Primary Street Discussion
Due to some debate over the use of primary streets in Michigan, I'd like to bring this to open discussion.
Some roads have been recently marked as primary streets that I do not believe to be primary. These include (but are not limited to) Van Rd, Robinson Rd (west of US-31 where it isn't a county highway), and Brutus Rd/Burt Lake Rd. Also are the roads between Burt Lake and Mullett Lake and heading north toward Cheboygan from there. The Wiki states that primary streets are the main routes within a town or city. The marked roads are not within a town or city though they may touch a town or city for a small part of the road. Van Rd is really not a main route anywhere other than to someone's house. Burt Lake Rd for a large part of it is just a lake front property road that is far from a direct route anywhere. And Robinson Rd west of US-31 is only really used for getting to someone's house or as a way to get to Harbor Springs (going out to S Pleasantview Rd). Now, perhaps you could argue that Robinson is a main route to get to Harbor Springs from Pellston at least as far as S Pleasantview Rd, but it still isn't within a town or city and I still don't really consider it a primary road even after living there for years. But I could possibly be okay with that one. The others though are certainly not primary roads by any definition.
Just to get the discussion started, I'll note the reasons given to me supporting marking these and then let him add more detail as desired. 1) The map looks blank without them. 2) It helps drivers find roads that are plowed first in the winter.
In my opinion, a primary street would be something like Main St in Cheboygan or Petoskey (if those weren't state highways already). It would also be like Nicolet St, Central Ave, and N Huron Ave in Mackinaw City that are correctly marked as primary streets. They are basically streets that are main roads within town.
Yes, the map may look blank in northern Michigan because there are far fewer highways than in more populated areas. That isn't a good reason to start bumping up road classifications. And if we start raising the classification for plowing, then the entire city of Petoskey (and others) would be primary streets other than in Bay View.
Anyhow, discussion is appreciated.
Edited for error in street name and to add the following.
Townline Rd in Cheboygan also shouldn't be a primary street in my opinion. It is certainly not a main route for anyone unless they live on the road. Anyone traveling through town will use the state highway.
Some roads have been recently marked as primary streets that I do not believe to be primary. These include (but are not limited to) Van Rd, Robinson Rd (west of US-31 where it isn't a county highway), and Brutus Rd/Burt Lake Rd. Also are the roads between Burt Lake and Mullett Lake and heading north toward Cheboygan from there. The Wiki states that primary streets are the main routes within a town or city. The marked roads are not within a town or city though they may touch a town or city for a small part of the road. Van Rd is really not a main route anywhere other than to someone's house. Burt Lake Rd for a large part of it is just a lake front property road that is far from a direct route anywhere. And Robinson Rd west of US-31 is only really used for getting to someone's house or as a way to get to Harbor Springs (going out to S Pleasantview Rd). Now, perhaps you could argue that Robinson is a main route to get to Harbor Springs from Pellston at least as far as S Pleasantview Rd, but it still isn't within a town or city and I still don't really consider it a primary road even after living there for years. But I could possibly be okay with that one. The others though are certainly not primary roads by any definition.
Just to get the discussion started, I'll note the reasons given to me supporting marking these and then let him add more detail as desired. 1) The map looks blank without them. 2) It helps drivers find roads that are plowed first in the winter.
In my opinion, a primary street would be something like Main St in Cheboygan or Petoskey (if those weren't state highways already). It would also be like Nicolet St, Central Ave, and N Huron Ave in Mackinaw City that are correctly marked as primary streets. They are basically streets that are main roads within town.
Yes, the map may look blank in northern Michigan because there are far fewer highways than in more populated areas. That isn't a good reason to start bumping up road classifications. And if we start raising the classification for plowing, then the entire city of Petoskey (and others) would be primary streets other than in Bay View.
Anyhow, discussion is appreciated.
Edited for error in street name and to add the following.
Townline Rd in Cheboygan also shouldn't be a primary street in my opinion. It is certainly not a main route for anyone unless they live on the road. Anyone traveling through town will use the state highway.
Re: Primary Street Discussion