Two ways or one: State Street debated

By James Restivo

Daily Staff Reporter

When Anne Remley came to the University in 1948, she found walking in Ann Arbor unusually difficult.

Until the 1960s, State Street and its surrounding areas were all two-way streets.

"It was chaos for students crossing the street," Remley said.

When changed to its current layout, Remley said, "It was fantastic, and a lot easier to cross the street."

But Remley's frustrations could return as City Council prepares to vote next week on a proposal to convert State Street to a two-way street system.

Susan Pollay, executive director of the Downtown Development Project, said studies done by the schools of Public Policy and Urban Development show two-way streets will slow down traffic.

City council member Chris Kolb (D-Ward V) said he approves of the proposal.

"I'm in favor. There is a huge problem trying to get from one place to another, especially for out-of-town visitors," Kolb said.

But Kolb, who is running for state representative in the 53rd District, warned that next week's election will have an impact on the council's decision.

The proposed two-way State Street was just one of the issues covered in the community meeting last night to discuss the possible renovations to the center of Ann Arbor.

"State is the biggest pedestrian improvement area," Pollay said. "It is where the town and University come together to serve various groups of people." The meeting encompassed renovation ideas for the areas just west of campus, surrounded by Thayer, William, Division and Washington streets.

The plans are geared toward improving and utilizing of State Street, while still maintaining its "sense of character," said Peter Pollack, one of the design team members.

Through the meeting, Pollack showed numerous slides of the area, demonstrating its wide amount of uses to both the University and the community. His team has been researching this area for two years to assess where improvements could be made. They have concluded that State Street is "too cluttered," which affects those who live and work around it.

The purpose of the meeting was to get community feedback on what needs to be done in that part of town. During public comments, residents focused on the lighting of the area.

The current system, which uses Halide lights, that leave the street "dimly lit."

Ann Arbor resident Michael Kelley said the black and white lights are the ugliest he's "seen on earth."

"They are counter-productive to highly productive intellectual activity," Kelley said. "The ugliness the of unnatural light causes a stressful state of mind."

Other community members agreed that the lack of light makes them feel, "scared and alone."

Pollack said the city hopes to remedy these types of problems with the State Street Area Project.

Pollay said the key to the renovation is the initial approval of two-way streets. "If the council approves it, we can start doing other changes at the same time."

Pollack said his team expects to submit a proposal to City Council by February, with a construction starting next May.