help ease traffic back-ups everywhere. There's a temporary one now on Eisenhower, crossing the boardwalk bridge to turn left onto S. Industrial...I'm sure once Stadium bridge is done, it will go back to the same old light again though.
Silly Sally
Thu, May 10, 2012 : 12:50 p.m.
Because silly old Ann Arbor doesn't even allow us to turn right on red lights. THe traffic "engineers" are foolish.
Kent Jocque
Wed, May 9, 2012 : 12:40 a.m.
I don't expect it will go back to the same old light again. That's MDOT's New Flashing Yellow Arrow Left-Turn Signal. The preferred left-turn signal of the future. http://www.macomb-mi.gov/PDF%20Documents/MDOTYellowTurnSignal.pdf It's a new type of signal placed OVER the left-turn lane at a signalized intersection. The signal display includes a flashing yellow arrow. Other displays on the signal are a steady green arrow, steady yellow arrow and steady red arrow. In coming years, this type of signal will be used by Michigan's roadway agencies in place of the flashing-red left-turn signals that are now common. Steady Red Arrow = If turning left, you must stop and wait Steady Yellow Arrow = Prepare to stop Flashing Yellow Arrow = Proceed with left turn after yielding to any oncoming traffic and pedestrians Steady Green Arrow = Proceed with left turn -Kent
Alan Goldsmith
Tue, May 8, 2012 : 6:21 p.m.
"Council Member Margie Teall, D-4th Ward, was absent Monday night." Other priorities.