Project News Archive

October 19, 2016: ReImagine Washtenaw Progress Report Released:  Download the 2015-2016 ReImagine Washtenaw progress report to find out the latest information on implementation efforts. 

September 12, 2016: Construction Complete on Mid-Block Crossing with HAWK Signal east of Oakwood: The mast arms and signal heads were recently constructed, and the signal is now fully functional.

July 8, 2016: Construction on Mid-Block Crossing with HAWK Signal Underway: Construction is slated for completion within a few weeks  on the first Mid-Block Crossing at the eastern end of the ReImagine Washtenaw corridor. The crossing is east of Oakwood, adjacent to the Eastern Michigan University Campus. The improvement is by MDOT, with financial support from EMU, AAATA, and the City of Ypsilanti. 

May 6, 2016: ReImagine Washtenaw and Pittsfield Charter Township Pursue Safe Pedestrian Crossings. County and Pittsfield Township representatives recently  completed a pedestrian and bicyclist count over two days in April in order to explore the feasibility of one or two mid-block crossings in the vicinity of the County Service Center and Glencoe Hills apartments, located east of the Carpenter Road intersection.  This area is challenging, with numerous transit users and walkers accessing the area but with inadequate safe crossing locations.  The 2014 Washtenaw Avenue Corridor Study already calls for multiple crossings in the area.  The report of the pedestrian count study results has been submitted to MDOT for its review and analysis, with the intention to have the area approved for one or more mid-block crossings.  The report observed 705 individuals, mostly transit users, accessing the area, and 37% (260) of those individuals crossing the area mid-block (not at a marked pedestrian crossing). This is not surprising, given the excessive distance of the Carpenter Road intersection to the next marked crossing at Glencoe Crossing shopping center traffic signal (3,400 ft. distance). Several articles recently were posted by Mlive.com about this stretch of the corridor, as well: April 26th, 2016 Article.  April 28th, 2016 Article. 

June 8, 2015:  Press Release: ReImagine Partners Adopt Complete Street Plan for Washtenaw Avenue.  On Monday, June 1st, the City of Ann Arbor became the fifth and final jurisdiction to adopt the ReImagine Washtenaw Corridor Improvement Study, giving the regional planning, land use, and transportation partnership new momentum for continued implementation of the long-term vision for the corridor.  Download the press release issued by the Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development here.

April 27, 2015:   The City of Ann Arbor City Council postponed adoption of the Corridor Improvement Study during the April 20, 2015 meeting, and scheduled a public hearing for June 1st, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.  Follow this link to download relevant supporting documents provided to City Council in consideration of ReImagine Washtenaw's request that the City of Ann Arbor adopt the Study.

The Corridor Improvement Study has been adopted by the City of Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township, Pittsfield Township, and Washtenaw County.  As an important ReImagine Washtenaw partner, the City of Ann Arbor is also asked to adopt the study.  With all stakeholders adopting the Study, the coalition can begin moving forward in unison to implement the future cross-sections that are illustrated in the Study.  This includes ensuring proper building setbacks, dedicating additional public access, or right-of-way, as properties are proposed for redevelopment, filling in sidewalk gaps, improving bus stops, optimizing the traffic signals, and other improvements.  Please consider coming to the June 1st public hearing before the Ann Arbor City Council to share your thoughts about ReImagine Washtenaw with local elected officials.

March 30, 2015:   The City of Ann Arbor is hosting a business and property owner meeting at the United Way Building, 2305 Platt Road, Ann Arbor, 48104, at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31st to discuss the Corridor Improvement Study.  Here is the presentation that will be discussed.  The City of Ann Arbor City Council is considering adoption of the Study, and postponed action until April 20, 2015, to allow additional feedback from the Washtenaw Avenue business community.  A new Frequently Asked Questions has also been released regarding the Study, to better inform the public about the purpose of the proposed improvements.  

March 5, 2015:   The Golfside/Washtenaw Design Charrette was held in October 2014.  The FINAL REPORT was completed in January and has been presented to the Pittsfield Township Planning Commission and Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees.  The report documents the three-day charrette, target market data and other new development regulations and design guidelines that informed the design process, and conceptual near-term and long-term build-out scenarios for the 70+ acres at the corner of Golfside and Washtenaw.  The value in the charrette is to better understand some of the limitations and challenges that will be faced in redeveloping the urbanized corridor.  These include adequate parking while designing mixed-use neighborhoods to be less auto-dependent, stormwater management, and complications from multiple parcel ownership, among others.  ReImagine Washtenaw will be working with all of its governmental partners to use the designs to attract development interest and inform future redevelopment proposals along the corridor.

February 27, 2015:   The Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development has released the Housing Affordability and Economic Equity Analysis.  This study is the first affordable housing study since 2007, and provides a current picture of the increasingly challenging affordable housing picture in the Washtenaw County urbanized area.  A regional working group is being formed to take on the affordable housing issues our region faces, and to explore all of the implementation recommendations in the report.  The ReImagine Washtenaw Joint Technical Committee will participate in the process and looks forward to finding ways that corridor redevelopment can also address the regional affordable housing strategies.  

Corridor improvement study released

April 28, 2014

The ReImagine Washtenaw Corridor Improvement Study (formerly known as the "Right-of-Way" study) is now available. (View the press release.) The HUD-funded study, led by Ann Arbor-based consultant SmithGroupJJR, provides for a future vision for the cross-section of the 5-mile stretch of Washtenaw Avenue, including sidewalks, bike lanes, vehicular lanes, and detailed future right-of-way needs. In addition, specific recommendations and designs for "Super Transit Stops," which are bus stops with better design and more amenities, are included in the study. TheRide plans to begin planning for construction of these enhanced stops in the near future.

Public arts planning project begins

February 3, 2014

The Arts Alliance has been retained to develop a public-arts plan for the Washtenaw Corridor. This HUD-funded project includes an initial community survey, community focus groups, and an arts plan for future implementation of public arts, possibly within future "Super Transit Stops" for TheRide's #4 bus route along the corridor. Please follow the survey link to participate!

Final ROW study meeting held

December 11, 2013: The final public meeting on the corridor right-of-way study was held on December 11th, at the County Service Center, LRC Meeting Room A, 4135 Washtenaw Ave. The meeting provided an opportunity to see the final recommendations of the corridor right-of-way, transit design study. The meeting will include a 20-minute presentation, then an hour of public open house format to review the detailed cross-sections, transit stop designs, and other pedestrian facility designs.

Public meeting scheduled for December 11

November 22, 2013

A public meeting has been scheduled for Wed. December 11th, at the County Service Center, LRC Meeting Room A, 4135 Washtenaw Ave. from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., to see the final recommendations of the corridor right-of-way, transit design study.  The meeting will include a 20-minute presentation, then an hour of public open house format to review the detailed cross-sections, transit stop designs, and other pedestrian facility designs. View the final draft recommendation of the future corridor cross-section, showing travel lanes, bike lanes, and transit.

MDOT non-motorized path ribbon cutting

ReImagine Washtenaw project manager reaches out to communities

March 2013

Nathan Voght, with the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development, and Project Manager for ReImagine Washtenaw, has been conducting a series of outreach presentations to governmental and partner organizations. The purpose is to provide an update on all the on-going projects related to ReImagine Washtenaw. Download the presentation given to the Pittsfield Charter Township Board of Trustees on March 13th. Voght presented to the City of Ann Arbor Planning Commission on Tuesday, April 2nd at 7:00 p.m. in City Hall at 301 E. Huron, and is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7th, for the City of Ypsilanti City Council, a 1 S. Huron, Downtown Ypsilanti, and the Washtenaw County Board of Trustees on Thursday, June 6th at 6:00 p.m. in the County Admin building at 220 N. Main in downtown Ann Arbor. 

City of Ypsilanti seeks public input on master plan 

March 2013

Ypsilanti has scheduled a serious of workshops, charrettes and public meetings the week of March 11th for the public to provide input and feedback in the future direction of the City, including the Washtenaw Ave. corridor.

Washtenaw Area Transportation Study seeking public input on 2040 Long Range Plan

March 2013

Preliminary corridor cross-section alternatives, derived from the ongoing right-of-way, transit station and multi-modal facility design study, will be incorporated in the WATS 2040 model. The resulting transportation model information will be used by ReImagine Washtenaw to further refine corridor cross-section alternatives. Please join WATS in the public participation process by clicking on the logo below and providing your input!

Multiple projects launch implementation of ReImagine Washtenaw 

September 18, 2012

Head east out of Downtown Ann Arbor along Washtenaw Avenue, and you’re sure to notice some construction activity. Across from Whole Foods Market, ground-breaking has begun on Arbor Hills Crossing, a 90,000 square feet retail and professional office development in the City of Ann Arbor. The project includes new and wider sidewalks, a traffic signal and pedestrian crossing at Platt Road, and a new AATA Transit Super Stop. Continue further east, and you’ll notice the Michigan Department ofTransportation has begun a major traffic operations and non-motorized projectat US-23. The non-motorized component of this project includes the construction of new non-motorized paths on both sides of Washtenaw Avenue, which provide a way for pedestrians and bicyclists safe travel under the highway overpass.

“After years of planning and consensus-building, we are excited to see two projects that will significantly enhance walkability and pedestrian access to businesses in this important corridor,” said Ann Arbor City council member Tony Derezinski. “Over time, you’ll see additional improvements that even further increase walkability, provide a sense of place, and also increase property values.”

“The Michigan Department of Transportation is looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the ReImagine Washtenaw initiative, to ensure future improvements address both MDOT’s needs, and also the community’s vision for the corridor,” says Kari Martin, MDOT’s University Region planner.

Multiple projects are being implemented and coordinated between Pittsfield and Ypsilanti Township, including improvement/installationof pedestrian facilities, such as ramps, sidewalks, signals, and mid-blockcrossings, at Washtenaw and Golfside, zoning changes coordinated between both communities to allow for mixed-use development nodes, and lane reduction and bike lane installation along Golfside Road.

ReImagine Washtenaw is a multi-jurisdictional land use planning and public transit initiative to transform the corridor from auto-focused, to a safe, multi-modal, public transit-enhanced corridor, with new, high-quality mixed-use development, enhanced transit service and amenities, resulting in a corridor with sense of place. Professional staff planners and elected officials from the Cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti and Pittsfield and Ypsilanti Townships have been leading this effort. Additional partners, including the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, Michigan Department of Transportation, Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study, are also collaborating to take the county’s most congested and auto-centric road, and turn it in to a high-functioning, multi-modal corridor.

MDOT sidewalk installation near Arborland (left) and Arbor Hills Crossing under construction (right) east under US-23 overpass

SmithGroupJJR and Parsons/Brinckerhoff team selected to complete right-of-way, transit design, and multi-modal improvements study

August 24, 2012

Washtenaw County has selected SmithGroupJJR and Parsons/Brinckerhoff to undertake a multi-faceted project that will further implement the vision for the ReImagine Washtenaw corridor. The study will provide planning-level mapping of the corridor, and survey-level detail for future high-density "nodes," pre-construction designs of seven AATA Super Transit Stops along the corridor, designs for pedestrian improvements such as sidewalks and mid-block crossings, and short and long-term road cross-sections for the corridor that will incorporate Super Transit Stops, bike lanes, mixed-use development, and green stormwater infrastructure, among others.

The study will begin in October, and should be completed in summer 2013. Contact Nathan Voght, in the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development, at 734-222-3860 or voghtn@ewashtenaw.org for more information.

Washtenaw County releases request for proposals for ReImagine Washtenaw right-of-way and transit design study

July 13, 2012

Washtenaw County and the ReImagine Washtenaw project team is in the selection process for the right-of-way, transit station, and non-motorized improvement design study. The $251,000 study is funded by the $3 million Community Challenge Grant awarded to Washtenaw County through the Federal Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD), and a grant through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). The selected consultant will provide the Joint Technical Committee with corridor right-of-way boundaries, determine where additional right-of-way is needed, provide corridor Node cross-sections, locate bike lanes, sidewalks, and other multi-modal improvements. The study includes designs of eight AATA Super Stop transit locations integrated with mixed-use, transit-oriented development at corridor Nodes.

Washtenaw County awarded $3 million HUD Community Challenge grant

November 2011

Recipient: Washtenaw County 

Project: ReImagine Washtenaw - Right-of-Way Study, AATA Transit Station Design, Multi-Modal and Pedestrian Enhancement Designs, Master Plan and Zoning Implementation of the 2010 ReImagine Washtenaw Avenue Corridor Redevelopment Strategy. 

Communities: City of Ann Arbor, Pittsfield Charter Township, Ypsilanti Charter Township, and the City of Ypsilanti 

Project Description: A portion of this grant will fund various activities intended to implement the 2010 Washtenaw Avenue Corridor Redevelopment Strategy. These include a corridor right-of-way study, Master Plan/Zoning updates, and AATA Transit Station/Multi-Modal designs.

ReImagine Washtenaw awarded $2.6 million grant

October 19, 2011

Recipient: Ann Arbor Transportation Authority

Project: Re-Imagine Washtenaw - Increased Transit Service Frequency on Washtenaw Avenue

City: Ann Arbor

Grant Amount: $2,625,000

Project Description: This project was selected on a competitive basis through the FY 2011 Bus Livability Program. Re-Imagine Washtenaw is a program jointly developed by the four jurisdictions in the corridor (the City of Ann Arbor, the City of Ypsilanti, Pittsfield Township, and Ypsilanti Township), the transit operator, the Michigan Department of Transportation, and Washtenaw County. The Washtenaw Area Transportation Study that implements a number of strategies for transportation and development improvements in the Washtenaw Avenue Corridor. As part of this larger effort, this project will purchase clean diesel buses with hybrid-electric components to increase bus service in this corridor.

In 2009, the City of Ann Arbor, Pittsfield Township, Ypsilanti Township and the City of Ypsilanti worked with residents, business owners and community leaders to complete a report laying out their vision for Washtenaw Avenue. In 2010, these communities in partnership with local and regional transportation agencies drafted an Implementation Strategy to achieve this vision.

This process included a number of public meetings, a survey and tools on this website to solicit feedback from the community.

March update

March 22, 2011

February and March have been busy for the Washtenaw Avenue communities.  Following the completion of the Corridor Redevelopment Strategy in 2010 which included recommendations on master plan and zoning amendments to affect future land use development, motorized and non-motorized improvements and guidance on future cooperation, the communities have held a number of public informational meetings and public hearings.

Through these meetings the communities have sought input on the potential to create a Corridor Improvement Authority (CIA) for Washtenaw Avenue, enabled by PA 208 of 2005.  While only one of the recommendations in the Strategy, this more formal cooperation structure would increase the group's competitiveness for obtaining State and Federal funding for planning efforts and for bricks-and-mortar improvement projects to the corridor.  A CIA is also the only option that has the ability to raise local funds through tax increment financing.  The participating communities are interested in this TIF primarily to be used as match funds to receive federal funds for transportation improvement projects.  In a time when communities are facing difficult economic challenges, much of the transportation dollars allocated to our communities are forfeited due to an inability to come up with local matching funds.  Identifying methods of attracting and securing outside funds is one of the primary goals of the ReImagine Washtenaw Avenue project.

As we seek community input, other work to implement changes continues.  Communities are amending Master Plans and zoning ordinances to encourage mixed use, accessible development.  MDOT and the WCRC have plans in the hopper to make segments of Washtenaw Avenue and connecting roads more multimodal.  AATA is planning for significantly increase service on Route 4, developing a Park-and-Ride, and improving transit shelters. A draft development area boundary has been created and communities are putting cost estimates with a number of pedestrian and transit improvement projects.

As we continue working toward improving this significant corridor, check back frequently for updates and more opportunities for input.

Preparing for public engagement events

May 20, 2010

With the grand overview vision for the Washtenaw Avenue corridor complete, the communities are expanding their efforts to engage residents and business owners to better understand the shared community vision. 

In addition to an interactive website coming online allowing people to indicate on a map specific areas they can describe their vision for, there will be two public engagement events mid-summer.  The dates are yet to be determined, however both will be held at a location on Washtenaw Avenue, with one meeting early morning and one early evening to make them more accessible to both the business and residential crowd.

Now I ask of you...

• What information would you like to see presented and/or available at these events?

• What would best help you to understand the potential project scope, the work done, and the opportunities ahead?

• What tools or resources do you need available to help explain or demonstrate your concerns with the corridor?

• How would you like to share/communicate your vision with others at the event? (eg. informal group exercise, survey, visual preference mapping)