Talk:M-17 (Michigan highway)/GA2

GA Reassessment

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I've never done a GAR, so I apologize if I do this incorrectly.

My first concern with this article is that it does not meet Good Article criterion #2 ("Factually accurate and verifiable"). I found a number of factual errors in the "Route description" section, some of which would be obvious simply by looking at a map, and others of which are obvious to anyone who has driven the route. I have attempted to correct the errors that I spotted, but I have no references for this. Also, this article is sourced almost entirely to maps. This is not necessarily a problem, but requires that we stick to facts that are actually shown on the map and not interpretations or guesswork. Another concern under GAC 2 is the image used in the infobox (File:Michigan 17 map.png), which only shows a portion of the road.

My second concern is that it does not meet GAC #3a ("it addresses the main aspects of the topic"). The western portion of it, running on Washtenaw Avenue from US-23 to the EMU campus, is a major thoroughfare in the area. A reasonable search will turn up quite a lot that's been written about this stretch of road, including the general character of the road, notable landmarks along it, the history of the developments along the road, and future plans. I suspect, but do not know, that similar information (though perhaps in less quantity) could be found regarding the eastern portion of it, on Ecorse.

Thanks, cmadler (talk) 14:32, 20 May 2011 (UTC)

Replies

1. There are 112 total highway/road articles in Michigan that are assessed and listed as either Good Articles or Featured Articles. Their route descriptions are universally sourced to maps, although they may use additional resources like travel guides for specific details. Between the current MDOT map and and the hybrid satellite view of Google Maps (or any other major online mapping service), the major details can be sourced. No specialist knowledge is necessary to interpret the satellite view from the online maps to describe physical surroundings in a generalized sense.
2. As for Washtenaw vs. Ecorse, both roadways are covered in the RD section.
3. If there is an error in the map, the {{USRD}} banner has a link to the Maps Task Force for corrections. A request has been placed, but that might take a while. At best, the map does not impact the continued listing of the article; at worst, it can be removed until updated. (If removed, please update the wikiproject banner on the talk page to indicate that the article no longer has a map.)
4. GAC 3a only requires the main aspects to be incorporated; it does not require the article to be comprehensive. There is a fine line though to note: WP:NOT says explicitly that Wikipedia is not a travel guide, so any description of a highway's route needs to be tailored carefully to focus on what's along the road in a generalize sense without straying into minute details of all of the landmarks and surroundings. This article does that.
5. If there is something specific you feel should be added to it, please either add it, or propose its addition with citations. In the absence of specific suggestions, the presumption is that the article touches on the "main aspects" as it stands.
6. Articles about highways typically do not list mundane and routine details like car accidents, crimes, regular maintenance or typical development projects.
   1. If new construction along a roadway necessitates changes to the road itself, that's different, but just building a new business or subdivision is not worthy of inclusion.
   2. The same goes for future plans that won't radically alter the roadway.
   3. News articles about crimes don't warrant mention in this article either, unless a specific crime is notable enough for its own Wikipedia article.

   In other words, this article is about the highway itself and references its environment, but does not dwell on minute details of that environment to keep focused (GAC 3b).

7. Note, that when articles like this one were being revised, revamped and expanded in 2008, AADT and NHS information was not being added. More recent nominations have included that, so I have added that now. Eventually, all of the Michigan articles will include that information as the project starts to nominate GAs for A-Class or FA assessments.
8. As for any inaccuracies, if they're the only points left to address and they've already been corrected, then any further reassessment is unnecessary.

Imzadi 1979 → 18:03, 20 May 2011 (UTC)

• I'm not suggesting that using a map as a source in unsuitable -- I think that's obviously acceptable -- but statements about (for example) roads passing through residential areas, etc. are not adequately supported by the maps.
• Operating on the theory that missing information is better than wrong information, I've removed the incorrect map from the infobox, pending a corrected version.
• I find the RD section to be very superficial. I'm not talking about comprehensive coverage; there are "main aspects" of the route that are not mentioned. This is probably the most-written-about, most-discussed roadway in the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area. Concerns about traffic congestion and non-motorized (pedestrian and cyclist) use of this road appear in major local media on a regular basis. Other main aspects of this roadway that are entirely omitted from the article are a major landmark (Ypsilanti Water Tower) on the route, the fact that it is the primary thoroughfare through downtown Ypsilanti, and as a result of the latter, that the M-17/BUS US 12/Michigan Ave crossing over the Huron River is the grid center of Ypsilanti.
• Also, unless my understanding of the term is wrong (which is possible), I do not think M-17 runs concurrently with BUS US 12 until the Huron Street intersection; the several blocks before (west) that intersection have westbound M-17 on the westbound (southern) lanes and eastbound BUS US 12 on the eastbound (north) lanes, with most of that stretch divided with a median (as a boulevard). I changed this, but in your recent edits you changed it back. (Please let me know if I'm misunderstanding the idea of concurrency.) Thanks, cmadler (talk) 19:05, 20 May 2011 (UTC)

Maps in the infobox are not required at the GA level. They are required at the A-class and FA levels, however. --Rschen7754 19:28, 20 May 2011 (UTC)

Cmadler: feel free to add to the article any sourced information yo want to see added to it. A search for news articles [1] does not reveal sources to back what you're saying. Most of the results that appear related to past crimes or items about businesses or people that tangentially refer to the roadway, or to a street in Chicago. As for anything else, you're free to edit the article to update or clarify any of the points you mention. Imzadi 1979 → 17:48, 22 May 2011 (UTC)

I'm closing this individual reassessment as "no consensus" to open a new community reassessment.' - cmadler (talk) 18:57, 9 June 2011 (UTC)