Huron Street, pictured on the left, and Hamilton Street, pictured on the right, could be converted into two-way streets. A possible roundabout also is being suggested for the streets.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
One-way streets may soon be a thing of the past in Ypsilanti, as officials examine the feasibility of converting the entire city to two-way streets.
Converting Huron Street and Hamilton Street into two-way streets and connecting them to a roundabout at Interstate 94 has been mentioned as one of the options.
The possible citywide conversion has been discussed at various Shape Ypsilanti master plan revision meetings during the past few weeks, said City Planner Teresa Gillotti.
"The discovery charrette we did two weeks ago was to try to get feedback from as many people as possible," Gillotti said. "That is where we’ve been hearing several things repeated, one was the desire to look into changing the street grid to all two-way streets to see what would be feasible and what it would like--that and what areas would we run into obstacles."
Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber was one of the individuals who suggested looking at the conversion of Huron and Hamilton. This isn't the first time street conversions have been suggested. It's been recommended before to convert portions of Cross Street, Pearl Street and others to two-way streets.
Planning consultant Ian Lockwood drew an illustration showing the possible changes to Huron Street and Hamilton Street in Ypsilanti.
Courtesy Mayor Paul Schreiber
"It's not that I'm trying to push for this," Schreiber said. "For me, the main thing is to get the idea out and to get some awareness out there on some options we have. I hope it fosters some discussion."
Schreiber said he heard a presentation by consultants who are helping to create the master plan and the idea was mentioned there.
"They had a couple of examples of cities that were redesigned using the grid structure we have and returning wide one-ways, back to two-ways with parking," Schreiber said.
Schreiber said some of the city's one-way streets were previously two-way and were converted years ago to relieve downtown traffic.
"I just think it's an interesting concept," Schreiber said. "One of the things triggering it is the raised speed limit on Huron and Washtenaw and there's quite a big outcry."
Last June, the Michigan State Police and the Michigan Department of Transportation proposed raising the speed limits in some of Ypsilanti’s busiest intersections and areas.
Huron and Hamilton streets in Ypsilanti on Monday, March 25.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
In July, officials said they were considering a "road diet" that would decrease the number of lanes on some city streets, in a move to allow more residential and on-street parking and bicycle lanes and to also hopefully decrease speed limits.
"One way to go on a road diet is to make streets narrower and make other streets more accessible," Schreiber said. "If we were to make access off of the freeway so you could get at those roads more easier, it would slow traffic down and enable a more walkable community."
Turning all of the city's one-way streets into two-way ones would make them more narrow, resulting in lower speed limits, Schreiber said.
Gillotti said one-way streets are efficient in getting drivers through the city quickly, but don't exactly foster a walkable community with pedestrians and bicyclists.
"It will slow down traffic, but have a lot of different access routes to where you’re going to go," Gillotti said. "Instead of having only one way to go, it will probably be four or five options. ... It sort of opens things up."
Schreiber and Gillotti said the costs of converting all of the streets are unknown at this point, but they believe a large portion could be covered by state grants.
Schreiber noted that when Eastern Michigan University did construction work on Oakwood Street and Washtenaw Avenue, the university received a grant from the state.
"Obviously money has to be available at the state level and I'm not sure what the (city) match would be," Schreiber said. "Once you have a master plan, if all works in a systematic way, you start applying for grants."
Gillotti said how much it costs and who pays for it is all part of the feasibility study the city will conduct.
"It all depends on how it works and there are going to be some (street) segments that are city owned," Gillotti said. "A lot of improvements are related to local match of MDOT funds. ... There's a lot of interest in it, but then there's still a lot of questions."
As far as timing, officials said changes happening before 2014 is unlikely and an exact time frame has yet to be set. Schreiber said the conversions would have to be approved by city council.
Katrease Stafford covers Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com.Reach her at katreasestafford@annarbor.com or 734-623-2548 and follow her on twitter.