We Need Your Input!

By June 27, 2019Project Updates

Hewitt Road Pedestrian Safety Improvements

June 20, 2019 Meeting Summary

Background

After a terrible crash involving a pedestrian in October 2017, the community expressed interest to the Washtenaw County Road Commission (WCRC) and Ypsilanti Township for improvements to pedestrian facilities in the Hewitt Rd corridor (between Ellsworth Rd and Packard St). WCRC, thanks to support from Ypsilanti Township and the Hewitt Road Neighborhood Watch Group, applied for and was awarded a safety grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation in March of 2019.

Grant Details

WCRC was awarded $292,000 for this project. Ypsilanti Township has agreed to fund the 10% match and construction inspection required to utilize this grant. WCRC will be designing the project. The grant money will be spent on the following improvements:

  • New pedestrian crossing of Hewitt Rd at a different location, including:
    • Center refuge island
    • RRFB system with push-button pedestals
    • Overhead flashers and signs
    • Overhead crosswalk illumination
    • Advanced pedestrian crossing warning signs
  • New sidewalk on the westside of Hewitt Rd to connect to new crossing
  • Removal of the Burns Ave pedestrian crossing; including removal of refuge island and RRFB (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon) lights
  • Tree trimming along the corridor to ensure proper sight distance for signs and signals

Here are some examples of what these elements might look like (not the actual design for this project):

Overhead flashers/signs and advanced warning signs (FYI – Hewitt Road will remain a 2 lane road with a center turn lane)

Center refuge island, overhead crosswalk illumination and push-button pedestals

New Crossing Location Options

WCRC’s traffic engineers have identified two locations that meet minimum traffic standards for the new pedestrian crossing on Hewitt Rd. WCRC needs input from the community on which location is preferred. Please submit your comments the online form (below) by July 19, 2019. Update: the survey period is now closed. Thank you for your input!

Option A: North of Harding Ave (WCRC’s preferred option)

Here are some of the impacts to consider if the new crossing is located here:

  • New sidewalk will have to be installed along the westside of Hewitt Rd between Harding Ave to Burns Ave.
    • WCRC might need to get easements to install sidewalk in front of homes if the road right-of-way does not give enough room.
    • WCRC may have to remove some trees along Hewitt Road to make room for the new sidewalks.
    • WCRC will have to make some changes to the grades of the grassy area where the sidewalks will be installed. In the short term, this would mean torn up grass and digging in yards in the immediate area.
  • Because the new pedestrian refuge island will be removing the center turn lane at the intersection of Harding Ave and Hewitt Rd, no left turns will be allowed from southbound Hewitt Rd to eastbound Harding Ave.

Option B: South of Harding Ave

Here are some of the impacts to consider if the new crossing is located here:

  • New sidewalk will have to be installed along the westside of Hewitt Rd between Harding Ave to Burns Ave.
    • WCRC might need to get easements to install sidewalk in front of homes if the road right-of-way does not give enough room.
    • WCRC will likely have to remove some trees along Hewitt Road to make room for the new sidewalks.
    • WCRC will have to make some changes to the grades of the grassy area where the sidewalks will be installed. In the short term, this would mean torn up grass and digging in yards in the immediate area.
  • Because the new pedestrian refuge island will be removing the center turn lane south of the intersection of Harding Ave and Hewitt Rd, no left turns will be allowed from northbound Hewitt Rd to westbound Harding Ave.

Please note: At the June 20, 2019 neighborhood watch meeting, a resident asked WCRC to review Midvale Ave as an option for the new pedestrian crossing. WCRC engineers reviewed the location and determined that it does not meet minimum sight distance requirements and is not a viable option for the new crossing.