Fifth & Division Improvements
Improvements continue along 5th Avenue!
Project Overview
Division Street and Fifth Avenue are an important one-way street pair that connect the north and south sides of Ann Arbor through downtown. There are also a number of people living and working along these streets, as well as many community assets including the commercial downtown core, City Hall, Farmers Market, and more. With input gained from the community, the DDA is redesigning these streets to maintain vehicle traffic flow, but at the same time to encourage more pedestrian and bicycle use, and to create a greater sense of place and pride. The DDA work will also reduce City costs for electricity and maintenance by installing LED streetlights, and will be addressing deteriorated sidewalks and replacing missing and dead trees.These elements make the redesigned 5th and Division corridors Complete Streets - streets that are designed and operated so they are safe, comfortable, and convenient for all users: pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Such elements go beyond travel to having a positive impact on enhanced character and sense of place in the downtown.
- To learn more, view "Complete Streets - from Legislation to practice," presented at the 2010 Michigan Downtown Conference
The DDA project was approved by Ann Arbor City Council in summer 2008, and received nearly $1 million from a Transportation Enhancement grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation Local Agency Program.
In 2009, the DDA’s contractor completed much of its work along Division, including installation of several bump outs to make it easier for pedestrians to cross east/west at highly trafficked intersections and installation of “gateway” improvements at Division/Packard (Hanover Park). In spring of 2010, similar work began on Fifth Avenue, transforming the corridor. In summer 2011, final touches were added, including lamp posts, bike parking, benches, and trash containers.
A snapshot of the Division/Packard intersection prior to improvements. |
 A snapshot of the Division/Packard intersection after initial improvements. |
|
|
Fifth and Division Improvement Plan Goals
The 2003 Fifth and Division Urban Design Workbook guided the DDA through its planning process, and it set forward the goals of the Fifth and Division Improvement Project:
"Complete Streets": Maintain vehicluar capacity along this one-way pair, but redesign the corridors to encourage pedestrian and bicycle use.
Connectivity: Connect the south and north sections of the City with bike lanes that link to bike lanes on Packard and across the Broadway Bridge.
Greenhouse gas reduction: Reduce the number of car trips by providing attractive and safe transportation alternatives. Reduce the City's use of electricity with the installation of LED streetlights.
Good planning: Provide sidewalk design direction for future development projects with a comprehensive plan.
Strengthen activity in the core area: Use on-street parking as a pedestrian amenity, to strengthen retail, support adjacent residential, and to make government services more accessible to citizens. Replace damaged sidewalks and missing/dead trees to encourage a greater sense of pride and place along these corridors.
Fifth & Division Improvements:
The plan for Fifth & Division was broken into two phases. Phase I construction is underway and will include:- Installation of bike lanes along the full length of the streets on the right hand side, connecting to the Packard bike lanes and then across the Broadway Bridges. To create room for the bike lanes, the very wide travel lanes on these corridors will be reduced to standard City lane width, and on certain segments, the number of travel lanes will be reduced.
- Addition of nearly 100 new on-street parking spaces generally on the left side of the street to give pedestrians a protected walking zone on adjacent sidewalks and additional access to City Hall, Farmers Market, Kempf House, downtown businesses, and residences.
- Creation of gateways at Division/Packard, and Fifth/Beakes to encourage motorists to stay at posted speeds as they enter the downtown area, and to establish a stronger sense of place.
- Reduction in the east/west crossing distance at intersections by providing bump-outs to make pedestrian movements more comfortable and safe for seniors, children, and others.
- Reduction in City energy and maintenance costs through the installation of LED lights in locations that currently have cobra head and other kinds of street lights.
Fifth and Division Project Maps & Renderings
- Fifth and Division Parking Map (pdf)
- Fifth and Division Lane Changes Map (pdf)
- North Fifth Avenue
- 100-200 North (pdf)
- 300-400 North (pdf)
- 500 North (pdf)
- South Fifth Avenue
- 100-200 South (pdf)
- 300-400 South (pdf)
- 400-500 South (pdf)
- North Division Street
- 100-200 North (pdf)
- 300-400 North (pdf)
- 500 North (pdf)
- South Division Street
- 100-200 South (pdf)
- 300-400 South (pdf)
- 400-500 South (pdf)
- 500 South (pdf)