A Right-Turn Lane on Maple: What Do You Think?

The Birmingham City Commission won't be moving forward on plans to install a right-turn lane on westbound Maple at Woodward Avenue, despite a study that notes the intersection is one of the worst for congestion.

A recent traffic study completed by engineering firm Parsons Brinkerhoff/LSL Planning shows that the westbound East Maple Road approach to Woodward —  the corner by — operates very poorly in its current state and is labeled "Level of Service F" (i.e., unacceptable) during the morning and afternoon peak traffic hours. 

Currently, the road has two through lanes heading west, while the right lane also turns right.

Proposed plans from Parsons Brinkerhoff include widening the road to three lanes with a dedicated right-turn lane, or creating three through lanes and having the far-right lane turn right. Proposed plans would involve ripping out part of the shoulder and decreasing the size of the Kroger parking lot at that corner, including getting rid of up to five parking spaces.

Paul O'Meara and representatives from Parsons Brinkerhoff noted that up to 50 percent of traffic at that intersection during afternoon rush hour turns right onto Woodward, forcing the intersection to back up at times as far as Poppleton Street.

By expanding the road to three lanes and adding a dedicated right-turn lane, the service level of the approach would improve from an "F" level to a slightly better "E" level, the report states. By adding three through lanes, the approach would improve to a "Service Level C," or acceptable. The functionality of the intersection in general would improve under both options.

However, commissioners were wary to move forward with the plan Monday, noting that adding right-turn lanes could potentially make the Woodward crosswalk there more dangerous for pedestrians. O'Meara also admitted the crosswalks would be worse.

"I knew it wouldn't go over very well," O'Meara admitted. "But I wanted to put it on the table."

The total cost of the project would be $50,000. However, funds are available for the project through a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Grant through SEMCOG (Southeast Michigan Council of Governments), though the application deadline is looming — Dec. 31.

Resident Dorothy Conrad noted the idea was a "horrible" one.

"You're removing grass, landscaping ... all for what? For only a few hours of relief during rush hour?" she said. "Let's go back to thinking about pedestrians."

Parsons Brinkerhoff/LSL Planning completed the intersection analysis as part of its larger study of the East Maple Road corridor from Eton to Woodward. The firm — which seeks to improve vehicular, pedestrian and bike traffic — at the commission's Monday night meeting.

So we're wondering: what do you think of a right-turn lane on Maple on Woodward?