Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Street Pilot topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission extends State Street two‑way pilot to Dec. 31, 2025; forms ad hoc to study pedestrian and bicycle improvements
Summary
After a lengthy debate over safety, data and procurement, the Traverse City City Commission voted 5–2 to extend the State Street two‑way pilot through Dec. 31, 2025, and directed staff to establish a city commission ad hoc committee to study pedestrian and bicycle improvements and recommend actions.
The Traverse City Commission voted on Feb. 17 to extend Traffic Control Order 703 — which governs two‑way circulation on State Street — through Dec. 31, 2025, and authorized establishment of a city‑commission ad hoc charged to study problem areas and recommend pedestrian and bicycle improvements.
The roll‑call vote was recorded as: Shaw (yes), Stanley (yes), Treadwell (yes), Werner (no), Anderson (no), Mayor Pro Tem Wilson (yes), Mayor Shamro (yes), resulting in 5 yes, 2 no. Several commissioners said additional data collection over another year would be useful because recent MDOT and parkway construction distorted earlier measurements; others said more time and consultant analysis will produce actionable trends. Opponents argued that continuing the pilot uses scarce staff and consultant resources and that the city should instead reverse the traffic control order and pursue incremental, low‑cost interventions (painted bumpouts, delineators, mid‑block crosswalks, 4‑way stops) to improve pedestrian safety.
Commissioners and staff clarified practical points: the pilot’s modifications to date were funded largely by the DDA and TIF funds; if the city assumes responsibility for street modifications, funding would shift to the city; the DDA offered to pay for further data collection as part of the extension; MDOT work on the Parkway has complicated traffic volumes and may skew some counts; staff noted that reverting to a one‑way configuration would require coordinated engineering and time to implement.
The commission’s extension included a friendly amendment to create a city commission ad hoc committee to study mobility problems on State Street and bring recommendations back to the commission; staff will propose scope language and a timetable for the ad hoc’s work at a March meeting. Commissioners also asked staff to explore targeted, lower‑cost traffic‑calming measures and to coordinate with engineering before removing or adding signals or turn movements.
The motion to extend TCO 703 and form the ad hoc passed.
