Ashman & Rodd Corridor Conversion

An aerial rendering of Ashman and Rodd traffic as two-way streets

Latest Updates: Open Houses Draw Attendees; Input Topic Open Online; Word on the Street(s) Talks Conversion


Open Houses Share Info, Collect Input from Corridor Users 
A group of residents stand at a table and discuss a large aerial map of Ashman and Rodd streets

The City of Midland hosted a series of five public open houses April 18 - 20 at locations in Downtown Midland and Center City to share information and collect feedback on the future of Ashman and Rodd Streets. Approximately 100 residents attended the drop-in style events to view sample project designs, discuss concerns with staff, and ask questions about the potential conversion.

Word on the Street(s) Talks Conversion

In Season 3 Episode 1 of the City's "Word on the Street(s)" podcast, City staff discuss the Ashman and Rodd conversion, provide insight into the "why" behind the project, share what they heard from open house attendees, and detail what's next for this potential project. Click the video above to watch.

Input Topic Open Now Through May 10
As a complement to the 5 in-person open houses, an online option is available to share feedback on the potential conversion for those who were unable to attend. The blog-style input topic breaks the project down into easy-to-consume functional areas with the opportunity for corridor users to learn more about the project and provide comments and feedback on these areas. The topic will be open for input until Wednesday, May 10 at 7 a.m. Click here to participate! 

A Little Bit of Background

When first designed, Ashman and Rodd Streets were both two-way streets - which they functioned as until the late 1960s. At that time, many communities went to one-way streets as the best way to move traffic as quickly as possible from one place (usually, into or out of the city's downtown or major center) to another. Now, though, we realize the potential issues associated with this approach: Fewer economic development opportunities, higher vehicle speeds, reduced navigability, and lower safety ratings for pedestrians.

The City has been discussing the potential conversion of Ashman and Rodd Streets for nearly two decades, with the earliest recommendation/consideration for potential conversion being included in the City's Master Plan in 2006. Click the links below to view guiding documents that have discussed this conversion to this point.

Why Now?

We're in a unique position to analyze this area of our street network at this time because of two separate projects occuring in our community. The first, the Buttles Street Corridor Improvement Project, is a Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) project that will begin reconstruction of Buttles Street from Jerome to State in the 2025 construction year. To provide final design considerations, MDOT needs to know from the City if its designers should design the intersections of Ashman and Rodd with Buttles for one-way or two-way traffic. Other upcoming projects impacted by these streets are Phase II of the Saginaw Road Streetscape Redevelopment Project as part of the Center City Redevelopment Plan and Phase II of the Downtown Streetscape Renovation in Downtown Midland. 

Watch: Word on the Street(s) Talks One Ways

Season 3, Episode 1: A Two-Way Conversation - April 2023


Season 2, Episode 1: More Than One Way (to Design a Street) - January 2022

 

The City's Buttles and Indian Corridor Improvement Project podcast, Word on the Street(s), has discussed the topic of Ashman and Rodd conversion several times. Check out the episodes below, which includes some background information on the history of Ashman and Rodd, why they're one-way streets now, and why the time is right for us to take a look at their function in our community for future generations.

To learn more about Word on the Street(s) and to access episode extras and additional information, click here.

What would Ashman and Rodd look like as two-way streets?

As no decision has been made about the two-way conversion at this time, full design of these corridors hasn't been completed yet. However, we've created a series of renderings at key intersections for both Ashman and Rodd Streets to give residents an idea what they could look like with two-way traffic. Check out the slideshow below or click here to view a PDF of all renderings.