The end of Ypsilanti's one-way streets? City examining feasibility
Huron Street, pictured on the left, and Hamilton Street, pictured on the right, could be converted into two-way streets. A possible roundabout also is being suggested for the streets.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
One-way streets may soon be a thing of the past in Ypsilanti, as officials examine the feasibility of converting the entire city to two-way streets.
Converting Huron Street and Hamilton Street into two-way streets and connecting them to a roundabout at Interstate 94 has been mentioned as one of the options.
The possible citywide conversion has been discussed at various Shape Ypsilanti master plan revision meetings during the past few weeks, said City Planner Teresa Gillotti.
"The discovery charrette we did two weeks ago was to try to get feedback from as many people as possible," Gillotti said. "That is where we’ve been hearing several things repeated, one was the desire to look into changing the street grid to all two-way streets to see what would be feasible and what it would like--that and what areas would we run into obstacles."
Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber was one of the individuals who suggested looking at the conversion of Huron and Hamilton. This isn't the first time street conversions have been suggested. It's been recommended before to convert portions of Cross Street, Pearl Street and others to two-way streets.
Planning consultant Ian Lockwood drew an illustration showing the possible changes to Huron Street and Hamilton Street in Ypsilanti.
Courtesy Mayor Paul Schreiber
"It's not that I'm trying to push for this," Schreiber said. "For me, the main thing is to get the idea out and to get some awareness out there on some options we have. I hope it fosters some discussion."
Schreiber said he heard a presentation by consultants who are helping to create the master plan and the idea was mentioned there.
"They had a couple of examples of cities that were redesigned using the grid structure we have and returning wide one-ways, back to two-ways with parking," Schreiber said.
Schreiber said some of the city's one-way streets were previously two-way and were converted years ago to relieve downtown traffic.
"I just think it's an interesting concept," Schreiber said. "One of the things triggering it is the raised speed limit on Huron and Washtenaw and there's quite a big outcry."
Last June, the Michigan State Police and the Michigan Department of Transportation proposed raising the speed limits in some of Ypsilanti’s busiest intersections and areas.
Huron and Hamilton streets in Ypsilanti on Monday, March 25.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
In July, officials said they were considering a "road diet" that would decrease the number of lanes on some city streets, in a move to allow more residential and on-street parking and bicycle lanes and to also hopefully decrease speed limits.
"One way to go on a road diet is to make streets narrower and make other streets more accessible," Schreiber said. "If we were to make access off of the freeway so you could get at those roads more easier, it would slow traffic down and enable a more walkable community."
Turning all of the city's one-way streets into two-way ones would make them more narrow, resulting in lower speed limits, Schreiber said.
Gillotti said one-way streets are efficient in getting drivers through the city quickly, but don't exactly foster a walkable community with pedestrians and bicyclists.
"It will slow down traffic, but have a lot of different access routes to where you’re going to go," Gillotti said. "Instead of having only one way to go, it will probably be four or five options. ... It sort of opens things up."
Schreiber and Gillotti said the costs of converting all of the streets are unknown at this point, but they believe a large portion could be covered by state grants.
Schreiber noted that when Eastern Michigan University did construction work on Oakwood Street and Washtenaw Avenue, the university received a grant from the state.
"Obviously money has to be available at the state level and I'm not sure what the (city) match would be," Schreiber said. "Once you have a master plan, if all works in a systematic way, you start applying for grants."
Gillotti said how much it costs and who pays for it is all part of the feasibility study the city will conduct.
"It all depends on how it works and there are going to be some (street) segments that are city owned," Gillotti said. "A lot of improvements are related to local match of MDOT funds. ... There's a lot of interest in it, but then there's still a lot of questions."
As far as timing, officials said changes happening before 2014 is unlikely and an exact time frame has yet to be set. Schreiber said the conversions would have to be approved by city council.
Katrease Stafford covers Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com.Reach her at katreasestafford@annarbor.com or 734-623-2548 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
pseudo
Sun, Mar 31, 2013 : noon
please study it. I agree with most of the commenters here that traffic directions and planning are hosed. I would look at the way the streets were originally designed. I would also strongly suggest taking those darned islands out of Michigan ave and allow the turn lane again! also, given the current statements by city staff, I am concerned that those folks will work to further isolate the city by restricting traffic flows (under the guise of the needs that all those walkers and cyclists that aren't really here). Ypsi is small and poor. there isn't enough living or office space in walking distance from dowtown to sustain it so it has to be a destination. So, allow/fortify easy access (at peak times) to the highways and access routes east and west. If you make it harder to get in and out of the downtown or neighborhoods, people who commute by car (which is a huge and prosperous hunk of the tax base - and will be for the forseeable future) need to be able to do so quickly - otherwise, they will choose a more convenient place to live.
not a billy
Sat, Mar 30, 2013 : 4:28 a.m.
Having grown up in Ypsi, I remember when all of the streets were 2-way. Put them back to the way they were designed. The amount of traffic today is not much greater than it used to be when you look at the big picture. The difference being that thirty-plus years ago people had reasons to come into town. A good majority of those reasons do not exist today due to the flight of business into the surrounding communities, hence the proportionally lower amount of traffic.
Joe
Sat, Mar 30, 2013 : 12:47 a.m.
Also, people who say that the I-94/Huron interchange is fine: It's almost impossible to walk or bike across 94 on Huron St. I can't really tell how the roundabout would work from the picture provided, so I don't know how I feel about it, but I know something needs to be done. I just hope it's not like the Geddes/23 interchange, which did little to make biking safer.
Joe
Sat, Mar 30, 2013 : 12:43 a.m.
How about adding a roundabout and reducing the number of lanes near the Water Tower, where Washtenaw and Cross intersect, and continuing the bike lanes? The bike lanes on E. and W. Cross end on either side of that intersection. So the implication is, "well, you're on your own!" And then there's just this potholed, six-lane-wide mess surrounding one of the most important structures in Ypsi, separating EMU from a large number of its students.
Solitude
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 10:05 p.m.
Spending a few million on a roundabout, especially at an interchange with little to no existing traffic problems, is a gigantic waste. Fix the roads we have, first.
ypsi-investor
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 9:28 p.m.
There's no great upside to a roundabout at 94. The traffic moves fine through there. Spend the money to repair the roads and add some two way traffic to start. Cash set out a pretty good list where to begin the repairs.
obviouscomment
Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 1:47 p.m.
@ann english I think you are confused as to they area they are proposing these changes to. I would be shocked if they wanted to turn the 94/23 interchange into a roundabout...
Ann English
Sat, Mar 30, 2013 : 12:58 a.m.
It's good to know there are other readers who think the 23/94 is fine; the vast majority of us using that interchange to turn left, properly trade lanes with other motorists who intend to go where we just came from, whether we trade lanes on or under the US-23 bridge. Before today, I'd only read that others thought the interchange was poorly planned.
John Tuttle
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 6 p.m.
Good God, not another roundabout.
YpsiGreen
Sat, Mar 30, 2013 : 7:54 p.m.
If people would actually learn how to manoeuver them properly, it might not be such a big deal. I don't know how many idiots I see stop at the yield sign when they have the obvious right-of-way and no traffic approaching.
Solitude
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 9:59 p.m.
Amen.
Ben
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 5:04 p.m.
Would save me time running errands in town. Nearly 10 years I've lived here, and still I need to strategize my route to get from one side of town to the other because of all the one-ways. Maybe I'm weird, but I feel disinclined to stop off at businesses on one way streets. It's just this urge to keep on going. This also has the potential to return much of the city from its current "drag strip" look and feel. I really don't feel like so many lanes of traffic are necessary. Traffic studies should prove whether I'm right or wrong.
Ann English
Sat, Mar 30, 2013 : 1:55 a.m.
Streets designed to move cars from EMU to the highway, Joe? I do recall one house on Forest Street, with a one-way street running along its left side. To reach the front door, I had to go all the way around the block counterclockwise and stop on that one-way street to deliver telephone directories. No wonder that house, west of Forest Avenue Baptist Church, was missed by other carriers: accessible from just one direction, "not designed to draw visitors," but like a real freeway, you can't turn around if you miss your destination, or you see your destination but don't know automatically how to reach it.
Joe
Sat, Mar 30, 2013 : 12:40 a.m.
Absolutely. It feels like all of Ypsi exists to move cars from the Washtenaw Ave strip and EMU to the highway, and vice versa.
Bob Krzewinski
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 4:17 p.m.
Never ceases to amaze me how an idea is floated and instantly people who don't even have the backbone to use their real names start criticizing everything and everything in a story. Hey folks, be a part of the solution rather than just someone who complains, complains, complains, all behind an anonymous posting name.
obviouscomment
Wed, Apr 3, 2013 : 1:45 p.m.
My reason for not using my "real name" on the internet has nothing to do with not having a backbone and everything to do with being safe on the internet by not revealing personal information to the public.
Katrease Stafford
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 4:06 p.m.
One of the commenters makes an interesting point. How does everyone feel about having a roundabout at 94? I can see how some think a roundabout there may potentially help traffic, but it also has the potential to be confusing.
Murf
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 5:05 p.m.
I don't think it's necessary. I use the eastbound exit during the week during the normal 5-6pm rush and there is never a problem which I believe is due to the middle lane that allows people to turn left or right. That is how you make small, inexpensive changes which helps alleviate traffic backups. If there was congestion like Geddes and 23 had prior to that roundabout, I would be all for it.
obviouscomment
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 4 p.m.
I think a more cost effective option would be to just make sure that signs indicating one-way streets and lines on the roads are clearly visible. Most people familiar with Ypsilanti don't have any problems but I do often see the one car unfamiliar with the area driving the wrong way down Huron or Hamilton. And as far as putting a roundabout there to deal with traffic getting on/off 94, I really don't feel there's an issue there with the way it is and I think a roundabout would just add unnecessary cost and extra confusion in the area.
Macabre Sunset
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 3:22 p.m.
If this collection of anti-commuters had its way (Gilotti doesn't even own a car), they'd put I-94 on a "road diet" and convert the 94/23 interchange to a roundabout. Enough social engineering. Fix the roads and do your jobs.
Joe
Sat, Mar 30, 2013 : 12:38 a.m.
Road construction and maintenance is always social engineering. We have socially engineered the roads in Ypsi to be high-speed, dangerous, non-walkable nightmares. We need to continue socially engineering, but in a positive direction.
Hans
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 2:40 p.m.
Do this. Then do Ann Arbor the same way.
Ann English
Sat, Mar 30, 2013 : 12:49 a.m.
You reminded me of last summer's opening of a new underground parking structure between two one-way streets, Fifth and Division. Everyone has to turn left onto Fifth or Division. You'd think it would be safer to turn left onto a street where all oncoming traffic is coming from the right. These streets aren't four or five lanes wide, except for short right-turn lanes. And the traffic lights on one-way streets. They shine in three directions only, where the cross street is two-way. I always remembered looking behind, as a passenger, at the solid yellow metal of the traffic signal I had just ridden under (Fifth at Catherine, Ann, Huron, Washington and Liberty) instead of a column of three lights enclosed in yellow metal. Less expensive to make and operate, I would expect.
Ann English
Sat, Mar 30, 2013 : 12:37 a.m.
It's easier for me to imagine First and Ashley Avenues converted to two-way streets than Beakes, Ann, Catherine, Thayer and Ingalls Streets. Or even Fifth Avenue and Division Street. I can see the UM effectively blocking the conversion of these streets nearest the Central Campus from becoming two-way. What about the parking structure at Maynard? It's been years since I used either Maynard or Thompson, but Maynard was a one-way street when I regularly went south on State Street in that area. I would think that Maynard, or any other street with parking structure entrances and exits, would determine where those exits and entrances are best built.
PattyinYpsi
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 2:07 p.m.
I don't have any idea about whether making all the downtown streets two-way would be a plus or a minus for traffic in Ypsi. But the fact that the streets were once converted to one-way to "relieve downtown traffic" should make everyone stop and think. In the bigger picture, though, I agree with the commenters who noted that repairing the streets is a much higher priority.
PattyinYpsi
Sat, Mar 30, 2013 : 2:54 p.m.
Ben, I agree with you 100%. But I'd like to have the streets repaired before we start considering this.
Ben
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 5:07 p.m.
What were the traffic levels back then, though? We need to examine this against the environment that exists today.
Murf
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 1:55 p.m.
That's interesting about wanting more on street parking and bike lanes because from what I've seen from the upgrades done on Forest and also on W. Cross, once a bike lane is installed, on street parking is usually no longer allowed or extremely restricted. A prime example is westbound W. Cross. There is a bike lane painted but minus the official bike lane sign by the rental houses where there is parking allowed on the steet. Once you cross Oakwood, all the owner occupied houses now can't park on the street in front of their house because that same strip has the official bike lane sign along with the no parking sign. It seems there needs to be some sort of official rule about bike lanes and on street parking before they start doing it more, especially in a neighborhood with homes.
Katrease Stafford
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 1:48 p.m.
More on this topic will be discussed at the upcoming design meetings for the Shape Ypsilanti master plan process. As soon as the dates/information becomes available, I'll post more information about it.
Linda French
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 1:17 p.m.
I love this idea. It is such a common sense approach that will help the whole city. Good job Paul and Teresa for bringing this up for discussion and possible implementation. Looks like Ypsi is moving forward..
vivian
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 3:34 p.m.
Here speaks someone who's deeply involved and invested in the improvement of Ypsi--whether we agree with her or not, we should listen to what she has to say. (I'd like to know her reasons for saying it will help the city, myself--I have no opinion yet).
Really??!!
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 12:42 p.m.
There is no limit to which our city officials won't go to divert attention to the real crises facing the community. Why bother addressing increased gang violence, increased serious crime rates, increased blight of residential, commercial and industrial building stock, increased deterioration of neglected public infrastructure (one can only imagine the deteriorated condition of the infrastructure we don't see given the deplorable condition of the infrastructure we do see), woefully understaffed police and fire departments, fiscal/budgetary distress, falling property values, the Water Street development financial abyss, increasingly vacant business storefronts, etc. Instead, let's waste more public funds performing studies of two-way vs. one-way streets. Unbelievable!
a2cents
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 2:25 p.m.
walkable communities are safer communities
lumberg48108
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 12:33 p.m.
why stop there? lets connect Ypsi to Ypsilanti Convert Ford Bldv. so it has exits on Michigan Avenue; why this was not done befuddles me Connect Harris Road from Ecorse to Michigan Avenue; right now it dead ends and leads to issues why not build a bridge over Ford Lake to connect one side to the other and allow everyone to enjoy the beauty of the lake? the most frustrating part of living in the Ypsi area is how ridiculously hard it is to get to the Ypsi area
Cash
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 11:25 a.m.
Repair the City streets first. Prospect Street between Holmes and Mich Ave is a rut-filled disaster. Adams between Washtenaw and Mich Ave is also a disaster. River Street from Forest to Cross has so many "utility cuts" patched roughly that is too is a mess and getting worse daily. Repair to roads should trump any redirection or altering of routes.
beardown
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 2:50 p.m.
They also have money for consultants, but not for the work.
Murf
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 1:56 p.m.
You know I concur, Cash!
Paul
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 12:34 p.m.
Funny how there is money to build roundabouts, yet not enough money to repair all the streets.
Patty Bradley
Fri, Mar 29, 2013 : 12:16 p.m.
I agree. Repair the roads first, especially Prospect.