In the 1960's economist Anthony Downs' research revealed what is now known as the "iron law of congestion", it is that adding more lanes to a road will not reduce congestion. Downs' says that "on urban commuter expressways, peak-hour traffic congestion rises to meet maximum capacity.” If lanes are added, then traffic will increase to fill these lanes. The interstate highway 35 in Austin Texas has twelve lanes, and yet still there is great congestion at peak hours.
What know one seems to understand is (1) road improvements can take up to a decade to find funding and complete the project. (2) within the next 10 to 20 years cars and trucks will drive themselves. (3) Then we now to design roads our cars will drive on not us. Will look at our laptops our phones etc. So there is no good reason at this time to destroy the historic character of Adams Rd.
Scot Beaton former RH City Council member 1988 to 1997 President, RH City Council 2 Years
Instead, wide. Livernois between Auburn and Avon. There is plenty of space to do on the shoulders and less invasive than modifying Adams. Thid would provide an alternative route and reduce the volume of vehicles on Adams.
Please, please don’t alter Adams Road. It is so beautiful.
No build w/modification is best overall.
Strategically placed right turn passing lanes would keep traffic moving.
A 35mph would satisfy safety traffic flow concerns.
The natural beauty of the area would be preserved.
A bike line on one side at minimum, would be ideal.
Costs to build this option (and maintain) are lower, even with the current road and necessary infrastructure replacement.
Adding more lanes and traffic does not guarantee success in any of the items listed above.
NO BUILD...leave our historic road alone, if you have issues find another route. I have lived off of Adams between Walton and Hamlin for over 20 yrs. and have no complaints. The under lying reason for this is infrastructure and greed, AND to think we have a voice...by reading all the previous comments that will be seen.
NO BUILD...I have been traveling Adams road from Silverbell south and back again for over 40 yrs. at all times of day without any complaints, I now live at Walton off of Adams and still have none. There are worse driving conditions on other roads in our area even after widening and roundabouts. Adams is the only beautiful road left in our town...leave it as is.
No build on Adams Rd. There is enough commercial at Walton and Adams.. Do not widen Adams!
there is so much beauty and history on this road do not destroy it it will just bring more traffic
No build! Traffic is same as other areas in Rochester Hills.
Absolutely leave adams road alone. One of the most beautiful roads in town. Whoever is responsible for allowing the growth and expansion north of Gunn road is responsible for this problem. So tired of the ever expanding greed for tax dollars from our towns leaders. Just ruining this community . People who chose to live north of Gunn may need to find a more highway-type road ….or just enjoy the beauty of Adams.* L arrow to OU and L & thru lane at Avon-NO CIRCLES ! Help for Pheasant R & Quail R
There are enough routes, north/south, to justify the preservation of historic Adams road in its current configuration. I support the no build option, instead, paint turning arrows at (southbound Adams) Avon rd and (northbound Adams) at Hillendale. Also, a reduction in the speed limit would deter the 'racers' , reducing the volume of traffic & the inherent danger of high speed in a residential area.
No build! Just lower speed limit.
Preserve mature trees and history!
I vote no to the widening of Adams Road. Most of you folks that moved to Rochester to be in a quiet town would like to see it stay this way. The historical stone wall and many of the house along this road would like it to stay this way. Matilda Dodge Wilson donated this property for Oakland University and the mansion for many tours concerts and events. I understand the back up of traffic but i feel if it take you long to get home from work, perhaps u could move closer to your job.
What is the motive for expansion? Safety? Congestion? Throughput??? Who are the beneficiaries in each scenario? EG: If Adams is expanded will OU build out the SW corner of Adams and University/Walton (beneficiary)? If safety is the answer why is the speed limit 45 with passing lanes
Will/Has Oakland County and/or the City of Rochester Hills taken advantage of the NTSB's FREE 'road diet' analysis?
It will be a shame if Adams turns into anotjer 'STROAD' (google it)
As a family of 6, including two elderly parents who have lived in the Rochester area for the past thirty years to build a family, we vote NO BUILD. A previous commenter mentioned Butler Rd. We know all too well the problems our road has had what with closing the OU farm section for a while. However, adding more lanes that will only increase congestion in the long run is not the solution. Please consider whatever is left of the city’s natural beauty and the long term residents that live here.
Additional comment here- for the naysayers- they should have spoken up before someone approved building a MASSIVE apartment complex on the corner of Hamlin and Adams. What were they thinking??? THAT ALONE is enough to force some changes in traffic patterns
I find it comical that folks are simply kicking and screaming like a toddler saying "No" The problem is a real safety issue. We live off of Butler road and entering Adams is terrible. Worse yet when schools are letting out or starting up. Even our schoolbus struggles to enter the intersection and they only turn right! Left is almost impossible most times during the day. Plus, as avid bikers and walkers, there is no safe way to cross to the east side of the street. It needs to be addressed
The 2 lane road is fine , but needs a bike lane. Adams is one of the most beautiful roads to ride up- that part is extremely dangerous.
the three lane continuous seems best WITHOUT roundabouts at Avon & Hamlin. Traffic lights interrupt continuous flow. Roundabouts are continuous flow. Entering onto Adams from a side street or exiting from the middle (third) lane would be hazardous, if not impossible at peak times.
Traffic lights at Avon & Hamlin are a MUST especially at peak times, or ARE INSTALLED AT THOSE ROUNDABOUTS
The west side of Adams from the OU carriage house north to the traffic light MUST NOT BE TOUCHED; historical
No Build …..leave this historic piece of roadway in Oakland County as it is…it is a beautiful tree-lined strip and should not be disturbed.
Crooks Rd dead-ends at Avon. Livernois essentially dead-ends at Tienken. Squirrel is fine until you approach Walton when it necks-down to 1 lane. The big bottle-neck on northbound Adams is at Tienken, so opening up Adams between Hamlin and Walton isn't going to do much except create a log jam south to the Village Mall. So now what? I know. You politicians can ask for another $2 million of our money to study Adams from Walton to Silverbell, right? Time for a change of politicians. No Build.
NO BUILD!! Perhaps widen Squirrel if you want to continue approving all these sub-divisions north of Rochester Hills along Adams. Or stop approving them, but you won't do that because that's more tax money.
You could have saved us taxpayers $2mil by taking these public comments first and using some common sense, something most politicians don't have or have the need for because they have a tax trough to feed from.
So it takes $2,000,000 of tax payer money to study 2.2 miles of road, not to reconstruct it or improve it in any way, just to study it and create some proposals. Unbelievable!!! Every politician and public employee who was involved in approving these funds for this should be removed from office the next election or fired.
I see a lot of comments (and "likes") saying NO BUILD. If you politicians and bureaucrats don't listen this time, don't be surprised when you're filing for unemployment.
Middle left turn lane. Leave lights at Avon and Hillendale. I beleive this is option B.
Please stop this insanity. Why in the world would anyone tear up this magnificent roadway? The greed of all this development is the driving force. Those hideous apartments on the corner of Adams and Hamlin. Last year we were treated to another terrible idea of a boutique hotel on the corner of Walton and Adams. Of course it won’t end there. Oakland University will start the push again soon. We will look like the Lakeside Mall area before you know it!
I believe we need a dedicated change in the lights at Avon and possible install of lights for some of the side streets coming off onto Adams from the subdivision's. This would help with turns and such. Dedicated green arrows, new timing for peak traveling times. Also, a possible install of a round about would improve the flow. Widening does nothing but destroy the wildlife, trees, property and historical landmarks. Let's think outside the box, even if that means waiting to make decisions.
I live in Rookery woods. At certain times of the day it is almost impossible to make a left turn onto Adams. We need either roundabouts or middle lane. I would like to see a footpath built on East side of Adams from Avon to Walton that helps anyone walking from Walton towards Hamlin.
My vote is for a continuous middle turn lane for Adams Road. For a good example look at JOHN R ROAD between Long Lake and Alburn Road. It used to be only two lanes and horribly congested. The road was redone, and a continuous middle turn lane was added with some right turn aprons. It was curbed with a sidewalk, and it didn't use much more space. Absolutely NO ROUNDABOUTS, a disaster at rush hour, and they take up lots of room. Also make the middle lane at Adams and Avon a left turn only lane.
As a resident of the Oakland Faculty Subdivision between Avon and Hillendale, I am not in support of the three lane road with roundabouts option. It can take up to 4 minutes to turn left out of our neighborhood (I listen to music when driving, so I’ve kept track of turn time). With roundabouts on either side of our neighborhood, there would rarely be a break to turn left. Our elderly family live off Adams in that direction, if there’s an emergency, we can’t wait an extra ten minutes to turn.
Please no more roundabouts. They constantly slow traffic at every intersection wasting gas for every car and forcing every car to stop. Having 3 in a row is ridiculous, many people freeze in rush hour and I have personally witnessed 4 accidents in the past year in Rochester. All high $$$$ accidents where the entire side of the car against another car was damaged. This wiikk force insurance rates up. Look at orchard lake intersections as other bad examples.
Please NO BUILD.... there is already a boat load of traffic
A roundabout or a few could solve the issues proposed without introducing a whole new range of problems. This can help make the road safer especially with the intersection w/OU, without the danger and traffic that more lanes will add. People have suggested a solution similar to what Yates has implemented which seems to be faring quite well and has solved a number of problems without major consequences.
Mayor Barnett has been abusing an electoral system that allows him to win as a write-in candidate as many times as he wants every odd year. Does anyone want this clown and his minions on the City Council anymore when all he’s doing is create more problems for the residents? Rochester residents need to realize adding more lanes= more traffic and danger for our children going to school everyday, commuters to work and college, and those of us who bike and walk down Adams.
Vote Bryan Barnett out. He’s done nothing but damage to this city by allowing out of state developers take over MULTIPLE construction projects allowing a total of thousands of new apartments in formerly single family residential areas, a TOXIC waste shed remaining exactly where it is with new apartments over it, constant new construction projects seeking to destroy the nature and history of the city. Everyone should turn up to the polls and show him the consequences of his actions.
NO BUILD! Adding lanes will only increase traffic and make Adams more dangerous. Please stop ruining Rochester Hills! NO BUILD!!
Traffic issues is a universal problem not unique to Rochester or Adams Rd or any metropolitan area for that matter. Every single major road in the metro Detroit area within a twenty mile radius of Rochester has traffic during rush hour. Building more lanes is NOT the solution. A roundabout, perhaps- look at Yates and how much the roundabout alleviated issues WITHOUT more lanes. This is endangering the city with more opportunities for accidents and traffic congestion.
Guess what city won’t be voted as one of the safest cities to live in anymore if these clowns continue with their money-hungry efforts to keep expanding? Wake up and realize you’re going to make a LOT of residents angry. And that won’t be good for business now would it?
NO BUILD- “traffic” and “safety”…is this a joke? We live in a metro area with high traffic all over during rush hour. The more lanes you build the more traffic there will be, simple supply and demand. More lanes will make the entire corridor MORE dangerous. Where is the logic in this? Every resident on Adams Rd should be concerned for the danger and implications of widening a street that most of us drive on with no problem every single day similar to any other road. STOP ruining the city.
No build. For the love of god can we maintain the residential character of something, anything in this city!?