Fewer lanes downtown? Maybe

DDA considers plan to reduce Division Street and Fifth Avenue to 2 lanes for driving

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

BY TRACY DAVIS

News Staff Reporter

The traffic flow on two major north-south thoroughfares in downtown Ann Arbor could change dramatically under a plan being considered by the Downtown Development Authority to encourage more people to use bicycles or walk.

The plan calls for Division Street and Fifth Avenue to go from their current three-to-four-lane configurations to two lanes of vehicle traffic with a bike lane and a parking lane on either side of the street. They would remain one-way streets; the changes would run from Packard to Beakes.

DDA director Susan Pollay said the two roads, along with Huron Street, were well-designed for what they were originally intended to be: vehicle corridors.

But public and policy-making sentiment locally has shifted toward encouraging more alternative transportation - walking, cycling and riding buses. The roadway design must follow that, advocates say, a sentiment underscored in the recent Calthorpe report, which recommended changes to help tame traffic and make downtown more pedestrian friendly.

"The goal is to make it so you feel more comfortable bicycling and walking ... and it makes it easier to get into downtown,'' Pollay said.

The streets, along with Huron Street, were studied recently for pedestrian-friendly changes. There are no plans to narrow Huron for now, Pollay said, but it will likely be streetscaped to make it more pedestrian friendly.

Pollay acknowledged car traffic is likely to slow, and that commuters are likely to have a slightly longer trip if the changes are instituted.

She said it would not be by much. And slowing traffic on busy streets has other payoffs, including more foot traffic for retailers and restaurants. The addition of the parking lane would also yield 75 more metered spaces downtown.

According to the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study, traffic counts on that segment of Fifth range from just under 9,000 cars per day to just over 10,000 per day.

Daily traffic counts on that section of Division Street range from 9,284 to more than 15,000.

"It's well within the range to be able to operate with two lanes,'' said WATS Director Terri Blackmore.

Fifth Avenue is a major southbound corridor for the city's main fire station, located on Fifth across from city hall. Fire Chief Sam Hopkins said he was not concerned that the narrowed traffic lanes would impede responses to emergencies.

"As long as they maintain the proper lanes for us to get through, it should be fine,'' he said.

Ken Clark, secretary of the Washtenaw Biking and Walking Coalition, said he thinks the changes would vastly improve accessibility of the streets for other forms of transportation.

"I think it will make a world of difference,'' he said. "In general, those streets are better than people think for biking. But they do have a very automotive feel.''

He added that to be successful, bike lanes on streets with a curb should be at least 5 feet wide to give adequate room to cyclists.

The project does not yet have a budget, Pollay said. It is still in design stages, and the initial sketches should be finished this month. She said there is no specific time frame for implementing the changes, if the city decides to go forward with them.

Tracy Davis can be reached at tdavis@annarbornews.com

or 734-994-6856.



Fewer lanes downtown? Maybe DDA considers plan to reduce Division Street and Fifth Avenue to 2 lanes for driving Tuesday, February 14, 2006 BY TRACY DAVIS News Staff Reporter The traffic flow on two major north-south thoroughfares in downtown Ann Arbor could change dramatically under a plan being considered by the Downtown Development Authority to encourage more people to use bicycles or walk. The plan calls for Division Street and Fifth Avenue to go from their current three-to-four-lane configurations to two lanes of vehicle traffic with a bike lane and a parking lane on either side of the street. They would remain one-way streets; the changes would run from Packard to Beakes. DDA director Susan Pollay said the two roads, along with Huron Street, were well-designed for what they were originally intended to be: vehicle corridors. But public and policy-making sentiment locally has shifted toward encouraging more alternative transportation - walking, cycling and riding buses. The roadway design must follow that, advocates say, a sentiment underscored in the recent Calthorpe report, which recommended changes to help tame traffic and make downtown more pedestrian friendly. "The goal is to make it so you feel more comfortable bicycling and walking ... and it makes it easier to get into downtown,'' Pollay said. The streets, along with Huron Street, were studied recently for pedestrian-friendly changes. There are no plans to narrow Huron for now, Pollay said, but it will likely be streetscaped to make it more pedestrian friendly. Pollay acknowledged car traffic is likely to slow, and that commuters are likely to have a slightly longer trip if the changes are instituted. She said it would not be by much. And slowing traffic on busy streets has other payoffs, including more foot traffic for retailers and restaurants. The addition of the parking lane would also yield 75 more metered spaces downtown. According to the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study, traffic counts on that segment of Fifth range from just under 9,000 cars per day to just over 10,000 per day. Daily traffic counts on that section of Division Street range from 9,284 to more than 15,000. "It's well within the range to be able to operate with two lanes,'' said WATS Director Terri Blackmore. Fifth Avenue is a major southbound corridor for the city's main fire station, located on Fifth across from city hall. Fire Chief Sam Hopkins said he was not concerned that the narrowed traffic lanes would impede responses to emergencies. "As long as they maintain the proper lanes for us to get through, it should be fine,'' he said. Ken Clark, secretary of the Washtenaw Biking and Walking Coalition, said he thinks the changes would vastly improve accessibility of the streets for other forms of transportation. "I think it will make a world of difference,'' he said. "In general, those streets are better than people think for biking. But they do have a very automotive feel.'' He added that to be successful, bike lanes on streets with a curb should be at least 5 feet wide to give adequate room to cyclists. The project does not yet have a budget, Pollay said. It is still in design stages, and the initial sketches should be finished this month. She said there is no specific time frame for implementing the changes, if the city decides to go forward with them. Tracy Davis can be reached at tdavis@annarbornews.com or 734-994-6856. ©2006 Ann Arbor News © 2006 Michigan Live. All Rights Reserved.