Overview

The Broadway Bikeway Extension will connect the two-way bikeway from Catherine Street to the Broadway and Plymouth intersection via the existing non-motorized path over the Broadway Bridge. There are no changes proposed for the bridge itself at this time.

This project is a partnership between multiple City departments; collaboration increases overall efficiency and reduces the amount of time the road is under construction. The project is split into two project areas:

• North Section (led by the Transportation team): from the Broadway and Plymouth intersection south to the northernmost point of the Broadway Bridge.
• South Section (led by the DDA team): from the south end of the Broadway Bridge to Catherine Street.

Engineering will be installing a new water main and resurfacing Division from Catherine to the south end of the Broadway Bridge in 2027.

Goals

• Support bicycle travel by extending safe bicycle infrastructure and connecting downtown to the Broadway Bridge and Ann Arbor’s north side.
• Make travel lanes clear and predictable for everyone using the road, improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.

• Implement speed management to enhance comfort and safety for non-motorized users, where appropriate

• Coordinate with water main upsizing and street resurfacing projects

• Connect and improve the safety and accessibility of downtown streets for all ages and abilities

• Meet the goals of the A2 Moving Together Toward Vision Zero Plan and the DDA’s Development Plan.

Funding

This project's funding is broken out by location and the funding source.

The following are estimates based on earlier planning efforts. Final costs will be updated as the concept is refined and finalized once bids are received from contractors.

South Section

• Water main – (Detroit to Kingsley) replace and upsize the 1880’s water main: $500,000 (City Water Utility Fund)
• Street resurfacing – (Detroit to Catherine): $680,000 (City Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Millage)
• Bikeway, new sidewalk and sidewalk adjustments, crosswalk improvements, parking bump-ins, RRFBs, Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS), and transit stop upgrades: $2,050,000 (Ann Arbor DDA Tax Increment Financing (TIF)).

North Section (All Improvements):

• The bike route infrastructure, signal adjustments, crosswalk improvements, and transit upgrades will be funded by the city’s Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Millage. The dollar estimate is currently being revised as the design for this section is further developed.

2026 - August and September

• Walking Tour Option 1: August 25 (Tuesday) at 5 p.m., started at Catherine and Division intersection and finish at Broadway Street.
  • Walking Tour Handout - 2025 Updated Draft Conceptual Diagrams
    
    
• Walking Tour Option 2: September 11 (Friday) at 1 p.m., started at Catherine and Division intersection and finish at Broadway Street.
  • Walking Tour Handout - 2026 Updated Draft Conceptual Diagrams
    
    
• Informational Open House: September 23 (Wednesday) from 5-7 p.m., will be held at the DDA offices (located in the Kerrytown Shops on the 2nd floor, right next to V2V clothing boutique).

The project team presents to several of the city’s appointed boards and commissions and collects feedback:

• Transportation Commission
• Commission on Disability issues
• DDA Board

2026 - June and July

The process of taking the concept plan and turning it into an engineered design begins - the DDA kicks off the South part of the project in June, and then the Transportation Department kicks off the North (includes bridge) part in July.

• Public walking tours and the open house are advertised to the public.

• The project team meets with other city departments and agencies (Fire, Engineering, AAATA) to work through any specific needs they have.

• An updated concept plan is developed for the upcoming walking tours.

2025 and Prior

• The City conducts public engagement (see Plans and Studies) through several initiatives and collects residents’ and commuters’ feedback on the project area.

• The 2025 Initial Conceptual Design is developed as a part of the Downtown Area Circulation Study.

• City Council approves the annual budget and the DDA’s 2026 Development Plan, thereby allocating funds to make a final engineered design for the project area.

Prior Engagement

Thematic Analysis

Before the development of conceptual designs, this effort was heavily informed by recommendations shaped through public engagement from several past initiatives; a summary of this analysis is linked above.

• Downtown Area Circulation Study
  A collaboration between the DDA and City Transportation that involved multiple rounds of public engagement, informing the priorities for future capital improvements in the downtown area.
• A2R2 Study
  This study informed how the existing Division Bikeway should connect to the Broadway Bridge and the north side.
• Moving Together Transportation Plan
  All past planning efforts are consistent with the direction established through the City's Transportation Plan. The annual Transportation Survey, which has been conducted every year since the plan’s adoption, provides updated information on how people are feeling about getting around town.

Additional Considerations

This effort also considered public comment and recommendations from the following:

• People-Friendly Streets
  This DDA initiative engaged the public to get feedback on bike infrastructure throughout downtown. The DDA’s People-Friendly Streets (PFS) initiative began in 2018 – prioritizing people, placemaking, and resilience.
• Lowertown Area Mobility Study
  This was completed in 2022 and evaluated how the effects of growth impact the movement of people through the area and ways to support the ease and safety of all travelers, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and those in personal and commercial vehicles.

Additional References and Ongoing Efforts

• Multiple traffic analyses of different types have been conducted over the past 5 years as a part of the recent plans and studies (see the section above for links to each plan’s webpage). Most recently, two analyses were conducted as part of the Downtown Area Circulation Study (page 148, aka Appendices D and E).
• Bikeway Loop Safety Update 2025
  Provides an overview of the crash data for the downtown bikeway loop in 2025.
• 2026 Traffic Analysis
  The analysis for this corridor is currently underway and will be posted in the coming weeks as soon as it is completed.