The city of Detroit is set to benefit from a $20 million grant provided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The grant aims to reconstruct Michigan Avenue into a multimodal corridor, transforming it into a safer and more accessible transportation route for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.
Michigan Avenue, one of Detroit’s key downtown transportation corridors, is currently characterized by a lack of safety measures and poor connectivity. The reconstruction project will address these issues by installing dedicated transit lanes, connected autonomous vehicle lanes, midblock crossings, curb bump-outs, and dedicated turn lanes.
One of the main motivations behind the project is to improve safety for all users of the corridor. Crash history along Michigan Avenue has identified several hotspots, with the intersections of Michigan Avenue and 14th Street, Wabash Street, Rosa Parks Boulevard, Trumbull Street, and 3rd Street being particularly problematic. The wide distances for pedestrians to cross, challenging geometrics, and vehicles traveling above the speed limit have contributed to the unsafe conditions.
Additionally, the project aims to revitalize the corridor from Interstate 96 to the heart of downtown, ensuring better access and connectivity for commuters and residents alike. This includes improving conditions for bus riders and bicyclists, adding mid-block crossings, curb bump-outs, and dedicated turn lanes. The construction is expected to begin in 2024.
The reconstruction of Michigan Avenue into a multimodal corridor will have various positive outcomes and practical impacts. It will create safer pedestrian crossings, preserve parking spaces for delivery vehicles, and enhance transit options for commuters. Furthermore, by promoting low- and no-carbon transportation modes, the project will contribute to climate impact mitigation. It will also play a role in promoting equitable access to economic opportunities and public services for all residents.
This investment is one of the many projects being tracked under the Biden Administration Investment Tracker, which aims to provide transparency and information on the economic, practical, and climate impacts of the administration’s infrastructure investments.
FAQ:
What is the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act?
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a bipartisan infrastructure law that seeks to invest in and rebuild American infrastructure. It provides funding for various projects across the country.
What is the purpose of the Michigan Avenue reconstruction project?
The purpose of the Michigan Avenue reconstruction project is to transform the corridor into a multimodal transportation route, improving safety and accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.
What improvements will be made to Michigan Avenue?
The project will include the installation of dedicated transit lanes, connected autonomous vehicle lanes, midblock crossings, curb bump-outs, and dedicated turn lanes.
When will the construction of the multimodal corridor begin?
Construction of the multimodal corridor is expected to start in 2024.
What are the expected outcomes of the project?
The project aims to create safer pedestrian crossings, preserve parking spaces for delivery vehicles, enhance transit options for commuters, and promote low- and no-carbon transportation modes. It also seeks to improve access to economic opportunities and public services for residents.