Title
300 Block of South Fifth Avenue to Close August 1st as Part of the South Fifth Avenue Parking Structure Project Construction
Memorandum
The South Fifth Avenue Parking Structure Project includes the construction of parking spaces under the street. To enable this construction to move forward, the 300 block of South Fifth Avenue will be closed between Liberty and William Streets beginning August 1, 2010. A traffic detour route was developed over the past many months in cooperation with Public Services staff, and is based on traffic modeling and other work by Parsons Brinckerhoff Michigan Inc. The goal with this plan is to minimize the impact of this street closure to roadway and intersection operations, emergency vehicle routes, non-motorized transportation, access to downtown businesses and institutions, and downtown special events. This detour plan is as follows:
Southbound emergency vehicles. During the time of the street closure South Fourth Avenue will serve as the alternate route for emergency vehicles heading south from the City center. To accommodate this use, several parking meters on the west side of South Fourth Avenue will be bagged to facilitate easier traffic movements.
Truck traffic. Currently truck traffic is prohibited on S. Main Street between Huron and William. During the time of the street closure, truck traffic will temporarily be allowed southbound on these blocks. Trucks traveling northbound will still be prohibited from using this section of Main Street.
Other through southbound vehicle traffic. A detour route with signs will encourage southbound car traffic to use S. First Street.
In addition to meeting the needs of traffic traveling through downtown, the 300 block of S. Fifth is also vital to the operations of AATA, Ann Arbor District Library and Federal Building, as well as the citizens they serve. Accommodations for these agencies will be provided as follows:
Ann Arbor District Library. A new ADA-compliant ramp has been constructed that serves patrons coming from William Street (the former ramp faced the parking lot now under construction). The sidewalk in front of the Library has been expanded to accommodate emergency vehicles, and additional lights will be added to the front of the building to improve visibility. The bike racks former located on the north of the building have been relocated to the front of the building.
Ann Arbor Transportation Authority. The intersection of William Street at Fifth will be adjusted to include a new north-bound left-turn lane for AATA buses and authorized Federal Building vehicles only. AATA buses will be making a left turn onto S. Fifth from William and enter the Blake Transit Center coming the "wrong way" onto Fifth. To assist with this left turn onto Fifth from William the traffic signal will be adjusted to include a dedicated left-turn arrow. The sidewalk on the west side of the street between William and Liberty will remain open throughout the construction, however the sidewalk portion north of AATA will be pushed westward away from the street so it abuts the Federal Building.
Federal Building. The 10-minute public parking spaces on the east side of the post office and the vehicular mail drop will be closed. A northbound one-way vehicle drive will be constructed on the west side of Fifth Avenue, running from William Street to Liberty Street that will include the area currently set aside for post office public parking and vehicular mail drop off. Only AATA and authorized Federal Building tenants (FBI, federal court judges and other judicial staff, etc.) will be allowed to use this northbound one-way vehicle drive. Christman will have flaggers stationed at the entrance to this northbound one-way drive to redirect any cars or trucks that are not authorized to use this drive. With the permission of AATA, the segment of the Blake Transit Center pedestrian shelter closest to Fifth Avenue and the adjacent wall will be removed during July to accommodate the height and width of the semi trucks that use the Federal Building's back loading dock to deliver mail for subsequent redistribution via the smaller mail trucks. Temporary public parking spaces will be installed on E. Liberty in front of the Post Office to accommodate post office patrons.
It is anticipated that the 300 block of S. Fifth will be reopened to through traffic in mid to late 2011. In the meanwhile, nearby public parking will remain available for use at the 5th & William (Old YMCA) parking lot, the 4th & William parking structure, and at dozens of nearby on-street parking meter spaces.
Staff
Prepared by: Susan Pollay, Downtown Development Authority Executive Director