End MDOT's US-10 BR Road Diet Test in Midland, Michigan

On Monday, May 14, 2018, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) closed the far right lane of eastbound US-10 BR/Buttles Street between Jerome and State streets in Midland, Michigan to begin a three-year road diet pilot project. (See the ABC News video in the link above.)

The pilot study was approved by a 4-1 vote in December 2017. Midland's Ward 3 city councilman, Steve Arnosky was the only representative to vote "no" on the lane closure proposed by MDOT.

Back in December 2015, MDOT commissioned DLZ Michigan, Inc and MKSK Studios, Inc. to perform a US-10 Business Route (BR) Corridor Study to focus on highway usage through the City of Midland (City) from Washington Street to the US-10 and US-10 BR to the (Eastman Avenue) interchange.

DLZ is a consulting firm in the architectural/engineering industry. MKSK is a landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm.

The year long study included a corridor-wide data collection effort to obtain historical Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) volumes, intersection turning movement volumes, traffic signal phasing and timings, crashes, and land uses.

The MDOT/DLZ/MKSK corridor study included a Steering Committee and a Stakeholder Committee, but no public input committee.

The Steering Committee identified the road diet goals, areas of concern and needs. The Stakeholder Committee was engaged to obtain input regarding specific problem or deficiencies, future planned transportation improvements and potential land-use changes. Both committees provided input and feedback to MDOT related to the design alternatives.

The Steering Committee consisted of staff from the MDOT - Bay Region, MDOT Mt. Pleasant Transportation Service Center (TSC), City of Midland, and Midland Area Transportation Study (MATS).

The Stakeholder Committee consisted of representatives from Discovery Square, Momentum Midland, City of Midland Non-Motorized Transportation Committee, Midland Chamber of Commerce, Midland Downtown Development Authority, Midland Tomorrow, and the Midland Area Community Foundation.

In addition to the committee meetings noted above, a “Public Information Meeting” was held on December 14, 2016 to solicit public input regarding the project. The purpose of the meeting was to present the need for the proposed road diet project, and solicit input from all attendees.

Approximately 20 members of the general public attended the meeting, with 11 citizens (55%) providing written comments. Of the comments provided, seven (64%) were in support of the Preferred Alternative. No opposition to the Preferred Alternative was presented.

There are approximately 43,000 residents in the City of Midland and 83,000 people residing in Midland county.

The purpose of the traffic calming project outlined in the 2016 US-10 Business Route Corridor Study Midland, Michigan were to identify potential improvements to the federal highway that will:
1. Accommodate the design year (2040) traffic volumes
2. Alleviate current and anticipated traffic congestion at the project area intersections and along the road segments
3. Enhance safety and reduce crashes for all modes of transportation
4. Increase connectivity to Downtown Midland and Discovery Square
5. Improve non-motorized mobility and eliminate barriers for bicyclists/pedestrians with minimal impacts to traffic flow
6. Context Sensitive Design
7. Support economic development within the corridor

According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, "context sensitive design' (#6), is a set of principles often associated with traffic calming initiatives which help engineers and planners reach the most appropriate design decision for a specific location or set of circumstances. http://www.minnesotatzd.org/topics/engineering/

To be effective, CSD requires an early and continuous commitment to public involvement, flexibility in exploring new solutions, and an openness to new ideas.

Community members play an important role in identifying local and regional problems and solutions that may better meet and balance the needs of all stakeholders. Early public involvement can help reduce expensive and time-consuming rework later on and thus contributes to more efficient project development.

In 2003, Gov. Granholm issued an Executive Directive that required the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to incorporate Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) into transportation projects whenever possible.

Under CSS, “MDOT solicits dialogue with local governments, road commissions, industry groups, land use advocates, and state agencies early in a project's planning phase. This dialogue helps to ensure that bridges, interchanges, bikepaths and other transportation projects "fit" into their communities.”

Notice the difference? The CSS approach does not include public involvement.
https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9621_41446-143560--,00.html

Thanks for your personal interest and community support for this petition to end the unsubstantiated and unnecessary road diets in Midland, Michigan!