Birmingham Voters Reject 'Road Diet' Charter Amendment

BIRMINGHAM, MI – Birmingham voters soundly rejected the West Maple Road “road diet” charter amendment, 4,447 votes to 2,820, according to unofficial election results in Tuesday’s special election held in conjunction with the Michigan presidential primary.

That means the city officials won’t have to ask voters to approve a “road diet” on West Maple Road.

Birmingham has already reduced the number of lanes on West Maple Road from four to three, a transportation innovation that, nationally, has been credited with reducing speeding, reducing accidents and making for safer pedestrian crossings.

The charter amendment under consideration asked:

“Shall the Charter of the City of Birmingham, Michigan, be amended by adding a new Section 10 to Chapter XI entitled, ‘Maple Road’ to state that ‘The configuration of Maple Road shall not be less than four (4) through traffic lanes, dedicated for motor vehicle use, between Cranbrook Road and Southfield Road and between Woodward Avenue and Eton Street.’ ”

City leaders decided to try to three-lane road diet for six months, then decide this spring whether to make it permanent. Opponents to the three-lane configuration gathered 1,400 signatures, about 560 more than necessary to put the measure on the ballot.

Those opposing the three-lane configuration worried about backups and also that motorists might avoid the area and cut through neighborhoods on a busy, 1.3 mile stretch between Southfield and Cranbook roads.

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• Birmingham Voters Decide ‘Road Diet’ in Presidential Primary