You have more opportunities to be a part of the decision making in how Ann Arbor’s urban fabric is actually designed than you probably think. Proof of this is in the fact that the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority is actively inviting you to be part of this year’s Design Week from May 19 to 23. In this, you can add input in how North Main Street should be redesigned from Huron to West Huron River Drive.
“The ideas and feedback we heard during the March Discovery Week are being used to generate design ideas for the corridor, including potential roadway re-configurations, like moving from the existing four- or five-lane sections to three lanes, and the use of roundabouts. Those ideas came from public input, and they’ll be shared back with the community during our May Design Week engagement opportunities, where participants can continue to refine and shape the direction of the project,” Steve Kilar, the communications director for the City of Ann Arbor, said.
This is all part of the Ann Arbor’s plans to improve infrastructure on our city streets. It is building off of a transportation study last March, where the DDA says that over 100 people provided feedback on how to improve North Main Street.
About 21% of respondents reported using that main route into town daily and only eight percent reported “hardly ever” or “never” using that way in and out of A2. According to the City, 74% of respondents said they typically drive through, 12% walk, 8% bike or skateboard or use a scooter, and 1% take a shuttle or bus.
The City will be hosting two Open Studio Drop In Sessions at the offices of the Downtown Development Authority. You can speak with the team in person from 1-3 p.m. on May 19, and from 4-6 p.m. on May 20. There will also be a public open house from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on May 21. The DDA is located on the fifth floor of 415 North Fifth Avenue.
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“In Ann Arbor, street design is guided by the commitment to Vision Zero, the city’s comprehensive transportation plan that prioritizes safety and carbon neutrality. Within that commitment, public interaction is central to our decision-making. These engagement opportunities allow us to hear firsthand how people experience North Main Street — what’s working, what isn’t and what they’d like to see improved. That input, combined with technical analysis, helps us shape solutions that reflect the needs of the broader community,” says Kilar. He added that anyone “can participate in this process — you do not need to be an Ann Arbor resident. We recognize that North Main Street is used by people who live all over, including commuters from surrounding communities. If you use the corridor or are impacted by it in any way, we want to hear from you.”
Only 48% of respondents said that they feel somewhat or very safe on that part of Main Street. A whopping 21% said that they felt “very unsafe.” You might feel any number of ways about North Main Street. But in order to change how that vital connection between A2 and the north of Washtenaw County changes in the near future, you’ll have a chance by dropping in this Design Week.
Drew Saunders is a freelance business and environmental journalist who grew up just outside of Ann Arbor. He covers local business developments, embraces his foodie side with reviews restaurants, obsesses over Michigan's environmental state, loves movies, and feels spoiled by the music he gets to review for Ann Arbor!
