Council receives M-36 corridor study and votes to release draft for public comment

Mason — Consultants from Spalding DeDecker presented a draft M-36 corridor improvement plan to the Mason City Council on Feb. 17, 2025, outlining short‑ and long‑term options to improve safety and nonmotorized connections along Cedar Street (M-36) and the council voted 5-0 to receive the draft and release it for public review and comment.

The study, presented by Cassie Bridal, planning manager and lead planner with Spalding DeDecker, and Dan Troia, a corridor engineer with the firm, evaluated existing conditions, crash history, pavement condition and multimodal needs along segments of M-36 from US-127 toward Ash Street. "We're here to present the M-36 corridor improvement plan, discuss findings, and the release of the report for public comment," Bridal said at the start of the presentation.

The consultants used a SEMCOG multimodal evaluation tool and MDOT screening criteria, and they reported average annual daily traffic (AADT) of about 12,000 vehicles in the higher‑volume segment. Troia said that figure equates to roughly 3,000 vehicles per lane in a four‑lane configuration and that, based on his experience, several four‑ and five‑lane sections could operate acceptably following a conversion to a three‑lane cross section (one travel lane each direction plus a center left‑turn lane). "One of the first things that jumped out at me ... was the traffic volumes, and they're right about 12,000 in the higher segment," Troia said.

Study findings and recommendations

- Short-term, low‑cost…