Ann Arbor City Planning Department
January 25, 2005

Multiple concerns about proposed high school

As a taxpayer in the Ann Arbor School System, I am still uncomfortable with several aspects of the proposed Maple Road location for the new high school. The fact that 80-90% of the drivers will enter and exit the school from one road, from only one direction, through an expressway interchange, is a situation that no amount of road construction can change.  The Maple Road location is fundamentally flawed and has great potential for traffic gridlock for being unsafe.  Second; if the decision is made to use the proposed site, are there sufficient dollars in the school fund to pay for the extensive road changes?

Or, will money come from the Michigan Department of Transportation (all statewide taxpayers) and the Washtenaw County Road Commission (all Washtenaw County taxpayers)? Third; I continue to be amazed that the people of Ann Arbor have not demanded that their new school be built closer to where most families live. Demographics show the highest population density on the south and east sides of Ann Arbor. 

Even after months thoughtful and logical testimony by concerned citizens asking the School Board to re-examine the logic of the proposed site for the new school, the Board, with the support of the superintendent, has voted to proceed full-steam-ahead.

My final concern is; how much will it cost the Ann Arbor Public Schools after the first fatality at the proposed site? After months of testimony at School Board meetings on safety issues, there will be ample and compelling evidence for any prosecuting attorney.

Sally Joy
Ann Arbor MI