Call to Action -- East Medical Center Drive bridge widening project

[Matt Catanzarite]

Monday evening (2/7/2022) -- Returning to the City Council Agenda is the East Medical Center Drive bridge widening project.  DC-4 amends previous approval for bridge design work stripping it of language regarding using the additional bridge width for multimodal travel.  The WBWC reiterates statements issued on Oct. 14, 2021 to City Council, and Dec. 13, 2021 to the Transportation Commission.  As currently presented, this project design provides for future capacity of motorized vehicles without addressing the present needs of safety and access for people bicycling and walking.  Please share your thoughts and perspectives with the City Council regarding this matter (CityC...@a2gov.org).  If we can widen it for people in cars, we can also widen it for people on bikes.

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Matt 

[Ken Freeman]

Hello Matt!  First, does the decision rest with the City Council or the Transportation Council? Is there always an opportunity to convince CC to make a change, or does the project design become frozen after a time?  

I assume there is no provision for non-motorized users in the current project design, which seems like a serious omission.  I can imagine a few physical options if DC-4 is not overturned: 

1. modify the lane dispositions similarly the recent side street arrangements,

2. modify lane disposition similarly to South Main near the Stadium,

3. add a secondary bridge for non-motorized users, such as at US-23.

But these all delay re-establishing non-motorized river crossing.  Does CC recognize that bridges, which are the conduits to access both sides of the Huron River, are not located close to each other?  If one is lost, the workaround is quite a long walk.  Not all pedestrians are students in their ‘20s, or people with autos or with U of M parking passes.

Ken Freeman

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Please note that WBWC google groups is an unmoderated forum. It was developed by the Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition as a tool for bikers and walkers to discuss key issues and share information. However, not all views expressed in this group are the views or values of WBWC. For more information about WBWC, meetings, and projects, please visit www.wbwc.org
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Ken Freeman
Ann Arbor, MI USA

[Erich Zechar]

Ken,

The transportation commission has already voted against the currently proposed widened bridge design as they felt it was insufficient for the safety of nonmotorized users. 

Nonetheless it is coming before council as designed, and city council has the final say as to the design chosen. The university has pledged to pay for half the bridge and all the widening, as they want increased car throughput in this intersection towards the hospital. 

I personally think if they are widening the bridge, the city and university need to make better provisions for bike and pedestrian safety here. Completing the long-planned underpass for nonmotorized users is a must. Widening the bridge so a full-width multi-use-path could exist on both sides of the bridge is another great idea. Currently the U is pushing for only the west side of the bridge to be wide for foot and bike traffic, and the East side would be narrowed to sidewalk width. 

And finally a bump out on EMC drive that would slow right-turning cars from Fuller onto East Medical Center bridge, so drivers would be less likely to injure pedestrians in the intersection. 

The university should chip in for pedestrian improvements here. So far they have promised only to pay for improvements for drivers. 

Just my 2 cents. 

Erich Zechar

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Ken Freeman
Ann Arbor, MI USA

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Please note that WBWC google groups is an unmoderated forum. It was developed by the Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition as a tool for bikers and walkers to discuss key issues and share information. However, not all views expressed in this group are the views or values of WBWC. For more information about WBWC, meetings, and projects, please visit www.wbwc.org
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[Ken Freeman]

Erich, thanks for filling this in for me!

Ken Freeman

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/wbwc/CAJ4LJAqrjR_bx76QGtpayPYBftrZ2_KERW_F4buvM-qvd3dSgA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Ken Clark]

Finest city council the University could buy!  I'm sure they'll come up with a nice teaching arrangement for Mayor Taylor some day. 

But really, the city needs all that extra tax revenue they'll get from the hospital complex and the income tax from all of the additional commuters. It's not like the university could open satellite locations or something.  I'm sure this will help us deal with climate change. /s

Thanks to Councilmember Briggs and the others who didn't cave! 

Ken

[Matt Catanzarite]

The unfortunate situation that played out months ago regarding the EMCD bridge provided only the smallest chance for any non-motorized improvement in the expected $8million project. 

I regret to inform you that the non-motorized portion of the project on East Medical Center Drive has been dealt a blow from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), unwilling to grant easement for the under-bridge pathway.  In order to make a 14' wide path underneath the bridge, it would need to encroach by over 4' into the MDOT ROW for the railroad tracks. 

 https://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11526076&GUID=28140F86-6E60-4E84-A9F5-7A72C90FA9E4

The memo that describes the problem is attached to tomorrow's council meeting agenda.  Please consider speaking at the meeting or encourage others to speak at the meeting.  

The extra lane was sold on allowing for "flexibility".  Given the amount of pedestrian activity at this intersection, the appropriate "flex" of extra roadway would be for non-motorized use.

Matt

Walk Bike Washtenaw

[Peter Houk]

If you are as disappointed as I am, please consider reaching out to your city council reps. 

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Please note that WBWC google groups is an unmoderated forum. It was developed by the Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition as a tool for bikers and walkers to discuss key issues and share information. However, not all views expressed in this group are the views or values of WBWC. For more information about WBWC, meetings, and projects, please visit www.wbwc.org
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[Adam Goodman]

For those not aware, the final construction contract for the EMCD bridge widening is on the City Council agenda this coming Monday (1/23): https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5968442&GUID=DB23C102-1FBB-4BF4-8E5D-2DC77407BD93&Options=&Search=

If you would like the city to seek a better direction on this project, please reach out to City Council before then. In addition to that, I've been informed that it might be helpful to lobby some University of Michigan officials directly, with suggestions including: the Regents (umre...@umich.edu), President Ono (pre...@umich.edu), Chris Kolb (ko...@umich.edu) and Mike Rein (re...@umich.edu) at UM governmental affairs, CEO of Michigan Medicine, Marschall S. Runge (mru...@umich.edu), and CFO for Michigan Medicine, Paul Castillo (cas...@umich.edu).

- Adam

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/wbwc/CALADLW2wmvptX4BRwN-Nrhwe7yVjAAzcT1GoBQWf%2BhekibYAQw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Ken Clark]

(In Dutch, but terrific views):

Video: Amsterdam’s largest bike garage to open under Central Station canal; 7,000 spots | NL Times

Article about it at The Guardian:

Underwater bike garage solves Amsterdam station’s storage headache | Netherlands | The Guardian

"Beneath the clear waters and pleasure boats by Amsterdam central station is a remarkable feat of engineering: an underwater garage for 7,000 bicycles."

This would be like putting in a 200 space underground bike parking garage between the Blake Transit Center and the William St. boulevard.  Which, come to think of it...

Ken

[Ken Clark]

Repeating Adam's excellent email from last week, since Council chose to punt this decision.

Ken

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/wbwc/CAOJ0NG9rCKMNLGYkCbXdj0JKzzaYopf2NrWFVL6a-uCcyJ03Sw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Matt Catanzarite]

*UPDATE*

This Coming Tuesday 2/21, the Ann Arbor City Council may be making a final decision regarding the East Medical Center Bridge widening proposal.  
Walk Bike Washtenaw has a page detailing some of our history with the project, provides some talking points and has additional perspectives to provide context if you decide to reach out to council before they make their decision.

https://www.wbwc.org/emcdbridge

Matt

[Rachel Gottlieb]

Thanks for bumping this! I just sent an email out to all med students asking them to consider emailing city council. We get lots of foot use out of the bridge and hopefully some folks will make their voices heard!