What Compromise Looks Like

Ann Arbor City Council Members Christopher Taylor, Sabra Briere, Sumi Kailasapathy and Stephen Kunselman work out a compromise on the language for directing the city administrator to come up with a plan for mid-block crosswalk improvements. Read the story.

Sending Out An SOS

Since moving to Ann Arbor from his home state of Alabama four years ago, Chris Hewett says one thing has consistently disappointed him: the level of aggressive driving here. "You know, I can't turn in my driveway without someone having road rage and honking their horn and cussing at me." Hewett, who lives with his wife on Seventh Street on Ann Arbor's Old West Side, believes the problem is particularly bad on his street. He's spent months gathering videos and photos to document the speeding and aggressive driving that happens on Seventh Street. And in early April, he launched a Facebook page for a new group called SOS: Safety on Seventh. Read the story.

Goin' To Jackson

A Michigan Department of Transportation official says his office has been inundated with negative feedback on the proposal to reduce Jackson Avenue to three lanes. "The message is being received loud and clear," said Mark Sweeney, manager of MDOT's Brighton Transportation Service Center, who reports receiving dozens of emails in opposition since the Ann Arbor City Council endorsed the lane reduction last week. The council's resolution, which passed by an 8-2 vote, asks that MDOT consider changing Jackson Avenue from four to three lanes to improve safety and possibly allow for the addition of on-street bicycle lanes when it resurfaces the road next year. "It's a city request and I know many of the emails from the public were asking us not to abide by the city request," Sweeney said. "It does put us in an awkward position." Read the story.