Council lands on west side of track

By Dan DuChene
May. 8, 2009    ·    9:52 a.m.

Ypsilanti City Council unanimously approved a resolution that would place the anticipated rail stop in Depot Town on the west side of the tracks.

The resolution was approved Thursday night, after a public hearing. Two people addressed City Council before it reached its decision, Aubree’s owner Sandee French and Ypsilanti resident William Campbell.

“We’re pretty much resigned that it be on the west side,” French, who has spoken in favor of placing the platform on the east side of the tracks.

Before City Council reached its decision Thursday, the Ypsilanti Planning Commission approved a similar plan in April with a 5-1 vote while asking City Council to facilitate a parking study. The Depot Town Downtown Development Authority approved the west side as well, in a 3-2 vote less than two weeks later.

The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments has been organizing a passenger rail service from Ann Arbor to Detroit with the help of the Michigan Department of Transportation and Amtrak. The line will have stops in Dearborn and Wayne, where a transfer will connect with Metro Airport.

French, who worries the 250-foot platform will take away from parking available to Depot Town customers, said she would at least prefer the platform be located as far north along the tracks as possible, toward Forrest Street.

During discussions on the location of the platform, it has been thought placement on the east side of the tracks would likely have commuters utilize the Maple Street lot. Murphy said the west side of the track could bring more traffic to Depot Town and put more of an impact toward Cross, Huron and Hamilton streets.

Murphy said the plan has been to locate the platform in line with the Freighthouse along the tracks, placing the platform directly in front of the building. However, he said there are no permanent plans and the idea can be changed.

Councilmember Michael Bodary, D-Ward 2, moved to amend the resolution to reflect a desire to place the platform as far north as possible, while still connecting the structure to the Freighthouse and downtown district.

He withdrew his motion, however, when it was brought up that discussion about the specific site plan would still be in the discussion phases. Murphy said he will be in regular communication with SEMCOG, and City Council may be able to discuss a site plan as the project moves forward.

“I think the bottom line is we want a symbiotic relationship between the freighthouse and the platform,” said Councilmember Bill “Five-cent Willy” Nickels, D-Ward 2.

When Campbell addressed City Council during audience participation, he said the city does need to address the entire parking situation in Depot Town. Murphy agreed.

“I think we’re thinking of this too small,” Murphy said. “If this is successful, people are going to be looking for parking all around.

Murphy said the line will likely run four round-trip runs a day. He said the organizers are expecting 184 riders at the stop daily, with round-trip commuters counted twice. Because the project is a pilot, he said the numbers could increase greatly depending on the success of the service.

“You can expect some amount of spin-off development,” Murphy said. “This is something we should be planning for.”

Murphy said it wouldn’t be “unreasonable” to envision a parking structure at the Maple Street lot if the service becomes a success.

“We want to make sure we’re not a park and ride in the Depot Town area.”

In the ordinance adopted by City Council, language states the city “commits to
coordinate with SEMCOG, (the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority), Eastern Michigan University, adjacent townships, and other partners in planning for the success of the (project).”

It also asked SEMCOG to consider a traffic and parking study in the Depot Town area.

City to vote on train platform