Hancock City Council to hold Public Hearing including White Street preceding June 21 meeting

These one-way signs at the corner of White Street and U.S. 41 in Hancock are intended to warn motorists the street is for upbound traffic only, with the exception of bicycles. The bike lane (lower left in photo) was added last summer to allow cyclists to ride downhill on White Street. (June 19, 2017, photo by Keweenaw Now)

HANCOCK -- The question of whether White Street in Hancock should continue to be one-way going uphill from downtown Hancock to U.S. 41, according to the City Council decision in 2014, or return to a two-way street will be discussed at a Public Hearing at 7:30 p.m. this Wednesday, June 21, preceding the monthly City Council meeting in the Council Chambers, 399 Quincy Street, Hancock.

The no-right-turn sign (upper left in photo) above U.S. 41 warns northbound traffic not to turn down White Street now that it is one way. (June 19, 2017, photo by Keweenaw Now)

Three years ago, in 2014, the Hancock City Council approved making White Street from Reservation Street to N. Lincoln Dr. (US 41) one-way upbound only. The Council made its decision after several residents supported the one-way upbound for safety reasons.*

Prior to the 2014 decision, White Street had 24-hour vehicle counts of 2,339 downbound and 3,356 upbound for a total of 5,694 vehicles. In 2015, the 24-hour vehicle count on the upbound lane was 4,825 -- an increase of 43 percent over the prior upbound lane count. The City estimates that if White Street was reopened to two-way traffic, there would be a 24-hour vehicle count of between 7,325 and 8,000 vehicles. Another addition to White Street is the bike lane marked for downbound bicycles, which are allowed despite the one-way upbound for vehicle traffic.**

This photo, taken in 2014 at the corner of White Street and US 41, shows traffic barrels and barriers that were set up to prevent cars from turning downhill on White Street, which is now one-way going up from downtown Hancock. Cars going up the hill, like those pictured here, can still turn left or right on US 41 (North Lincoln Ave.). Eventually motorists got used to the one-way street, and improved signs replaced the barriers. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

Oral and written comments are welcomed.

The Council will discuss and consider White Street options during the New Business part of the meeting.

In addition to the question on White Street, these two issues will also be a part of the Public Hearing:

• Public Hearing on FY 17/18 Fiscal Year Budget with $7,958,150 in revenue and $7,441,347 in expenses.

• MEDC Grant # MSC-215003-CDF Close out grant for Vollwerth’s Expansion Grant.

The Council will also welcome John Haeussler as At-Large City Council member for a term ending in November 2018.

Editor's Notes:

* See our June 22, 2014, article, "Hancock City Council approves one-way street changes."

** See our Aug. 30, 2016, article, "Hancock bike lane on White St. allows cyclists to ride against one-way motorized traffic."