WashtenawPEL or ReimagineWashtenaw updates?

[Brian C]

Hello,

Does anyone have any updates on the Washtenaw PEL study, or Reimagine Washtenaw project? I understand it will take years to complete, but I am curious. The WashtenawPEL website went down a couple months ago, and the latest update on ReimagineWashtenaw.org is almost three years old. I commute along that stretch daily and am looking forward to an improvement in bicycling and pedestrian infrastructure, as well as bus-only lanes.

Best Regards,
Brian

[Larry Deck]

Hi Brian,

I'm not aware of any updates on this.  As you may be aware, Walk Bike Washtenaw circulated a statement on these projects (attached) in October 2024.

-- Larry Deck

-- WBW board member

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[Adam Goodman]

Hi Brian,

As far as I'm aware, the PEL study is basically complete but still not officially finalized / approved by the Federal Highway Administration.

If you want to get a sense of the almost-final results of the study: representatives from MDOT and Washtenaw County gave presentations last year to local governments about the study results and expected phasing. I'd suggest watching the presentation to Ypsilanti City Council from last May; you can find it here: https://youtu.be/i40N_DTKbkM?t=1286. (The presentation slides are also in the meeting agenda packet here: https://cityofypsilanti.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05062025-2346).

The important thing to keep in mind about a PEL ("Planning and Environmental Linkages") study is that it's a speculative process that has no implementation funding attached. So, while the study proposes a fairly well-defined redesign for Washtenaw, it does not in any way guarantee that all the proposed work will actually happen. MDOT has, however, secured some funding to start incrementally working on this project, specifically to enact "vulnerable road user safety improvements" on the eastern end of the study area, roughly from Oakwood to Rosedale. This project was formally added to the regional TIP (Transportation Improvements Program - the list of projects officially receiving federal funding) at the WATS Policy Committee meeting on 2/18/2026 (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/524e0929e4b093015db69c07/t/698e3ee033f35c499aaeb9fd/1770929888259/February+WATS+Policy+Packet.pdf). The funds are programmed for FY2027, so construction could perhaps happen next year.

My understanding is that they hope to pursue a "quick build" / paint-and-flexpost lane reduction (from 5 car lanes down to 3, and adding buffered/protected bike lanes) on that section of Washtenaw, in keeping with the PEL study's proposed designs, but I don't believe those plans are publicly documented anywhere yet.

- Adam

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/wbwc/1216821185.2310406.1774363682045%40mail.yahoo.com.

[Brian C]

Thanks Larry, Adam,

That's very informative. I thought the overall project was settled and on the verge of starting construction.