Hagadorn Road Study
The Hagadorn Road Study is a facilitated stakeholder process to evaluate a recommendation involving the modification of Hagadorn Road between Grand River Avenue and Haslett Road from the current four-lane configuration to a three-lane configuration. Below is a summary of the project
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Background and Chronology
In late 2005, the City of East Lansing reconstructed a portion of the Hagadorn Road corridor. During this project, a number of residents contacted the City suggesting that the existing four-lane cross section be converted to a three-lane cross section with bike lanes between Haslett Road and Grand River Avenue. At the September 2005 Transportation Commission Meeting, the City staff recommended conducting a study, after the Hagadorn Road reconstruction project was completed, to address the citizens? concerns. The Transportation Commission directed the City staff to conduct this study.
Over the next year, the City of East Lansing staff collected and analyzed data regarding the potential roadway conversion. This information was intermittently conveyed to Transportation Commission members at their monthly meetings. The October 2006 Transportation Commission Meeting was opened for public comments regarding the conversion. The Transportation Commission voted 5 to 4 to proceed with the conversion of Hagadorn Road to a three-lane cross section.
There were several areas of concern/issues raised by citizens and the Transportation Commission regarding conversion of the Hagadorn Road cross section. These included:
- Traffic operations between intersections
- Traffic operations at major intersections
- Traffic operations at minor intersections
- Cut through traffic
- Vehicular safety
- Pedestrian safety
Due to the split vote within the Transportation Commission and the East Lansing residents alike, in April 2007, the City contracted with DLZ Michigan, Inc. to conduct a third party evaluation of the proposed roadway conversion. DLZ is responsible for providing technical analysis and using public facilitation to reach the optimal resolution which all parties can accept.
This document presents the Public Involvement Plan for the Hagadorn Road Study. The goal of the plan is to clearly define the background, givens, goals, and public involvement process which will be used by the Stakeholder Committee to reach consensus on the optimal transportation facilities for Hagadorn Road. Based on the facilitated decision, a recommendation will be made to the Transportation Commission.
The Givens
The City of East Lansing and the Transportation Commission have established a set of non-negotiable ?Givens? to guide public discussion regarding the options being considered. The Givens established the parameters for discussion and will be used throughout the Hagadorn Road Study discussions and decisions. The Givens are:
- The Hagadorn Road Conversion Study will evaluate options to improve transportation facilities for all users of Hagadorn Road between the intersections of Haslett Road and Grand River Avenue.
- All stakeholders will be given an opportunity to voice their opinions, and all opinions will be considered.
- Any changes to Hagadorn Road must meet approved design standards and be consistent with commonly-accepted safety and traffic engineering principles.
- Any Hagadorn Road adjustments near the Grand River Avenue intersection must ultimately be approved by the Michigan Department of Transportation, which has jurisdiction over Grand River Avenue (M-43) and the Ingham County Road Commission (ICRC), which has jurisdiction over the south leg of the intersection.
- After receiving a recommendation as the result of the Hagadorn Road Conversion Study, the Transportation Commission will make the final decision (subject to the approval of City Council) on how to proceed with Hagadorn Road between Haslett Road and Grand River Avenue.
The Goals
In addition to the Givens, the community involvement process will be guided by a set of goals established by the City of East Lansing based on historic policies and citizens? input at public meetings. These goals will be used to guide discussion and decisions. Any adjustments made to the Hagadorn Road Corridor should:
- Consider the safety and practicality of the traveling public including vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian travel;
- Adequately accommodate current traffic volumes and concerns along Hagadorn Road and side streets, while accounting for any future traffic projections;
- Be fiscally responsible;
- Consider the concerns of the Transportation Commission, City Council, MDOT, ICRC, schools, the traveling public, business owners, residents, and Michigan State University.