Gratiot Avenue Corridor Improvement Plan September 2009 prepared for Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) in conjunction with Michigan Department of Transportation Macomb County Planning & Economic Development Road Commission of Macomb County prepared by Gratiot Avenue Corridor Improvement Plan The vision for access management along the Components of the Gratiot Avenue corridor is to restore and pre- Gratiot Avenue Corridor serve road capacity, improve safety condi- Improvement Plan tions, and support the long-term vision for 1. An access management plan with expanded regional transit, non-motorized guidelines and site-specific recom- mendations. systems and community sustainability. 2. Accompanying guidelines for coor- Spanning 26 miles in Macomb congestion along several seg- dinating improved transit, non-moro- County, the Gratiot Ave corridor is ments and there are locations tized and community sustainability. flush with opportunities to im- with a relatively high number of prove safety along this key artery crashes. Some of the crashes and 3. Zoning ordinance amendments by retrofitting the existing access, congestion along Gratiot are due to for corridor communities to adopt and redesign of key intersections and conflicts created where vehicles are apply for consistent standards. improving the interaction between entering or exiting access points, motorists, non-motorized users, disruptions to the flow of traffic 4. Consistent protocol for inter-agen- and transit users. Together, the and pedestrians traveling along the cy communication, coordination and communities, county agencies, street. to seek funding. Southeast Michigan Council of Those conflicts, and thus the po- Governments (SEMCOG) and the tential for crashes and congestion, Michigan Department of Transpor- can be reduced through standards tation (MDOT) all acknowledge the on the number, placement, and What is access management? need for a coordinated approach design of access points (intersect- to promote efficient and safe travel Access management involves ing streets, median crossovers and and livable streets along a vibrant maximizing the existing street capacity commercial driveways). Gratiot business corridor. and reducing potential for crashes Implementation will be a coordi- through limiting the number of access Access management is a key tool to nated effort between the Michigan improve transportation conditions points, carefully placing and spacing Department of Transportation, and safety for all users. The Gratiot access points (commercial driveways the Road Commission of Macomb Ave. Corridor Improvement Plan, and median crossovers), and other County, Macomb County Planning, which focuses on access manage- enhancements. SEMCOG and the nine communities ment, includes guidelines, regula- involved in this process, as devel- tions, and site-specific recommen- opment proposals, road projects, dations to achieve this vision. Who benefits? transit enhancements and other Extensive national and state data Gratiot experiences periodic opportunities arise. demonstrates a number of benefits Photo simulation: Example Recommendation experienced along corridors with access management. A wide range of people benefit, including: • Motorists • Customers • Residents, visitors, and employees • Business owners and operators • Property owners Before: 3 full drives After: 1 channelized drive • Pedestrians and transit users Access Management Principles • Design for efficient access. • Separate the conflict areas. Suburban Fringe / Established • Remove turning Rural Compact Urban vehicles or queues Exurban Suburban Single family, Residential subs/plats, Residential plats, urban Land Use Residential subdivisions, from the through agricultural, redevelop commercial commercial, compact Character commercial strips lanes. commercial nodes strips with infill TOD mixed-use 2 lanes, center turn 2 or 3 to 5 lanes, center 5 or 6 to 8 lane blvd, 6 or 8 lane blvd with on- • Limit the types of Street lane select locations turn lane some on-street pkg. street parking conflicts. 1-1/2 Mile signals, 455’ drive spacing, retro- Infill access, retro-fit and Retro-fit to reduce • Provide reasonable Access 455’ drive spacing w/ fit to eliminate some new cross-access, esp. number drives, 1-sided service drives access near signals signals & poor offsets signals access. Non- Connect gaps, esp. near Widen sidewalks, add Pathways Add sidewalks Motorized transit stops pedestrian signals Benefits Frequent bus, potential Frequent bus, potential Transit Demand response Park and ride BRT or express bus, TOD BRT/LRT • Contributes to more redevelopment liveable, vibrant communities. Access Management can apply to • Reduces crash potential. communities in any stage of development. • Preserves or restores Access Management Techniques capacity. Access Placement Intersections, Crosswalks & Signals • Sustains more vibrant • Require space between driveways • Use advanced pedestrian signals business districts. & road intersections • Ensure non-motorized connectivity • Maximizes taxpayer • Ensure new driveways are directly near transit stops and crosswalks investment in road aligned with or properly offset • Design intersections with ‘bump- construction. from driveways across the street outs’ & pedestrian refuge islands • Consolidate closely spaced drives • Maintains or improves • Include pavement markings & texture traffic flow. Access Design Roadway Design • Supports community • Promote cross access between goals along corridor: • Improve intersection design parking areas and to service drives • Provide proper median crossovers non-motorized, • Restrict turning movements (e.g. • Encourage shared cross-access to transit, low-impact right-in/right-out only, etc.) signalized drives or cross streets development & • Require proper driveway radius & • Include service/frontage roads & others. ample throat depth rear access roads/alleys Project Process | Public Input and Awareness • Project Steering Committee including community, To synchronize the large number of com- munities and transportation agencies Public/Business & county, SEMCOG & state representatives. Property Owners involved, a Technical Group consisting of • 5 public workshops for public education & input the contributing agencies of MDOT, SEM- Planning Commission/ (3/30 - 3/31/09 & 7/23/09). Elected Officials COG and Macomb County was established • Project brochures to help summarize the Plan. North | South to oversee the administration of the plan. Steering Committees • Project web site to provide project information. This group acted as the technical review • Community presentations and public hearings for and coordinating group, and facilitated Technical master plan and zoning ordinance amendments. communication with the steering commit- Group tees, local communities and public. Recommendations Access management can be accomplished through a variety MDOT’s Access of techniques, both physical Management Guidebook and regulatory. To account serves as the basis for for the physical conditions in the structure and recom- place and provide a guide for mendations in this plan. decisions in the future that may not have been contemplated, Decades of research and the plan includes a wide range comprehensive standards represent best practices from of recommendations, from access management across guidelines for driveway spacing the country. This program and design to site-specific provides flexible, balanced recommendations for future solutions where textbook access or retro-fit closures. Example standards from the plan and conflicts with reality. ordinance amendments. Extensive field work, expert As new development and before deciding what, if any, access management staff, an redevelopment occurs, the site revisions to the number, spacing, involved technical and steering plan review process and MDOT/ or location of driveways or the committees, community County access permit process design of the parking or site outreach and public workshops have common footing with circulation should be changed to all played a role in creation of this plan as they re-review the meet the intent of the plan and the guidelines and site-specific conditions on a particular site ordinance. recommendations in the plan. How Quickly Will Site-Specific Recommendations: Changes Occur? Retrofit vs. New Development ite plan review through “Retro-fit” recommendations refer to devel- Large vacant or redevelopment parcels pro- Seach community will pro- oped sites, where spacing standards of 300+ vide opportunity to plan for properly spaced vide the most opportunity for feet are infeasible (usually due to narrow lot and design access when new development implementation; the amount width). When reviewing the access configura- occurs. Although the plan provides guidelines and speed of private invest- tion for retro-fit, several factors come into play for spacing, the project team examined condi- ment requiring site plans often that form a hierarchy of conditions and oppor- tions on and adjacent to these site to develop dictates if and when changes tunities to look for when considering changes: specific locations for future access points and occur. Other corridors with • Driveways close to signalized intersections. conceptual alternatives for service drives and similar projects in place have connections. Considerations for site-specific seen a steady pace, generally • Sites with more than one driveway. recommendations for new development 20-30% implemented within include: • Corner