How would you rate Ann Arbor's city streets? City says 71% good or very good and improving
The city of Ann Arbor has about 300 miles of city streets it's responsible for maintaining, including 100 miles of major streets and 200 miles of residential streets.
It also has 13 street bridges and 33 miles of bike lanes.
Maintaining those assets with the money generated from the city's 2-mill street millage has taken some work, but city officials say street conditions are gradually improving.
Homayoon Pirooz, head of the city's project management unit, told Ann Arbor City Council members Monday night that 47 percent of the city's streets are rated "very good," 24 percent are "good," 21 percent are "fair" and 7 percent are "poor."
The information presented Monday night shows the city resurfaced more than a dozen miles of streets in both 2002 and 2003. Since 2004, though, the city has done about half or a third of the amount of resurfacing, depending on the year. City officials attribute that to increased asphalt prices, a stronger emphasis on reconstruction, and need for sidewalk ramp replacements and bridge work.
But there's some good news for local motorists. Pirooz said the city is taking on more street repair projects this year than last year, and the city is planning to do even more next year.
That's partly thanks to the fact that the city landed nearly $16.8 million in state and federal funding for the East Stadium Boulevard bridges replacement project — money the city was ready to spend from the street millage fund.
According to the city's most recent audit for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2010, total street millage fund revenues came in at $10.5 million for the year, including $9.4 million in taxes, $866,729 in investment income and other miscellaneous revenue. About $10.1 million of that revenue was spent during the year, the audit shows.
The audit also showed the street millage fund had an unreserved fund balance of more than $23.1 million. The fund balance increased nearly $3.1 million during the year.
Pirooz suggested Monday night the numbers are slightly deceiving.
"There is a perception out there that we have a very large fund balance in the street resurfacing and somehow we're not spending it all," he said. "The numbers that I think we hear from time to time about the fund balance doesn't show all of the obligations that the fund balance has."
For example, he said, when the city accepts a state or federal grant, the Michigan Department of Transportation manages the project and the city must come up with local matching funds. The state then sends the city invoices for its share of the costs, he said, and typically it takes the city several years to pay all of the invoices for a completed project.
"We do keep a very close watch on how much we have and how much we spend," he said. "And on top of all that, in the last two years or three years, we were careful about our fund balance just to make sure we had sufficient dollars for the replacement of the East Stadium bridges if we had to have a larger share of the project than we have today."
How do you rate the condition of the city's streets?
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
CynicA2
Thu, Jun 16, 2011 : 7:19 p.m.
Just say to yourself... "I will not vote for Mayor Pothole again... I will not vote for Mayor Pothole again, etc...", click your heels 3 times, and he will be gone. If only it were that quick!
KJMClark
Thu, Jun 16, 2011 : 3:25 a.m.
You all think the roads are bad by car - try them on a bicycle. Clearly, they don't measure the road surface by bike, or they'd get a lot more "poor" and "fair". Which begs the question, just how *do* they decide what the road condition is? Also, the millage isn't the only source of road repair money. The City gets Act 51 money from the state, which I think is considerably more than the millage brings in, and matching funds from the federal government for a lot of larger projects. And please don't point the finger at city council. This is all information city staff is reporting to council. The council members *don't* go out and do these road assessments, though they might want to go check some roads/rankings out themselves.
Cathie
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 10:55 p.m.
A couple years ago, the city installed speed bumps on Jewett St. A resident told me it was only because they signed a petition and the speed bumps cost $7,000 each. But why did the city install a large speed bump at the four-way stop on the corner of Jewett and Page? How fast could a vehicle be speeding from a stopped position? Why don't they repave or repair better all the potholes on Jewett? The city has promptly responded when I have reported potholes in my street, but the repairs only last a few months.
AvidReader
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 4:54 p.m.
All I know is that, the streets on which I drive frequertly are riddled with uneven surfaces, cracks and potholes. Even the patches to previous potholes have developed potholes. The suspension systems of every vehicle I've owned in the last 40 years have been negatively imnpacted by the condition of the streets.
CONCERNED CITIZEN
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 3:55 p.m.
Ann Arbor streets are horrible!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was just on the old west side yesterday, I would be furious if I lived in Ann Arbor, taxes are so high! They are worse than any surrounding cities!
Go Blue
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 3:41 a.m.
Oh Lord what ARE they smokin? 47% of the roads in the fair city of A2 are in good shape? Yeh, right - when pigs fly. Every out of towner I talk with makes the same comment - what IS the problem with the roads in this city - they are, at best, probably the worst in the nation. Governmental powers are really in lala land. Helloooo, hellooooo, is anyone home and listening?
PLGreen
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 2:09 a.m.
Everything comes up Roses, when you look through rose tinted glasses.
treetowncartel
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 1:59 a.m.
Correction, 12.5 bridges, not 13.
say it plain
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 1 a.m.
I was just driving my usual routes today, which include Miller, Huron, Dexter and other westside streets, and thinking that rattling around on these have made me depressed. Truly. Because I know I will have to replace my suspension...*again*...despite my car being the kind that doesn't usually need such work. And I fear I'll have to replace my car stereo...*again*...probably because bouncing around these incredibly decrepid roads shakes stuff loose inside. And I feel like I'm literally shaking hardware in my vehicle loose, I half expect bolts to be coming undone. And it makes me feel so very very frustrated... When I was delayed on Washtenaw/Stadium where they are *working on a new bike lane* , instead of spending the money to fix the roads that already exist! It totally takes the 'nice town' out of this place. Shocking, frustrating...how can the current crew expect to get re-elected?!
CynicA2
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 11:29 p.m.
That is a really pretty 4-color bar chart! Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to resemble reality very much! Maybe it's just the East side, where most of the rich live (not to mention the mayor). Whatever happened to all the big plans scheduled for Miller, from Seventh to Maple, and Dexter, from the split to Maple?! And West Huron, from Maple to Main?! All scheduled for repairs over the past 2 years, but barely even a cold patch for the worst holes! Hizzoner and friends at their best! Give Mary Sue's butt a smooch for me, next time ya see her! Eat the rich, y'all!
brimble
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 11:16 p.m.
I've said this before, but it bears asking again, as this is the second of two articles which present essentially the same information: Might a journalist at AnnArbor.com investigate the claims made by the city in this proposal? By what criteria does the City assess "Street Condition" as presented in the graphic reproduced in the article? And what is the logic of a "four-year running average"? Does the city not actively assess road condition at least annually? What are the definitions of "poor", "fair", "good" and "very good" roads? How many of the 85 miles of road in "poor" or "fair" condition will be addressed this year? What impact would approval or failure of the millage have on that rate of repair? Is addressing the more than 1/4 of city streets rated as "poor" or "fair" in the next two or three years even possible, and at what cost? Am I still the only one asking these questions?
say it plain
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 1 a.m.
I think we've all decided that the city is full of it, no further questions about 'how so' seem relevant anymore lol...
norainnorainbow
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 11:01 p.m.
Has anyone driven southbound on Ann Arbor - Saline over 94 lately? Good lord, what a mess! Or north up State Street from Stimson to (at least) Hill? I DO have a small economical car with small tires and I'm surprised that I haven't had more problems (knock on wood).
Jon
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 9:56 p.m.
Now the bigger question is how would people rate the city performance as it concerns Public Safety? I myself would rate that to be very poor.
Hwing
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 8:57 p.m.
The roads I regularly travel on the west side of Ann Arbor are so pot-holed and patched and bumpy that I feel like I drive on cobblestone streets, minus the quaint ambiance. We've had to have our shocks and struts replaced recently, and I can't help but think a lot of it is the Ann Arbor road condition's fault. My extended family always comments on how bad the roads are in Ann Arbor when they visit. We are planning on moving to a larger house in the next few years, and the road conditions (and how infrequently they're plowed in the winter) here in Ann Arbor are probably the #2 reason we are considering moving to Saline or Dexter. Sad state of affairs for an otherwise terrific city.
Tommy
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 8:50 p.m.
The roads here are worse than what you see in S. America or E. Europe or Russia. I had to get two tires replaced after blow-outs from the Stadium bridge "repair". Will the city compensate me for tire blow-outs due to their streets being in such disrepair?
KJMClark
Thu, Jun 16, 2011 : 3:03 a.m.
Actually, they might. You need to put in a request with the date you had the blow outs, the pothole you hit, and the bill for the damages, from a shop. They are required to maintain the roads in a usable condition. If the potholes had been reported, you can probably get your damages at least partially paid for. It seems like you have to report the damage fairly soon after it happens though.
Karma21
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 8:10 p.m.
The problem is that the roads that need paved are way, way passed due. It seems they are waiting longer and longer to fix them (basically until people complain about them). The two roads that pop into my mind first are West Huron and Dexter (between Huron and N. Maple), These roads have needed to be repaired for about ten years. Now it's so bad I go out of my way to avoid driving on them. It still surprises me that a town this wealthy (compared to other parts of Michigan) has roads this bad.
aanative
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 8:07 p.m.
Two words: Freeze - Thaw
jcj
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 11:37 p.m.
I think most of us know that is a major problem in Michigan. But it is also a problem when contractors or the city do not patch the holes they make to access underground systems correctly.
Jammers02
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 7:47 p.m.
The roads I drive on here in Ann Arbor aren't too bad. The only one I have trouble with is Carpenter Rd between Washentaw and Packard. I wish they would start to do something with that area.
grimmk
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 9:56 p.m.
THIS. So much THIS! I saw them putting more patches on them last week. They are wasting money with these patches that make the road WORSE.
leaguebus
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 7:24 p.m.
My street, Duncan, looks like an airstrip that was bombed to keep planes from taking off. Its worse than bad.
say it plain
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 1:05 a.m.
Ah, yes, you've hit on why I'm feeling so down...I am feeling like a weird combo of PTSD and dissociation, because it looks/feels like I'm driving in a war zone, but I don't recall the bombings lol! Then it sets in that it's 'merely' decay and lots and lots of mismanagement and ridiculousness and then I get frustrated and p'o-ed, but it seems so very minor compared to the landscape, vast and hole-filled as it is, which as you say seems to indicate evil forces at play lol.
jcj
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 6:46 p.m.
Let me try to be more politically correct in saying. A huge lack of hands on experience is a major problem in most city departments. TOO many have only book learning for their experience in running things or doing the work. A perfect example is the recycle drop off. I was there today and you could not even see the dumpsters that is suppose to hold the trash because there was a MOUNTAIN of trash piled up on the ground in front of each dumpster! Any logical person would make sure the dumpsters were emptied in a timely fashion. This was like this two weeks ago also !
nittanylion
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 6:03 p.m.
I'm not sure what city the boss man has been driving in but it sure isn't on the northwest side of town. The roads there are worse than poor: they are atrocious!! And speaking of waste: Miller Road is in desperate need of resurfacing and is on the list of street to be repaired, but the current plans are to put a traffic circle at Newport and Miller. That to me is absurd. It will necessitate the taking of property from the three homes and church at that intersection for no valid reason. The city has done numerous studies that show that a traffic light is not needed at that intersection so why waste money on an un-needed and except for a few parents who whine about traffic that lasts for about 5-7 minutes at the start and end of the school day, there is rarely a wait there. And in all my years in A2 I have never seen an accident at that intersection.
CPS
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 6:02 p.m.
How many of us drive around the potholes or jarring sections of road? How many of us routinely cross the yellow line to save ourselves costly suspension and alignment repair bills? How many of us have to hit the breaks to change speeds when there just isn't an option to go around the bad section of road? I have been very tempted to buy a tiny, gas-sipping, economical car, but some of the potholes in this town would wreck the wheels of a small car! Additionally, the morass of inadequate patchwork done to the roads makes for very noisy, bumpy, and unpleasant driving. I know that the freeze/thaw cycle is just awful for our roads and that money is tight--that's the reality. I think City Council and the Road Commission do us an injustice by trying to pretty up the reality and tell us that 47% of the roads here are in "very good" condition. They aren't, so just admit it!
John A2
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 5:36 p.m.
I see some improvement in some areas but there are heavy traffic roads that have been neglected over the past twenty years. Grove RD and I94 for instance is on the Ypsilanti City/Twp border south of I94, is trashed for lack of better terms, and keeps geting patched up. it looks like it was a victim of mortar fire, then patched up. I heard the city and Twp, has a conflict over who is responsible to replace damaged roads that border them. I hate driving through there but my laddie friend lives in the neighborhood right there. I divert to Emrick St that bypasses the area with potholes. After that patch the road is great and real smooth. I keep trying to find out why this is, but I get the run around from both the TWP and City.
Ed Kimball
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 2:15 a.m.
John A2 -- this was an article about Ann Arbor city streets. None of the roads you've cited are in Ann Arbor!
GerryD
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 5:22 p.m.
Its kinda hard to believe these numbers driving around town. I think, in all honesty, about 20% of the mostly-west-side roads I drive on would be considered "very good" and the majority in the "fair to poor" category. I could imagine these numbers being announced at a city council meeting to spit takes and guffaws from the citizens in attendance.
Snehal Shah
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 4:57 p.m.
Everybody in City Council needs to have their eyesight checked and get new glasses.
Goober
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 6:43 p.m.
Maybe they are spending too much time riding their bikes to work, where they can dodge the bumps, holes and missing pavement. I know my car cannot do this.
Seriously??
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 4:47 p.m.
City Council should go down Hill Street pretty much from Main to Washtenaw! Nothing but rough pavement. Riding a motorcycle is extremely hard through there. Of course there's Stadium over the bridge which is on everyone's minds... Just get them fixed!!!!
5c0++ H4d13y
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 5:38 p.m.
I find the streets more tolerable on my motorcycle compared to the car. I think the curved profile is better than the flat one of a car tire.
Bertha Venation
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 4:44 p.m.
Of course, the roads on the wealthy East Side of A2 are in perfect condition compared to the rest of us.
MjC
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 10:30 p.m.
I'm on the northeast side and not feeling all that wealthy; and the roads need work!
amlive
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 3:45 p.m.
" City officials attribute that to increased asphalt prices, a stronger emphasis on reconstruction, and need for sidewalk ramp replacements and bridge work." Like all the sidewalk ramps in my neighborhood that were in PERFECTLY good shape, shallow grade, bumps and all, that they have been replacing for no apparent reason. Really, you want to talk about a strange sense of priorities, I can'e believe the money wasted on replacing some of these sidewalk ramps. And don't get me started on Spring street. There was one bad patch that should have been cut out and replaced. One. The rest of the road was absolutely perfect, but because of some residents who whined enough they replaced an entire stretch? Someone needs to use some common sense when arranging priorities. The money spent on unnecessary repairs in my neighborhood probably could have been used to replace a mile or two of Dexter road out toward Maple. Or they could have foregone the replacement of sidewalk ramps (and 15 feet of concrete in from the ramps) that were maybe half a degree off, and instead replaced the ones at the other end of the block (which see much more traffic) which are still full curb height with no ramps at all. There must be more than what meets the eye here, but from the ground I have to say the choices of what areas get priority seems absolutely absurd.
johnnya2
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 12:55 a.m.
I hope you are ok with having your paycheck just off by 1-2%. I mean come on, whats the big deal?
amlive
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 5:25 p.m.
If that's the case, then it is patently absurd that they should have to replace recently redone ramps that were perhaps an imperceptible hair off of the mandates, and ignore the other end of the block with full curbs at the sidewalk, no ramps at all. Yet another case of the minutiae of strict codes holding trump over common sensibility. Really, anyone with half a brain should be able to look at the facts and cracks on the ground and decide which areas should take priority, and which we can afford to let sit as they are until more pressing issues are addressed.
GerryD
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 5:19 p.m.
The re-doing of the sidewalks was the result of ridiculously over-zealous ADA lawsuit. I had the same thing -- I recently done crosswalk approach that was torn out and replaced with another 18 months later. The new one could not be discerned as different from the old (i was told the grade was off by 1.25% over the run of 20 feet from the intersection). While I'm a fan of the ADA concept, overly aggressive and shrill rulebook quoting is not good for their supporters image or the general welfare of the community. And for the record, I spoke to a number of city folks (project managers, engineers and workers) working on that pointless replacement and they were as frustrated with having to redo it as any sane citizen. Finally, I seriously hope no ADA zealot tries to counter this with some outrageous example of incorrect/non-conforming problems that had to be addressed. Such flagrant problems are no excuse for over-reaching and forcing the city to spend millions to redo their 99.5% correct, pro-active sidewalk approaches.
Brian Kuehn
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 4:12 p.m.
I believe there was a successful lawsuit against the City for building ramps that did not comply with ADA mandates. That may be the reason that what appear to be perfectly usable ramps are being replaced.
grye
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 3:30 p.m.
The majority of the streets are in good condition, however those that need repair really need repair. I wish road construction would consider how to make the roads last longer so that we get a bigger bang for our buck. In addition, where roads have been resurfaced, the sudden breaks of water pipes simply amazes me. Should they be inspected at that time? The new road then look like garbage after the repairs are made.
a2grateful
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 3:21 p.m.
An unreserved fund balance of more than $23.1 million increased nearly $3.1 million during the year. In other words, our millage money has been placed in a savings account. It was intended for road repair. It has been mismanaged by being unused. Use it or refund it. Don't ask for any more until the fund balance is zero. To say that that money was saved for Stadium Bridge replacement is ridiculous. Float a bond for such fifty-year-plus improvements, if needed. That is, unless you can't repay, because of folly spending that prevents repayment for items that are actually needed.
johnnya2
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 12:52 a.m.
I wonder if you live your life that way? You don't have anything in reserve IN CASE something major happens? Grown-ups don't operate that way. If you read the article you would realize why they have so much in the account as well.
Bertha Venation
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 3:07 p.m.
57% rate as Poor (11:06a.m. 6/14). Gee, does that tell you anything city council and road commission? Do you hear us??? (probably not).
KJMClark
Thu, Jun 16, 2011 : 1:13 a.m.
Um, it's the *county* road commission. Nothing in the article has anything to do with the road commission. Maybe they hear you, but can't figure out what you're talking about, because it doesn't make any sense.