News from the Trail - December 2023

The Detroit Greenways Coalition works to promote and build a network of greenways, Complete Streets, and bike lanes that will connect people and places, improve the quality of life, beautify neighborhoods, and stimulate neighborhood-level economic development in Detroit.

News from the Trail - December 2023

2023 in Review

This was a seriously good year for making biking, walking, and rolling better in the City of Detroit. This includes major trail openings from the Joe Louis Greenway to the Southwest Greenway to the Detroit RiverWalk. We also saw some streetscapes completed with major grant funding to make additional Complete Streets in the coming years. This and more are highlighted on our website.

Safe Streets for All (again!)

Back in February, the City of Detroit received a $24.8 million road safety grant from the US DOT’s Safe Streets for All program (SS4A). Apparently lightning does strike twice.

The US DOT just awarded the City another $24.8 million SS4A grant. While the first focused on infrastructure improvements to streets with the highest crash rates, this grants focuses more on high-crash intersection near transit stops.

It will also fund "a Level of Traffic Stress analysis to address gaps in bicyclist/pedestrian networks, update the City’s Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, and pilot training for DDOT bus operators to ensure safe operations around people walking and biking."

The City of Dearborn also received nearly $25 million to make Warren Avenue (near the Joe Louis Greenway) into a Complete Street.

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EV Road in Corktown

The State of Michigan has invested $1.9 million to install a tenth of a mile EV charging road. (It's not a quarter-mile as reported.) This installation removed the bike lanes ($) on 14th, including the ones alongside Roosevelt Park where there is no charging. There was no public meeting as required by the Community Engagement Ordinance nor any mention of this removal during the 15th Street or Corktown Framework meetings.

DPW does cite the 15th Street cycletrack as a nearby alternative. That cycletrack was to be constructed this year, but it currently is used for on-street parking instead.

New Greenway?

The City of Detroit-Department of Neighborhoods is hosting the first ”Hotel Water Square” Community Benefits Meeting at 5:30pm on Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 at Huntington Place (1 Washington Blvd, RM 113 A-C). There will be a remote viewing option via Zoom.

This new hotel will be on the former Joe Louis Arena site and is an opportunity to construct a trail from the RiverWalk to Beacon Park. This is hinted at in the meeting notice as an opportunity for the "creation of new publicly accessible green spaces and connections between the Detroit Riverfront and downtown." We'd love to hear additional voices from residents (especially those within the impact area) supporting this concept.

Warren/Conner

The City of Detroit Planning and Development Department is hosting the next neighborhood planning meeting for the Greater Warren/Conner Neighborhood Framework on January 18th both in-person (6pm at Samaritan Center) and online (noon).

FHWA Report

Are bike lanes with just paint & posts ideal? No, but the Federal Highway Administration says, "Converting traditional or flush buffered bicycle lanes to a separated bicycle lane with flexible delineator posts can reduce crashes up to 53% for bicycle/vehicle crashes"

Complete Streets

While we continue our work with Council member Latisha Johnson's office, the American Heart Association and others on a Complete Streets ordinance, the University of Michigan School of Public Health created this video which features our work.

Detroit Riverfront

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy's latest newsletter is now online. "The Conservancy is targeting a second quarter 2025 grand opening for Ralph Wilson Park."

Snow Team

The City of Detroit is recruiting volunteers for their Snow Team, a "City-led volunteer effort to help seniors and the disabled in the case of a Snow Emergency (6 inches or more)."

Green Oasis

This Great Lakes Now article covers the opportunity to further green a portion of Southwest Detroit near the Marathon plant. This includes new trails and an expanded Fort Street Park along the Rouge River.

8 Mile & I-75

MDOT is studying how to improve the Eight Mile and I-75 interchange. Could this become a safer place to walk and bike? Add your comments to say how.

Coupe Day

The City of Detroit has created this video on Coupe Day as part of their Detroit Bike Culture Series. This event occurs every year over Memorial Weekend.

State Bills

The bill to preserve 25 MPH speed limits on residential streets passed with a little push from us. The speed limit default was set to expire on January 1st!

View our updated Detroit Bike and Trail Map

Additional Reading

How Detroit roads risk the safety of the city’s youngest commuters, Chalkbeat
Banning right on red? Cities flirt with prohibiting turns during red lights, Fox 2 Detroit
How North American Cities Can Prepare for and Promote
Large-Scale Adoption of Cargo e-Bikes, University of Washington Urban Freight Lab

Detroit Greenways Coalition - PO Box 32013, Detroit, Michigan 48232