Project limits
- Barton Drive from M-14 to Brede Place
- Brockman Boulevard from Packard Street to Ferdon Road
- Crestland Drive from Packard Street to Ferdon Road
Timeline
- Summer 2024 - Land Survey
- Fall 2024 - Summer 2025 - Initial Design & Public Engagement
- Fall 2025 – Finalize Design & Bid project
- Summer 2026 – Construction
Current Project Engagement Opportunities
Dec. 11, 2024 Project Update:
Dear Residents,As we move forward with the community and city council’s direction to create a safer travel network for people of all ages and abilities, we wanted to update you on the sidewalk gap filling project on Brockman from Packard to Ferdon. As with other sidewalk gap projects the city has undertaken, all attempts are made to avoid removing trees or limiting the number to only those necessary. Thankfully, we have been successful at reaching that goal on most of the sidewalk work. As we began this process on Brockman, a design for which is far from final, staff have engaged neighbors to come up with solutions that address safety and non-motorized travel alongside protecting our urban forest.
Thankfully, we have come up with at least one option on Brockman that could result in a sidewalk in the public right-of-way that preserves most, if not all, the trees. At the next project meeting, which we hope will be in person in the Spring of 2025, we will walk everyone through the various options being considered. We continue to appreciate everyone’s earnest participation and desire to see a community that is safer and more walkable, all under a beautiful urban canopy.
Thank you,
Francisca Chan
Project Manager
Sept. 12, 2024 Information session #1
On Oct. 1 and Oct. 3, 2024 a guided walk with project staff was held in each neighborhood.
On Nov. 4, 2024 the post engagement online form for residents to submit questions and concerns about the project closed.
2025 Virtual Information session #2
Jan or Feb 2025 - Date to be determined.
Why is this project being done?
Filling gaps in the sidewalk system is consistent with both Ann Arbor's Moving Together Towards Vision Zero transportation plan and Complete Streets Policy. Providing sidewalks where they currently do not exist can:
- Improve pedestrian safety
- Encourage active transportation and community health
- Provide a continuous user experience
- Provide more transportation options
- Eliminate the practice of walking along the road and across traffic
In November of 2020, voters approved a six-year New Sidewalk Millage. This millage, which will generate an annual revenue of approximately $1.3 million, will be used exclusively for sidewalk gap filling projects. Funding from the New Sidewalk Millage applies to all sidewalks constructed adjacent to tax-paying parcels in the City of Ann Arbor.
The city developed a prioritization system for the public right-of-way where sidewalks do not currently exist. The system considers proximity to schools, transit, and other pedestrian attractors; equity; classification of adjacent road; community support/citizen requests; and safety. This system identifies the highest priority sidewalk gaps for inclusion in the City's Capital Improvements Plan (CIP). Please visit the city's new sidewalk website for more information and to view the dashboard.
Work to be done
New sidewalks will be installed along missing gaps on Barton, Brockman and Crestland Sidewalk Gaps. Design has not started yet, we plan on hearing input from the public in order to account for these concerns during design, and also request public input after we have an initial design.
Possible impacts
During the planning and design process, city staff will reach out to the neighborhood and to individual property owners adjacent to the project to discuss the details of the project.
While determining the side the new sidewalk is built on and the alignment of the sidewalk within the right-of-way, staff will consider the following:
- Feedback from the neighborhood;
- Removing and/or saving trees;
- Removing and/or maintaining parking;
- Reducing the road width;
- Existing utilities, fences, landscaping, and drainage.
Costs and funding source
City of Ann Arbor New Sidewalk Millage
Documents and materials
Sept. 12, 2024 Information session
