Last updated:  March 8, 2010

This website contains information regarding the reconstruction of West Stadium Boulevard from approximately Suffolk Ave to Hutchins Ave for which construction is expected March - November 2010. 

This is not the East Stadium Bridges Project.  Please see the sidebar link for information on the East Stadium Bridges Improvement Project.

Construction Schedule & Detour

Construction began March 2 and is expected to be complete by November 2010.

The project will be phased such that between March 2 and July 25, 2010 all work will take place west of Seventh Street.  One lane of westbound traffic will be maintained on West Stadium Blvd between Pauline and Seventh throughout the construction*.  Eastbound traffic will be detoured via Pauline to Maple Road to Scio Church Road to Main Street to West Stadium Blvd.  

Detour Map - March 1 to July 25 and Sept 7 to November 2010 (pdf)         

*Eastbound access to Suffolk Ave will be permitted.

Due to the University of Michigan’s expected lane closure on Main Street (to complete the football stadium work), construction across Seventh Street will take place in the period between the end of the Art Fair and the beginning of the 2010 school year (expected July 26 - September 4, 2010).  This construction will require the temporary closings of Seventh Street alternating between the north side and south side.  Associated detours will be placed. 

Detour Map - July 26 to Sept 4 2010 (pdf) 

Map of Seventh St Detours - July 26 - Sept 4 2010 (pdf) 

Project Scope

Road Cross Section

The proposed West Stadium Boulevard cross section between Suffolk and Franklin will be converted from four lanes to three lanes (two through lanes and a center left turn lane) with on-street bike lanes in both directions.  The curb-to-curb width will remain the same as currently exists.  If future traffic volumes warrant a four lane cross section, the road may be easily restriped back to four lanes.  

Adjacent to Seventh (between Franklin and Hutchins) will remain four lanes with on-street bike lanes added.  The addition of bike lanes will widen the curb-to-curb width slightly between Franklin and Hutchins and this additional width will be taken from the existing lawn extensions near Pioneer High School and Pioneer Woods with no impact to the school nor Woods (the sidewalk will remain in the same location).  This change was accepted by the Ann Arbor Public Schools and representatives from the Friends of Pioneer Woods at the request of the neighbors on the north side who wanted the road further away from their homes. 

Storm Water

Oversized pipes (up to 42” diameter) will be placed the length of the project which will provide conveyance as well as detention for the entire right-of-way.  The project also includes tree plantings with “structural soil” intended to reduce surface runoff. 

These storm water Best Management Process (BMP) improvements have been approved for funding through a low interest (2.5%) State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan to the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner (Resolution 08-1003). The County has also applied for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, which would reduce the loan amount by 40%.  The BMPs are intended to reduce flooding and improve water quality in Allen Creek. 

Water Main Work

The existing 12” water main will be replaced as it is near the end of its design life and the soils in the area have been found to be corrosive.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) was signed into law on February 17, 2009.  The bill contains $787 billion in federal funding for a wide range of purposes, from tax cuts to infrastructure spending.  The ARRA includes $2 billion for Drinking Water Revolving Funds (DWRF) administered by the states, of which Michigan will receive $67,454,000.  These funds will provide Michigan with the ability to tender more loans and provide additional subsidy through the existing DWRF structures.  

City Council adopted the 2009 Drinking Water Revolving Fund (DWRF) Project Plan for Water System Improvements and the multi-year DWRF applications on April 20, 2009 (R-09-145).  The Project Plan was submitted to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality on May 1, 2009 and was included on the DWRF Fiscal Year 2010 Project Priority List.

Funding for this project is contained in the approved Capital Budget.  This project was also included in our Drinking Water Revolving Fund (DWRF) project plan and has been selected to receive funding.  We expect to receive low interest financing on approximately 60% of the principle amount with the remaining portion being forgiven by the DWRF program. 

Access Issues

To improve access, all sidewalk ramps along the corridor will be replaced to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disability Act.  On-street bike lanes will be placed in both directions.

Street Lights

67 decorative street lights will replace 24 existing corbra head lights owned by DTE.  The poles will be the same as those installed at and north of Pauline.  These fixtures will be LED and will be installed with a softer/warmer light to signify the residential corridor of this section of West Stadium.  The lights will also be directed toward the roadway, to reduce light into residential homes. The annual maintenance and electrical costs of the 67 new City-owned lights are estimated at $3,618 per year for LED lights versus the $4,080 per year charge by DTE for the 24 existing lights. 

Trees

The existing street trees will be removed due to their proximity to the roadway.  A variety of 116 new trees are proposed to be planted along the corridor, including red buds, hackberries, honeylocusts, and white oaks.

Informational Open House (February 3, 2010)

On February 3, at Trinity Lutheran Church, City staff presented the project and answered questions.  About 25 people attended.

Citizens Advisory Committee (2008-09)

Subsequent to the January 2008 public workshop (see below), a Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) made up of volunteers who live on or near West Stadium.  Meetings were held in 2009 and the CAC helped guide the design choices for the corridor, including the decision to move forward with the 3-lane option, the selection of street lights, and the alignment of the roadway between Franklin and Seventh.

Public Workshop (January 2008)

The first public workshop was held Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at the Pioneer High School cafeteria from 6 pm to 8 pm.  A summary of the Workshop is included below.

Executive Summary

On Wednesday, January 9, 2008, the City of Ann Arbor along with consultants Hubbell, Roth & Clark (engineering) and McKenna Associates (public input facilitation) conducted a public workshop to identify issues and potential design alternatives for the segment of West Stadium Boulevard between Pauline and South Seventh Street.  41 Ann Arbor residents and approximately ten city staff members participated in the two-hour workshop at Pioneer High School.

Project Location

Senior Project Manager Elizabeth Rolla, P.E. provided an overview of the project, which will include the section of West Stadium Boulevard between Pauline Boulevard and South Seventh Street.  The roadway surface is degraded and needs to be replaced and the replacement of the road surface will provide the opportunity to replace and upgrade the municipal utilities (water, sanitary and storm sewer) that are underneath the road.  The upgrades and improvements will tie into the previous work done on Stadium Boulevard north of Pauline.

Workshop Format

The first half hour was dedicated to a discussion of the existing conditions of the study area and the potential design alternatives.  The engineering consultant team of HRC presented two primary alternatives for discussion:  the four lane option with bike lanes and pedestrian refuge islands and a five lane option with a center turn lane, bike lanes and pedestrian refuge islands.  Homayoon Pirooz, P.E., Unit Manager of the Project Management Unit indicated that while the team had spent time working on these two design alternatives, other alternatives – including narrowing the road to a three lane road – should be discussed. 

The bulk of the workshop was devoted to small group discussions about the study area.  Groups of eight to ten participants were asked to discuss each of the design alternatives as well as the three lane option.  Each group discussed the existing conditions of the corridor with instructions to identify problem areas and opportunities.  Small group facilitators also asked each group to identify locations for crossings, amenities including lighting alternatives, landscaping, and street trees.  The workshop notes identify all of the issues and ideas that were generated by each of the small groups.  The goal of the small group discussions was not to develop consensus around any one design alternative, but to identify the key issues for residents and property owners.  For a summary of the group discussions, click here.

Issues

Many issues were discussed during the course of the evening.  Much discussion focused on the possibility of widening the road – is it necessary - and the resulting impacts.  Some people really wanted 5 lanes to accommodate turning movements.  They expected that it would be easier to get into and out of their driveways with 5 lanes.  Others felt that the road worked fine with 4 lanes and the impacts that would result from widening to 5, would not be worth the benefits.  Widening would impact the residential character (no room for street trees) and would add additional impermeable surface.

The project team was also asked to evaluate the possibility of converting the road to 3 lanes.  This would consist of two through lanes and one center left turn lane.  The benefits of 3 lane roads are well documented and include protected turning movements and better pedestrian access opportunities. 

Much discussion focused on how any reconstruction will affect Pioneer Woods and the property at the northwest corner of Seventh and W. Stadium (opposite Pioneer Woods).  Though the engineers are not able to precisely identify the full impact of each scenario at this time, the general feeling of workshop participants was to avoid impacting the woods or the residential properties north of the road to accommodate a turn lane. 

Workshop participants identified a number of traffic concerns – particularly those involving left turns during peak traffic volume hours.  Pedestrian concerns were the most discussed issues, with most participants agreeing that additional pedestrian crossings and refuge islands are needed throughout the corridor.  Pioneer High School, in particular, was an area that needs enhanced pedestrian crossings and safety improvements.  The addition of bicycle lanes also created a significant amount of debate, with some participants doubting the need for on-road bicycle lanes.  Bicycle advocates observed that on-road bike lanes are safer for riders and that if West Stadium had dedicated bike lanes, more cyclists would ride this stretch of road.  There was also considerable discussion and debate about reducing the road to three lanes (one lane in each direction with a center turn lane).

 Project coordination

A major consideration for workshop participants is how this project will coordinate with the East Stadium Bridges project and University of Michigan football stadium renovations.  City staff discussed the different timelines for these projects and outlined that the portion of West Stadium between South Seventh Street and Main Street would respond to the design decisions made for the Main and Stadium intersections.  While the Main Street to Seventh Street portion of West Stadium is not a part of this project, the workshop discussed traffic and pedestrian issues on this stretch of road to ensure that the West Stadium design reflects the considerable impact of Pioneer High School, the University and Main Street traffic.

 Preliminary Guidance

Participants were not asked to select a single design alternative.  Instead, they were asked to identify the key issues for the project area, the character the roadway should reflect, the aesthetic appearance of the corridor, and the pedestrian enhancements that are needed.  The following list is a consolidation of the major issues and ideas discussed:

• Maintain the integrity of Pioneer Woods
• Improve safety for motorized and non-motorized traffic
• Create additional pedestrian crossing areas – particularly around Pioneer High School and at AATA bus stops
• Manage stormwater to minimize impact to Allen Creek
• Slow traffic
• Replant street trees to enhance residential character of this stretch of road

 Next Steps

Since the meeting, it was determined that staff should meet with a small Citizen Advisory Committee to help staff better understand the community values for this section of West Stadium.  Another public meeting is expected to be held in the fall of 2008. In the meantime, residents and property owners may continue to provide input to city staff to help guide the design for West Stadium Boulevard.

Original Project Overview (2007)

West Stadium Boulevard from Pauline Boulevard to South Seventh Street is in deteriorating condition.  In addition to the necessary roadway improvements and upgrades (water and sanitary sewer), there are infrastructure upgrades and pedestrian and bicycle improvements that will be most efficiently undertaken in conjunction with the roadway reconstruction.

West Stadium/Pauline intersection (approximately 600' south of Pauline) in the spring of 2009.  The next phase of construction, from 600' south of Pauline to 500' east of Seventh, will take place in 2010.  The majority of the section from Seventh to Main will be constructed under a future project.  However, the City is soliciting public input regarding the Seventh to Main section so that any improvements to the Seventh to Main St section will be incorporated into our 2010 project.

This project is an extension of the reconstruction of West Stadium from Maple to Pauline that was completed in 2006.  That project added bicycle lanes, enhanced pedestrian crossings and aesthetic improvements throughout the corridor.  During the reconstruction, utilities were replaced and upgraded throughout the study area.

PROJECT/STUDY AREA

Stadium Boulevard is a critical east-west arterial link through Ann Arbor and one of the most heavily traveled corridors in the city (with an average daily two-way traffic volume of nearly 20,000 vehicles).  Ann Arbor Pioneer High School is within the project area and there is a need to improve the safety of pedestrian crossings throughout the area.

This project does not include any improvements on East Stadium Boulevard or on South Main Street.  For more information on the East Stadium Bridges project, please visit:

http://www.a2gov.org/government/publicservices/project_management/Pages/EastStadiumBridges.aspx

 PROPOSED PROJECT STEPS

• Citizen Advisory Committee
• Preliminary Stakeholder Involvement
• Preliminary Design
• Stakeholder Involvement
• Final Design
• Construction

PRELIMINARY STAKEHOLDER INVOVLEMENT

The purpose of this portion of the project is to collect/receive input from the numerous stakeholders which include, but are not limited to, the Allen Creek Watershed Group, Washtenaw County Drain Commission, A2 Pioneer High School, the University of Michigan, neighborhood associations, and the bicycling community.

This planning process is an important step in defining:

• Construction costs and ROW/easement needs
• Issues critical to stakeholders in order to provide the best future corridor possible

PRELIMINARY PROJECT SCOPE

• The reconstruction of roadway pavement on West Stadium from Pauline Boulevard to just past the Seventh St Intersection. The majority of the section from Seventh to Main St will be reconstructed under a future project.
• Roadway alignment improvements and potential addition of a center turn lane where needed.
• The addition of new pedestrian and bicycle improvements as part of roadway reconstruction to address existing safety issues and implement the City’s Non-motorized Transportation Plan (adopted January 2007) recommendations.
• The replacement and upgrading of infrastructure including the water main, storm sewer, sanitary sewer lines and a raw water main within the project area.
• Stormwater treatment
• Develop a plan to maintain traffic during construction and provide any detour options.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Elizabeth Rolla, P.E., Senior Project Manager

erolla@a2gov.org or 734-794-6410 ext 43636