US-12 Improvements

Location of roadwork:
US-12 between I-94 and Wiard Road

Township:
Ypsilanti

When is the work being done:
Planning: 2019, Design: winter 2019 - spring 2020, Construction: summer 2020 - summer 2021

Description of work:
Road Reconstruction, Roadside Safety Improvements

Impact on Traffic:
TBD

Funding Source(s):
Michigan Department of Transportation

Latest Updates

December 18, 2019 Public Meeting #2 Summary

Meeting Summary: On Monday, December 16, 2019, State Representative Ronnie Peterson, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Ypsilanti Township and the Washtenaw County Road Commission (WCRC) hosted the second public meeting to discuss the plan for improving US-12 and M-17 (Ecorse Road) in Ypsilanti Township. Approximately 45 people attended this meeting at the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church on Tyler Road. Staff from WCRC presented the plan for this project. Click here for the slides presented.

This project focuses on three goals:

Improving safety for drivers and pedestrians
Improving access to the West Willow Neighborhood
Beautifying the US-12 corridor

The plan (see below) proposes a number of improvements, including but not limited to:

Street lighting from I-94 to the county line
Landscaping, beautification and improved signage
Different access to the West Willow Neighborhood
A narrower boulevard off I-94 to the intersection of M-17 and US-12
Simplified intersection of M-17 and US-12
Improved pedestrian crossing from the West Willow Neighborhood to the intersection of M-17 and Ford Blvd.
Removal of bridge and ramp access to US-12 to help make the US-12 feel less like a highway

The plan was created based on feedback from the community through a stakeholder brainstorming session, public meeting on October 29, and online comments; in addition to analysis of traffic models, budget projections and engineering judgment. The plan is a modified version of Option B: Boulevard with Traffic Signals presented to the public on October 29.

The project team heard additional feedback from residents at the December 16 meeting and is investigating these requests. Example requests include a traffic signal at the revised US-12 and Dorset Ave intersection, maintaining the Gates Ave approach on US-12, and improved pedestrian facilities on Service Drive. Another public meeting will be held in the summer of 2020 prior to the start of road construction.

Project Background: State Representative Ronnie Peterson, MDOT, Ypsilanti Township and WCRC have partnered to make improvements to the US-12 corridor between I-94 and Wiard Road, near the West Willow neighborhood and the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti Township. Rep. Peterson and Ypsilanti Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo worked with MDOT to receive $8 million dollars for this project, with the goal of improving driver and pedestrian safety along this important corridor in eastern Ypsilanti Township.

The funding comes from the MDOT’s budget and must be spent on MDOT roads in this area. MDOT has partnered with Ypsilanti Township and WCRC to administer the project.

Project Timeline: The next step is to design the project, including roadway and drainage design, street lighting design with DTE, landscaping design with stakeholder input and utility coordination. The design phase is expected to last until spring 2020.

Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2020 with completion in the spring/summer of 2021.

Contact us: If you have any questions concerning this meeting, please contact Michele Ford, project manager, (734) 327-6652, fordm@wcroads.org.

November 22, 2019 Public Meeting #2 Notice: US-12 Improvements

WHAT: Review planned improvements to US-12 and M-17 in Ypsilanti Township

WHEN: Monday, December 16, 2019, 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, 2345 Tyler Rd, Ypsilanti

WHY: Representative Ronnie Peterson, Ypsilanti Township, the Washtenaw County Road Commission (WCRC), and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) invites the public to the 2^nd public meeting regarding improvements planned on US-12 (Michigan Avenue) and M-17 (Ecorse Road) in Ypsilanti Township.

The meeting will be held on Monday, December 16, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. at the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church. There will be a presentation outlining the selected design and staff will be available to answer questions about the project.

Improvements will be funded by an $8 million budget allocation from MDOT and construction is expected to begin in 2020.

CONTACT: If you have any questions concerning this meeting, please contact Michele Ford, project manager, (734) 327-6652, fordm@wcroads.org. To learn more about the project and public meeting #1, visit: wcroads.org/wcrc-project/us-12-improvements/

WCRC will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audiotapes or printed material being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities upon a 7-business day notice to WCRC. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact Emily Kizer, communications manager, by phone (734) 327-6646, by email kizere@wcroads.org, by fax (734) 761-3737 or by mail at WCRC, 555 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103.

ISSUE DATE: 11/22/2019

October 30, 2019 Public Meeting #1 Summary

Meeting Summary: On Tuesday, October 29, 2019, State Representative Ronnie Peterson, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Ypsilanti Township and the Washtenaw County Road Commission (WCRC) hosted a public meeting to discuss options for improving US-12 and M-17 (Ecorse Road) in Ypsilanti Township. Approximately 50 people attended this meeting at the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church on Tyler Road. OHM, project consultants, presented the three design options that attendees provided feedback on. These design options focused on ways to…

Improve pedestrian safety
Improve vehicle safety
“Right-size” the infrastructure to current and future uses

The designs were created based on feedback from an October 4 brainstorming session with the project stakeholder group (made up of community leaders, WCRC staff, MDOT staff and Ypsilanti Township officials). No matter which design is ultimately chosen, each will include improved street lighting and signage. Online comments were accepted from October 30 – November 8.

Click on the images below for a bigger version of each design

Option A:

5-Lane Road with Traffic Signals

Option B:

Boulevard with Traffic Signals

Option C:

Boulevard with Roundabouts

The funding comes from the MDOT’s budget and must be spent on MDOT roads in this area. MDOT has partnered with Ypsilanti Township and WCRC to administer the project.

Project Timeline: OHM is currently working on compiling data and feedback from the October 29 meeting. Over the next month, they will conduct operation analysis and preliminary cost estimates for the three design alternatives. A final recommendation will be made and Public Meeting #2 will be held in December.

Construction is expected in 2020.

Contact us: If you have any questions concerning this meeting, please contact Michele Ford, project manager, (734) 327-6652, fordm@wcroads.org.

October 10, 2019 Public Meeting Notice: US-12 Improvements

WHAT: Review proposed improvements to US-12 and M-17 in Ypsilanti Township

WHEN: Tuesday, October 29, 2019, 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, 2345 Tyler Rd, Ypsilanti

WHY: Representative Ronnie Peterson, Ypsilanti Township, the Washtenaw County Road Commission (WCRC), and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) invites the public to provide feedback at a public meeting on proposed improvements to US-12 (Michigan Avenue) and M-17 (Ecorse Road) in Ypsilanti Township.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 29, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. at the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church. There will be a brief survey and a presentation showing three options for improving pedestrian and vehicle safety along US-12 and M-17 in Ypsilanti Township.

Improvements will be funded by a $8 million budget allocation from MDOT and construction is expected to begin in 2020.

CONTACT: If you have any questions concerning this meeting, please contact Michele Ford, project manager, (734) 327-6652, fordm@wcroads.org.

Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact Emily Kizer, communications manager, by phone 734-327-6646, by email kizere@wcroads.org, by fax 734-761-3737 or by mail at WCRC, 555 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103.

ISSUE DATE: 10/10/2019

July 9, 2019 Project Announcement: US-12 Corridor near West Willow (Ypsilanti Twp)

Peterson Announces Driver, Pedestrian Safety Grant

$8 million granted to US-12 corridor near West Willow Neighborhood to alleviate safety concerns

From the Michigan House Democrats’ Website

YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP — State Rep. Ronnie Peterson (D-Ypsilanti) is pleased to announce a one-time, $8 million Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) budget allocation to improve the US-12 corridor between I-94 and Wiard Road, near the West Willow neighborhood and the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti Township. Rep. Peterson and Ypsilanti Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo worked with MDOT to receive these dollars with the goal of improving driver and pedestrian safety along this important corridor in eastern Ypsilanti Township.

“This particular corridor has been a point of concern for the families of the West Willow neighborhood in Ypsilanti Township for several years,” said Rep. Peterson. “I’m glad that we were able to bring state and local officials together to tackle this issue directly in order to ensure both our drivers and pedestrians stay safe.”

The funding comes from the Michigan Department of Transportation’s budget and must be spent on MDOT roads in this area. MDOT has partnered with Ypsilanti Township and the Washtenaw County Road Commission to administer the project. The community will be included in the planning process through community meetings later this summer and fall; construction of a preferred alternative is expected to begin next year.

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Issue date: 07/03/2019