Ford Boulevard Timeline

1997

Spring, Summer, and Autumn 1997- Charter Township of Ypsilanti forms a Bicycle Task Force to offer comments on an Ypsilanti Township Non-Motorized Facilities Inventory and Planning Study. Bob Krzewinski sits on the Bicycle Task Force as a representative of the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society. On a map in the Ypsilanti Township Non-Motorized Facilities Inventory and Planning Study ("The Proposed Path System" - no page number), Ford Boulevard is shown as part of a proposed path system.

November 1997 - Ypsilanti Township Non-Motorized Facilities Inventory and Planning Study published.

December 1997 - Charter Township of Ypsilanti Board of Trustees approves five-year plan to increase and improve non-motorized facilities in the Township.

2004 to 2006

The Washtenaw Area Transportation Study (WATS) conducts hearings for its Non-Motorized Plan for Washtenaw County. In the Ypsilanti area, hearings were held on the plan on September 15, 2005 (Ypsilanti City Hall) and July 16, 2006 (Ypsilanti City Hall). Sitting on the Policy Committee for the Non-Motorized Plan for Washtenaw County from Ypsilanti Township was Ruth Ann Jamnick. Sitting on the Non-Motorized Plan Steering Committee from Ypsilanti Township was Dave Nicholson.

The Ford Boulevard bicycle lane is contained in the final Non-Motorized Plan for Washtenaw County on page 85. The Non-Motorized Plan for Washtenaw County was approved and published in September 6, 2006.

2007

May 9, 2007 - Hearing held by the Washtenaw County Road Commission in Ypsilanti Township (at the Civic Center) on the matter of changing Ford Boulevard from four lanes to a three lane configuration with bike lanes and a center turning lane.

September/October 2007 - Ford Boulevard changed from four lanes to a three lane configuration with bike lanes and a center turning lane.

October 16, 2007 - During the Citizen Participation portion of the Washtenaw County Road Commission meeting, Zach Howard states it is hard to get out of his driveway in the new Ford Boulevard configuration. Roy Townsend (WCRC staff) states that the primary reason Ford Boulevard was re-striped to three lanes was for safety reasons resulting in a reduction in crashes. Reference

2008

January 7, 2008 - Ed Davis (of Ed's Garage on Ford Road) submits a petition (PDF) requesting that Ford Boulevard stay four lanes to the Clerk of the Charter Township of Ypsilanti. About 350 signatures are attached.

March 4, 2008 - In response to the petition, Charter Township of Ypsilanti Board of Trustees approves a resolution (#2008-8) asking the Washtenaw County Road Commission asking them to change Ford Boulevard back to four lanes and eliminate the turn and bicycle lanes. The resolution does not indicate what reason the petition may have included for this reversal. The issue of Ford Boulevard did not appear on the pre-meeting agenda .

March 13, 2008 - The Clerk of the Charter Township of Ypsilanti sends out a letter to residents stating that the Township has asked the Washtenaw County Road Commission to change Ford Boulevard back to four lanes, citing that 400 "residents" signed the Ed Davis petition and that the matter was in the hands of the Road Commission.

April 1, 2008 - While not on the agenda, the topic is discussed at the regular Washtenaw County Road Commission meeting. The WCRC Director of Engineering recommends keeping the 3-lane configuration based on safety data nationwide and from other nearby roads. Despites this, the Commissioners vote unanimously to change Ford Boulevard back to four lanes, without specifying whether or not the bike lanes should remain. Official minutes of that meeting.

April 15, 2008 - At the regular WCRC meeting, WCRC engineers confirm that Ford Blvd. is not wide enough to accommodate 4 lanes plus bike lanes. WATS informs the commissioners that that Federal funding for the original project would have to be returned if the road is reconfigured per the April 1 motion, and indicates the only way to avoid this would be to collect data on the current configuration for at least one year, which would be until October 2008. Commissioner Veigel makes a motion to rescind the original motion but it is not seconded so it is tabled. Official minutes from this meeting.

May 3, 2008 - Representatives from PEAC, WBWC and Bike Ypsi meet with Road Commissioner David Rutledge and report a very productive session.