How do I make a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request?
As a governmental agency, the Washtenaw County Road Commission is required to comply with the
Public Act 442 of 1976, the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA).
If you are interested in obtaining documents that fall within the requirements of the FOIA, you may submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request
in writing to the Washtenaw County Road Commission, 555 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, Attention: FOIA Coordinator.
(FOIA
Request Form)
Please be advised that upon receipt of a FOIA request, the Road Commission has five business days in which to respond (six business days if received via fax or email), in accordance with the Act, and the requesting party will be charged for research time and copies of any documents requested. If an extension of time is necessary in order to fulfill a FOIA request, the Road Commission will notify the requesting party in writing, at which time an additional ten business days will be permitted to the agency, in accordance with the Act.
For further questions, please email the WCRC at:
FOIA Coordinator
Approved minutes from the Board meetings may be obtained on the agenda page of our website. Minutes are available following the meeting at which they are approved by the Board of County Road Commissioners. If you would like to receive archived Minutes that are not available on our website, please submit a
FOIA Request, as instructed above.
Back to top
What do you do if there is a dead animal in the road?
If it is a large animal we will remove it from the roadway, which means we move it out the driving publics’ way. There is no agency in Washtenaw County that removes dead animals from the roadway.
Back to top
Do you remove dead trees and do you replace dead trees. Also what if the roots are coming up through my sidewalk?
If the tree is completely dead and in the ROW, we will remove the tree. We do not replace trees and request that you do not plant or landscape in the ROW. Sidewalks are the homeowner's responsibility; we do not repair and/or replace sidewalks.
Back to top
We all pay property tax, why is that not enough to cover fixing the roads?
The property tax you pay is used for your local and county governmental units and for schools, not for roads. The Road Commission budget is funded mostly by the gas tax and vehicle registration fees.
Back to top
What should be kept in mind when shoveling/plowing driveways?
Homeowners should be aware that shoveling or plowing snow from driveways onto or across roads is illegal (Act 82 of 1978, vehicle code 257.677A) because it can present a serious traffic hazard to motorists. Instead, pile the snow behind the curb or shoulder on your side of the road.
Be sure to place snow to the right as you face the road, so plows will push it away from, rather back into, the driveway entrance. It is also important to avoid vision obstructions. Care should be taken not to impede the flow of storm water from melting snow in the ditches or culverts. Citizens should also make certain that their trash containers are not placed too close to the edge of the road before snow removal has taken place.
Back to top
How much tax do I pay per gallon of gasoline?
The amount of tax paid per gallon of gas consists of 19 cents for state tax and 18.3 cents for federal tax. The sale of gasoline is also subject to 6 percent sales tax in Michigan, however, this amount is not used for transportation improvements.
Back to top
Why are weight restrictions placed on county roads each spring?
Roads thaw out from the top down each spring and moister is trapped on the surface. Heavy loads cause the break-up of gravel and bituminous surfaces during this thawing period.
Back to top
How close to the road can I place landscaping or fixtures?
Normally the distance is 33 feet from the center of the road; however, there are exceptions depending which road you reside on.
Back to top
How does the Road Commission determine when and where to put traffic signals?
A traffic control signal should not be installed unless an engineering study indicates that installing a traffic control signal will improve the overall safety and/or operation of the intersection.
The engineering study includes the evaluation of warrants (guidelines) identified in the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD). The warrants consider vehicular and pedestrian volumes, crash history, vehicle delay and vehicular progression.
Prior to the installation of a traffic control signal, the roadway may need improvements to provide acceptable traffic operations at the intersection.
Finally, adequate funding must be available to finance the installation of traffic control signal and
any necessary roadway improvements.
Back to top
How are speed limits determined and by whom?
Each year the Washtenaw County Road Commission receives many
questions and requests regarding speed limits on county
roadways. Many of these concerns materialize as requests for
reduced speed limits.
The purpose of a speed limit is to promote a safe roadway
environment for motorists and pedestrians as well as to enable
police enforcement of unsafe driving behavior. In order to
promote the safest driving environment possible, established
speed limits must be realistic.
How Speed Limits are Established on County Roads
Michigan State law governs the methods by which speed limits
are established on the county road system. The Michigan Vehicle
Code was updated in 2006 with unanimous approval from the
Michigan House and Senate. The revisions to the vehicle code
established a new prima facie method for determining speed
limits. The revisions also placed great emphasis on establishing
an absolute speed limit through an engineering study and the
traffic control order process.
The Legislature, Michigan State Police, County Road
Association of Michigan (CRAM), and representatives of the
Washtenaw County Road Commission worked together to develop the
changes in the vehicle code. The methods established for
determining speed limits are based on empirical evidence and
practices that are used throughout the country. These methods
are designed to promote uniform operating speeds across the
driving population and to provide the safest driving conditions
possible.
The Basic Speed Law and Prima Facie Speed Limits
The Michigan Vehicle Code states that at the most basic level
a “person operating a vehicle on a highway shall operate that
vehicle at a careful and prudent speed not greater than nor less
than is reasonable and proper”. The Vehicle Code places
responsibility on the driver to be diligent and aware of their
surrounding while being fully in control of their vehicle at all
times.
The Michigan Vehicle Code establishes the maximum speed limit
on all highways as 55 mph. Prima facie reductions to this
maximum speed include 25 mph in business districts, 25 mph on
platted subdivision streets, and 15 mph in mobile home parks;
these prima facie speeds do not need to be posted speed limits.
Other prima facie speed reductions are based on access point
density.
The Michigan Vehicle Code allows for reductions in maximum
speed limits to 45, 35, or 25 mph on the basis of access point
density per half mile. Prima facie speed reductions on the basis
of accesses points require the speed limit to be posted on the
roadway. Maximum speed limit reductions made through this method
require a field investigation where the number of access points
(commercial driveways, residential driveways, and intersections)
per half mile is determined. Reductions to the speed limit can
be made if any of the following criteria are met:
• 25 miles per hour on a highway segment with 60 or more
vehicular access points within 1/2 mile
• 35 miles
per hour on a highway segment with not less than 45 vehicular
access points but no more than 59 vehicular access points within
1/2 mile
• 45 miles
per hour on a highway segment with not less than 30 vehicular
access points but no more than 44 vehicular access points within
1/2 mile
Back to top
How can I get my road graded?
Please call our office directly at (734) 761-1500. We will respond as quickly as possible, however at times road grading must be postponed due to weather. If the road is too dry or too wet, grading has little affect other than to re-arrange dust or mud.
Back to top
How can I get my road dust controlled?
We contract with each township on dust control applications each year. We do offer dust control for a nominal fee.
Back to top
Which roads are plowed first?
Winter maintenance operations will be conducted based on a priority system established on the County and State Trunkline roads. The priorities primarily have been established based on traffic volumes.
- Priority 1 - State Trunklines
- Priority 2 - High volume hard surface roads
- Priority 3 - Medium volume hard surface roads
- Priority 4 - Subdivision streets
- Priority 5 - Gravel roads
More information is available on our Winter Maintenance page, or Back to top
Your truck knocked down my mailbox! When are you going to fix it?
Mailboxes are sometimes knocked down by road commission trucks when plowing snow. The Road Commission's policy is to replace mailboxes that have actually been hit by the snow plow; however, if the mailbox or wooden post was broken off from the force of the snow coming off the plow blade, we do not replace or repair it. Please call our office and we will check into the problem.
Back to top
