Downtown Ypsilanti motorists will soon have the option to make left turns from Michigan Avenue onto Washington and Adams streets.

A one-year trial will allow traffic to make the turns except during peak hours, which are considered 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Should the changes improve traffic flow without causing problems, they will be made permanent.

Traffic could be allowed to turn left as soon as January if the Michigan Department of Transportation, which must approve and coordinate the changes because the street is a trunkline, is able to provide staff and proper signs that quickly.

Currently, traffic headed eastbound on Michigan must drive through downtown, turn left on North Huron Street, then turn left on Pearl Street to get back to Washington or Adams Streets. Motorists headed westbound on Michigan must drive through downtown to Hamilton Street, turn left, then turn left on Ferris Street to get to Washington or Adams Streets.

Under the new plan, the left lane in each direction would be available for left turns and through traffic during non-peak hours. The Ypsilanti City Council approved the trial in its consent agenda on Tuesday night.

Left turns were restricted downtown on Michigan Avenue in 2000 when a median was installed. Former Council Member Bill Nickels said the pedestrian medians were considered by some on council as a way to make downtown more pedestrian friendly, though he noted he didn't support the idea. He said the reason no left turns were allowed is because creating left turn lanes would have mostly eliminated the median.

He said he did not recall officials discussing keeping the left lanes available for both left turns and through traffic during non-peak hours at the council level. City manager Ed Koryzno said MDOT had told city officials they wouldn't permit such an arrangement during planning.

Allowing traffic to turn left is part of the goals of the city’s “Blueprint for Downtown.” When the Downtown Development Authority and city officials met with MDOT in 2008 to discuss traffic flow on Michigan Avenue, a formal request was made to allow left turns.

MDOT officials said they first wanted to study the idea and determine allowing turns was feasible and safe. That study was recently completed, and the agency will take traffic counts and other measures over the yearlong trial period.

The project will not cost the city any money. Mayor Paul Schreiber said he hasn’t heard any opposition to the idea, and some have said the current arrangement negatively affects their businesses.

“A number of businesses have complained … and they’ve been asking about it for years,” he said. “I’ve heard some people say we never should have put the medians in, but what I think it comes down to is we never should have gotten rid of left-hand turns.”

DDA member Kevin Hill spoke during public comment at Tuesday’s meeting and said he was pleased to see the trial.

“As a person who has contacted (City Planner) Teresa Gillotti and (City Manager) Ed Koryzno numerous times in the past nine years, I’m glad to see we are at least supporting a pilot project to determine if a left hand turn will work,” he said.

Gillotti said the project will have a positive impact on the area because it will offer motorists more chances to stop in downtown instead of just passing through with only one option to turn left.

"Right now it kind of funnels you in and out of downtown, so this will allow people to stop and see more of downtown without being shot through," she said.

Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at 734-623-2530. For more Ypsilanti stories, visit our Ypsilanti page.