m-bike.org

Author: Todd Scott

  • Metro Detroit Bike Shorts: Construction time

    Construction season is upon us and there are many trail- or bike-related projects in the works. Here are some brief updates:

    • Construction on the Clinton River Trail bridge over Telegraph in Pontiac is expected to begin in a month and be completed this year.
    • The bridge construction which is causing weekday closures of the Dequindre Cut is apparently on schedule and should be completed by September.
    • Atwater Street is also under construction between Rivard and Orleans in Detroit. When completed, we heard it will have bike lanes from the Ren Cen to Jos Campau.
    • The city of Detroit is updating the bike lanes on Belle Isle and adding more on some of the internal roads thanks to some unexpected, but much welcomed grant funding.
    • The contract for Wayne State University’s bike lane/streetscape project on Anthony Wayne Drive shows the project being completed by November.
    • MTGA and others are still working with MDOT to try and get bike lanes on Michigan Avenue from Livernois to Rosa Parks in Corktown.
    • Construction of the new MDOT trail along M-5 between 13 Mile and 14 Mile is underway — and it looks like the trail will be an awesome ride once completed.

    And some non-construction updates:

    • The city of Royal Oak has received their federal funding for their non-motorized planning efforts. We can expect them to start soon.
    • The city of Novi has issued a Request for Proposals to develop a non-motorized plan.
    • Wayne County has submitted an MDOT grant application which would extend the Conner Creek Greenway from the Mt. Olivet Cemetery to Eight Mile. This project is a mix of shared-use path and bike lanes.

  • Detroit celebrates Dequindre Trail opening

    It’s only three blocks long, but it connects the Dequindre Cut to Milliken State Park and the Detroit RiverWalk.

    And it’s a beautiful three blocks.

    Today, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and others cut ribbons on both ends of the trail to mark the official opening of the Dequindre Trail Extension.

    The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy also unveiled their new banners along the Dequindre Trail and Cut. Those banners were designed by local school children and reflect a series of themes, such as “play”, “grow”, and “inspire.”

    The Dequindre Trail abuts the historic Globe Building
    There are plenty of places to sit, walk, or bike
    Mayor Bing poses with local school children involved in the banner designs
    One of the many new banners along the Dequindre trail

  • Detroit’s newest bikes lanes on St. Jean


    The city of Detroit has added another couple miles of bike lanes this spring on St. Jean between Jefferson and Mack Avenues. (Two miles? Yes, we count both the northbound and southbound lanes.) The city was repaving St. Jean using federal stimulus funding and suggested adding the bike lanes.

    These bike lanes help complete a portion of the Conner Creek Greenway, which will eventually stretch nine miles from the Detroit River to Eight Mile Road (and hopefully beyond!)

    Sandi Svoboda sent us this photo of her giving them the thumbs up while riding on St. Jean. Sandi is a staff writer for the Metro Times and authored the recent articles on cycling in Detroit. She’s also a dedicated bike commuter.

    She also added a Metro Times news blog entry titled Streets Completing.

  • Bike lanes in Highland Park?

    The city of Highland Park is currently updating their recreation master plan.

    Surprisingly enough, their 1999 plan “promotes the implementation of bike lanes throughout the city in an effort to promote both a linked park and school system as well as non-motorized traffic” (according to the city’s master plan.) We’re trying to find a copy of the original 1999 plan which supposedly have greater details.

    Even still, we do have proposed bike lane map, which is fairly good. Our only thoughts are:

    • McNichols needs bike lanes. They are specified in the Detroit plan.
    • It’s too bad there’s no clear continuing route for Glendale over to Oakland, which is a fairly minor issue.
    • We’re not sure why Midland was chosen rather than continuing on Puritan.
    • It might be wise adding a connection between Second and Third at the southern city boundary. That would tie together the two Detroit routes. McNichols would tied them together on the northern boundary.
    • The railroad should be highlighted as a future shared-use pathway called the Inner Circle Greenway.

    What is odd about the city’s master plan is they recommend a single bike lane on the east side of Hamilton. That is not a safe or proper design.

    Of course, none of this has been implemented to date. Highland Park has been through some tumultuous times of late. Still, these plans certainly open the door for the future.

  • MDOT announces Transportation Enhancement grants

    MDOT recently announced another round of Transportation Enhancement grants. This funding comes from the federal transportation bill and is the major funding source for bike projects in Michigan.

    There are a couple bike-related local projects receiving this funding.

    The first is for a Anthony Wayne Drive, which is really a continuation of Second and Third Streets through the Wayne State University campus in Detroit. This street of road will be made into a Complete Street, including more bike lanes. These bike lanes will connect with those planned by the New Center Council on Second Avenue to the north and those planned by the city to the south.

    The city of Detroit, in partnership with Wayne State University, will construct a streetscape project on Anthony Wayne Drive, from Warren Avenue to Palmer Street. The project will include sidewalks that are Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant with the, street lighting, trees, bike lanes, benches and trash receptacles. These enhancements will improve sidewalk connectivity and promote safety, security and a “green” environment. The project also will create a pedestrian-friendly environment encouraging a walkable community. The project cost is $704,855, including $563,884 in federal funds and $140,971 in local match from Wayne State University.

    The second project is less exciting from a cycling perspective, though it does include bike racks.

    The village of Lake Orion and Lake Orion Downtown Development Authority will develop a project that will create a sense of arrival and enhance the historic nature of a unique downtown district. The project area includes Broadway Street, from M-24 to Shadboldt, and Flint Street, from Lapeer to Anderson. Project elements include replacing streetlight globes and installing brick pavers, benches, bike racks, trees and tree grates. The project cost is $684,535, including $444,948 in federal TE funds and $239,587 in match from the Lake Orion Downtown Development Authority.