Shape Your Community
The M-17 (Washtenaw Avenue) Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study will focus on the 3-mile stretch of Washtenaw Avenue between the Ann Arbor city limits at the US-23 interchange and Ypsilanti.
Washtenaw Avenue plays a significant role in Washtenaw County by providing regional connections to local institutions, the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, and other community assets. A more connected and multimodal-focused corridor will help improve travel, safety, economic development, and community pride.
JOIN US FOR THE WASHTENAW AVENUE PEL STUDY PUBLIC MEETING TONIGHT - MONDAY 10/28/24
EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT CENTER - ROOM 352
4 PM TO 7 PM
Project Timeline
The project timeline below lays out the major steps in the PEL process through the project’s 18-month lifespan. The project goal is to identify a locally acceptable alternative using the Federal Highway Administration’s PEL process. You can review completed work on this website.
Project Study Area
This PEL study explores the eastern half of Washtenaw Avenue from Carpenter Road to Oakwood Street. The study area includes the city of Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township, and Pittsfield Township.
Three Practical Alternatives were presented in the winter of 2024 at Public Meeting 3 for feedback from the community. These were refined from the Conceptual Alternative designs and were those that best met the study’s Purpose & Need and supported the vision for the future of Washtenaw Avenue.
Following Public Meeting 3, the Practical Alternatives were further refined based on the feedback received, potential traffic implications, conversations with local stakeholders, and to better fit within the constraints of the corridor. The result of this refinement is the Acceptable Alternative.
Public Meeting 3
The third round of public engagement consisted of an in-person open house and a virtual meeting option hosted on this site. Participants were able to learn about the project process and were asked to provide their feedback on the Practical Alternatives. Additionally, a survey was provided that asked about the transportation mode priority for Washtenaw Avenue, users’ comfort level with various bicycle facilities, and overall support of the project. Over 300 surveys were submitted.
Acceptable Alternative
The recommended design vision resulting from a PEL Study is referred to as the ‘Acceptable Alternative’. This is the option that, based on the technical analysis, conceptual engineering design, community and stakeholder feedback, and overall feasibility best meets the goals and needs in the corridor. The Acceptable Alternative for Washtenaw Avenue is a refined version of the BAT Lane Alternative.
The BAT Lane Alternative has been altered slightly as follows based on conversations with the Local Agency Group and further technical analysis:
The name has been changed from BAT Lane to Public Transit Priority Lane to better reflect the intent of the corridor and reduce confusion around the name.
The transition point from Transit Priority Lane to the Road Diet segment was moved roughly 600 feet east to Rosedale Road to address potential congestion issues at Hewitt Road by allowing for more vehicle stacking and avoiding conflicts with high-volume driveways in this area.
Design Features
Reduction to three travel lanes and dedicated transit lanes from Carpenter Road to Hewitt Road
Private vehicle access to the transit lane to allow right turns into businesses
Contiguous shared-use pathways on both sides of the street that are proposed to be shared by pedestrians and bicyclists
Enhanced transit stop infrastructure
Transit signal priority at key intersections
Washtenaw Avenue at Golfside Road - Looking west
Washtenaw Avenue at Golfside Road looking east.
Washtenaw Avenue at Rosedale Street looking west.
Washtenaw Avenue at Rosedale Street looking east.
Washtenaw Avenue at Mansfield Street looking west.
Washtenaw Avenue at Mansfield Street looking east.
Why Was The Public Transit Priority Lane Selected?
Community and Stakeholder Feedback
Throughout the PEL Process, residents, stakeholders, and community leaders made it known that space for public transit should be prioritized along Washtenaw Avenue. This direct connection between the major communities in Washtenaw County and residents want to use transit as their form of transportation
Long Term Traffic Management
The constraints of the Washtenaw Avenue corridor mean that future expansion of the roadway has a very small chance of happening. To accommodate the modest increase in traffic volume projected for the corridor, the focus must shift from moving vehicles to moving people. The Public Transit Priority Lane Alternative will allow for a highly efficient form of transportation, bus rapid transit, to move people through Washtenaw County. Expanding the capacity of the transit system does not require any additional space, only more buses at key times during the day.
Right-of-Way Availability
Washtenaw Avenue is constrained in the amount of right-of-way available to expand the roadway. The Public Transit Priority Lane maintains the same roadway profile from curb to curb, reducing the need for large and costly property acquisition. Although some shared use pathways exist outside of the right-of-way, easements or spot property purchases can be use to implement the path.
Funding Availability
Currently, funding has not been programmed by MDOT to construct the Acceptable Alternative for Washtenaw Avenue. However, given the large transit component of the design, MDOT and TheRide will be able to partner to apply for Federal Transit Administration grant funding which can be used to support both transit infrastructure improvements, as well as non-motorized connections to stations. The opportunity for additional funding sources allows for the project partners to share costs and increases the probability of the project moving to construction.
Construction Costs
Overall, construction costs for the Public Transit Priority Lane were estimated to be similar to the Existing Enhanced Alternative as they both retain the same roadway profile and limit the amount of right-of-way purchases needed. By retaining the roadway profile, costly grading, drainage, and stormwater management engineering costs can be avoided.
Corridor Sustainability
Focusing on moving people through the Washtenaw Avenue corridor, rather than vehicles, helps contribute to the surrounding community’s and residents’ sustainability goals. Public transit is highly efficient, especially as more clean energy technology is incorporated into fleets, like hybrid and electric vehicles. Additionally, the Acceptable Alternative creates safe, connected, and comfortable walking and biking options for nearby residents to utilize rather than driving.
Washtenaw Avenue Acceptable Alternative - Carpenter Road to Dalton Ave
Washtenaw Avenue Acceptable Alternative - Dalton Ave to Spice Tree Circle
Washtenaw Avenue Acceptable Alternative - Spice Tree Circle to Boston Ave
Washtenaw Avenue Acceptable Alternative - Boston Ave to Bellevue St
Washtenaw Avenue Acceptable Alternative - Bellevue St to Douglas St
Washtenaw Avenue Acceptable Alternative - Douglas St to Oakwood St
TheRide’s Long Range Plan recommends bus arrivals every five minutes to reduce rider waiting time, create a seamless transit experience, and account for additional rider capacity.
Installation of Transit Supportive Infrastructure
Transit signal priority and upgraded transit stops will be necessary to maintain buses on-time performance and create a comfortable and safe waiting area for riders.
Fully Connected Walking and Biking Facilities
All public transit trips begin and end with a walking or biking trip. To maximize ridership all riders must be able to get to the bus stop. Sidewalk gaps must be filled and the dedicated cycling facilities must be constructed to allow for this.
Traffic Considerations
The Public Transit Priority Lane was the Alternative that best met the project Purpose & Need, however based on the traffic analysis increased congestion on Washtenaw Avenue is likely to happen unless some mitigations are put into place. The outside lane WILL NOT be dedicated as a transit lane until the following happens to avoid the forecasted congestion issues:
Investment in High Frequency Transit Service
Phasing and Implementation
The Acceptable Alternative for Washtenaw Avenue consists of a roadway design that is not typical for MDOT roadways. This, paired with the limited right-of-way in the corridor and the need for multiple funding sources, means that a phased approach to implementation will be needed.
Phase 1: Corridor Preparation
2025 - 2027
Focus on low cost, easier to implement projects that begin to set up the corridor for future transit priority.
Project Responsibilities
TheRide: Bus shelter pads/platforms, signage, shelters, Transit Signal Priority (TSP)
MDOT: Concrete patches, midblock crossings, signal upgrades, road diet pilot design
Local Communities: Fill sidewalk gaps, asset management plan, landscaping, coordination on new developments
Phase 2: Moving Toward Transit Priority
2028 - 2030
Implement larger infrastructure projects and pilot projects that advance the corridor toward a transit priority lane.
Project Responsibilities
TheRide: Connections to stops, construct super stops, add bike parking at stops, increase service frequency
MDOT: Additional midblock crossings, install & evaluate road diet pilot, support access management
Local Communities: Fill sidewalk gaps, implement asset management, landscaping, coordination on new developments
Phase 3: Full Roadway Reconstruction
2030+
Implement the full vision for Washtenaw Avenue, complete with dedicated transit lanes, connected shared use pathways, and corridor beautification.
Project Responsibilities
TheRide: Coordinate with MDOT on transit lane deployment, additional upgrades to super stops
MDOT: Reconstruct roadway, coordinate with TheRide of transit lane deployment
Local Communities: Implement street lights, landscaping, foster transit supportive land use, coordination on new developments
Tell Us What You Think!
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey to the right and let us know if the Acceptable Alternative meets your vision for the future of Washtenaw Avenue.