News from the Trail - January 2024

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 - January 2024

State of the State & e-bike incentives

We have a favor to ask. If you're watching Governor Whitmer's State of the State address on Wednesday, January 24th at 7pm. Please use Facebook and X (Twitter) and post about the need for $8 million in the coming budget for e-bike purchase incentives during the event. For X, make sure you include the Governor's account, @govwhitmer and the tag #MISOTS2024.

If you want to do more, the NRDC has an online petition that asks the Governor "to prioritize clean energy, affordable housing, and healthier communities in her next budget request". We got that $8 million e-bike request included among the other budget requests for public transit, EVs and more. $8 million would give Michigan an e-bike purchase incentive program similar to other states.

NRDC Petition

Joe Louis Greenway Updates

The Detroit Planning and Development Department is hosting a series of online Joe Louis Greenway public meetings focusing on different areas:

Thursday, January 25th - Commercial + Small Business
Tuesday, January 30th - Mobility + Access
Thursday, February 1st - Industry + Jobs
Tuesday, February 6th - Housing
Thursday, February 8th - Vacant Land

All meetings begin at 6pm and are an hour in length. They will be recorded and made available later. RSVP for more information.

There also was a recent community meeting to discuss a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant application to construct the JLG at the south end of Clark Park.

Lastly, the Rocket Community Fund has awarded $603,400 to the City of Detroit’s Joe Louis Greenway Home Repair House Swap Program. The funding will renovate Detroit Land Bank Authority homes in the Midwest/Barton McFarland neighborhoods adjacent to the JLG. Leona Medley of the Joe Louis Greenway Partnership said, "It’s vital to the JLGPs mission that neighborhoods adjacent to the JLG where families have lived for multiple generations see their block revitalized with a laser focus on preventing displacement.”

RSVP for a Planning Meeting

Complete Streets

MDOT currently has an online survey seeking public input on their current Complete Streets policy. Please take a little bit of time to complete the survey before it closes on February 9th.

We feel their policy could be improved. Unfortunately it is often ignored or MDOT can chose not to build Complete Streets if local governments don't assume the costs of maintaining those elements. It's frustrating that they've repaved roads (like Grand River shown above), didn't do a road diet to extend the existing bike lanes, and from what we could determine, they never spoke with the City of Detroit about it. Worst still, they are constructing road projects in Detroit where they've ignored pedestrian access (Telegraph and Eight Mile).

MDOT Survey

Support the Detroit Greenways Coalition

SEMCOG 2050 Vision

SEMCOG also has an online survey for their Vision 2050 Regional Transportation Plan. "SEMCOG and transportation partners use policies and actions to guide decision-making, ensuring our transportation system meets the needs of everyone in Southeast Michigan." It looks good to use though it could be stronger on reducing vehicle miles traveled by shifting travel to transit, biking, and walking.

SEMCOG Survey

More Bike Lanes Removed

The first bike lanes removed in Detroit were on E. Grand Boulevard between I-75 and Woodward. That led to Council member Scott Benson to amendi the Communty Engagement Ordinance and require a community meeting before bike lanes were removed. While bike lanes were removed on 14th for the EV charging road, more recently they've been removed on another section of E. Grand Boulevard -- and neither had a required public meeting. We're still collecting data on this and will bring it to City Council and DPW.

Sidewalk Removal?

The Detroit Athletic Club submitted a request to vacate 60 feet of John R between Comerica Park and Madison. This included permanently removing a lane of traffic and the sidewalk. The latter was a concern for us, largely for the precedent it sets for other downtown land-owners to get valuable sidewalk property. Working with disability advocates, we alerted Council member Santiago-Romero's office, which send the bill back to committee. We expect to share an update soon that will be a win for all parties.

In the longterm, we will work with Council to update city ordinances around the right-of-way vacation process. Currently it only requires the City to tell Council about the impacts to utilities. We want Council to know the impact these decisions have on bicyclists, pedestrians, motorists, and public transit riders in advance.

Rogell Park Update

Council member James Tate recently asked the City for an update on Rogell Park. As you may recall, this former golf course is being converted to a park with trails, including a portion of the Rouge River Greenway. The City says the environmental cleanup is holding up plans, but their goal is to have construction start this Spring and be completed by Summer 2025.

City's Rogell Park webpage

Belle Isle Mobility

The DNR has provided an update on their multimodal mobility study. They recently released an update and it sounds like they've scaled back from their initial proposals, which is disappointing. We will share additional information as we receive it.

Water Square

The new hotel planned on the site of the former Joe Louis Arena includes an extension of Second Avenue with half of that dedicated to pedestrians and bicyclists. Subscribe to updates

Thanks, Joel

Thanks Joel Batterman for petitioning the City of Detroit to improve the pedestrian traffic signals near WSU. The city listened and has made improvements.

AARP Grant

AARP Community Challenges are small grants for quick-action projects. Applications are due by March 6th. There's also a webinar on January 31st.

APBP Conference

We led in getting the Association of Pedestrian & Bicycle Professionals Conference in Detroit this August 12th - 14th. We expect the call for proposals to announced soon.

State of the Strait

The one-day conference is planned for October 22nd at the University of Windsor. The focus is on cross-border tourism for bicycling and walking. The event website should be up soon.

Bike the Blizzard

Back Alley Bikes "Bike the Blizzard" event is February 24th & 25th. Registration is now open! This is a major fundraising event to fund youth bike programming.

View our updated Detroit Bike and Trail Map

This is a rendering of the U.S. Port of Entry for the Gordie Howe International Bridge that shows how bicyclists and pedestrians will get on the new bridge. It also shows the pathways and Complete Streets that are being built around the plaza area. Of course those pathways make up a portion of the Joe Louis Greenway. The opening of the bridge has been delayed to 2025.

Additional Reading

Growing number of cities to ban right turns on red for vehicles, WXYZ Detroit
Detroit’s ‘ghost’ streams can be a threat in the present, Bridge Detroit
Longtime dead end street in downtown Detroit could get new life from new convention hotel, Detroit News ($)

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