Transportation commission backs MDOT repaving plan with bus-only lanes and safety upgrades

The Ann Arbor Transportation Commission on March 18 recommended that city council support a Michigan Department of Transportation repaving project on East Huron Street and Washtenaw Avenue from Main Street to East Stadium Boulevard that includes bus-only lanes and a package of pedestrian-safety upgrades.

Commissioner Melissa McCready read a resolution that describes resurfacing, ADA ramp replacements, a new mid-block crosswalk near Wayne Street, a hybrid beacon near 2350 Washtenaw Avenue, leading pedestrian intervals and hardened centerlines where feasible. The resolution endorses lane reductions and ‘‘rightsizing’’ of the roadway where the right-of-way allows, and states the commission’s preferred alternative includes a mix of one- and two-direction bus-only lanes through the corridor.

Supporters at the meeting said the bus lanes and pedestrian improvements align with the commission’s Vision Zero goals and could reduce crashes and improve transit reliability. ‘‘I’m really excited about the possibility of bus lanes on Washtenaw,’’ public commenter Adam Goodman said, adding he views the corridor as one of the busiest for bus service in southeast Michigan.

Several commissioners asked for clearer design materials before voting. Commissioners debated whether elements mentioned in the resolution—such as push-button accessible pedestrian signals and leading pedestrian intervals—were finalized design features or examples of potential improvements. City staff and Cynthia Redinger (transportation staff) explained that push buttons are part of the city’s standard signal equipment and can be used with pedestrian recall during high-volume periods; they said the signals can provide vibrotactile feedback and audible pedestrian guidance to serve visually impaired users.

Commissioner Jacobson and others asked MDOT to return with more detailed plans as design work progresses; staff said MDOT is seeking the commission’s support to keep the project on MDOT’s design schedule for a 2027 construction window. McCready said the resolution can be revised to use language such as ‘‘such as’’ when listing potential pedestrian features to signal that designs are not final.

After discussion, the commission moved to recommend the resolution to city council and, per the chair’s count, no members objected. Commissioners requested that MDOT present more detailed designs at a future meeting and that staff track accessibility and leading-pedestrian-interval decisions.

The commission’s recommendation does not change engineering designs; it is intended to convey local support to MDOT as the state agency completes detailed design work. The resolution noted that the work will include resurfacing and ADA compliance upgrades and that MDOT plans to pursue a safety-speed study after construction to evaluate posted speeds.

Next steps: the Transportation Commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to city council for its consideration; commissioners expect MDOT to return with more detailed designs during the design phase.