Lapeer commission authorizes Genesee Street road diet study and pedestrian-crossing design

The Lapeer City Commission on Aug. 18 voted to authorize staff to pursue design work for a Genesee Street road diet and a pedestrian crossing between M-24 and Saginaw Street, directing city staff and traffic engineers to develop options for the corridor and return to the commission with recommended plans.

The authorization, approved by voice vote after extended discussion, directs staff to work with the engineering consultants who prepared the traffic study to produce design drawings and consider alternatives including a three‑lane “road diet,” striped bike lanes, painted pedestrian crossings and, if warranted, a future pedestrian refuge or HAWK (High-intensity Activated crossWalK) system.

City staff said the original study — developed with consultant Paul O’Meara of Roe and traffic engineer Haley Sabula — found the corridor could be converted from four lanes to three without a measurable decrease in peak‑hour traffic flow. Sabula told commissioners that, under standard practice, bike lanes would need to terminate at the M‑24 and Saginaw intersections because the available width is constrained at both ends. “You would have to stop at both ends at the M‑24 and Saginaw intersections because there’s not enough room,” Sabula said.

Commissioners pressed staff about safety, emergency‑vehicle access and how changes would affect left‑turning traffic near…