There’s been much discussion on Detroit’s overbuilt roads. The loss of people and their cars not to mention the construction of the Interstates has left the city’s streets feeling bare — an excellent condition for bicycling.

In that same vein, many of Detroit’s traffic controls are no longer appropriate for the low traffic volumes.

So in response, the Detroit City Council is considering the removal of 15 traffic lights tomorrow:

Brown, reso. autho. Traffic Signal Removal at 15 locations.  (There are fifteen (15) signalized intersections that are currently operating on full time “STOP control” mode for more than a year in compliance with the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD) and are scheduled for removal due to changes in traffic conditions.)

It seems some of these traffic lights haven’t been working for a while. Public Works has put up stop signs in their place.

And hopefully this removal effort is just a start. We’re guessing there are ten times more traffic lights that could be removed in Detroit.

This could make biking in the city just a tad quicker.

From www.corycoffey.com

Cory Coffey is moving to Detroit. According to Wikipedia, she’s “most notable for being the first female to perform a backflip.”

We learned about her move via the Urbane Life blog.

The majority of people I talk to think I am crazy for moving to Detroit.  I am thrilled to be part of The Make Shift and looking forward to each day.  While involved with this group, I will be working with a youth organization (suggestions are greatly appreciated), also will be involved in the Roosevelt Park Project, and starting up a business that can be a solid building block to the community.

My main focus in this blog will be highlighting the youth of Detroit, cafes, community, and what living in Detroit may look like for a transplant.

Naturally, we’re quite curious what that business might be and whether it’ll be somehow bike-related.

Conner Creek construction in Maheras Gentry Park

Conner Creek Greenway (Detroit)

The greenway segment from Jefferson to the Detroit River (at Mahera Gentry Park) should be completed this week. Most of this route is bike lanes, but there is also a new pathway through the park.

Clinton River Trail

The new  bridge over Telegraph Road in Pontiac will be completed this spring when they are able to pour the bridge’s concrete surface. It will remain closed until then.

Macomb Orchard Trail

The County expects that one closed bridge to be repaired this winter while the remainder of the trail is paved in the spring.

I-275 Metro Trail

MDOT construction and re-construction projects continue to move further along this pathway. From the north to the south:

• MDOT expects to build the trail between 14 Mile and Maple next year.
• The segment between 13 Mile and 14 Mile is nearly done. While the pathway is open, some landscaping work remains and won’t be completed until spring.
• MDOT and Novi will be developing the connection from 13 Mile Road to the I-275 Metro Trail at Meadowbrook.
• The trail maintenance from Meadowbrook to Hines Drive is completed and the trail is open.
• Construction on the segment from Hines Drive to Michigan Avenue continues. MDOT expects the trail to open next month.
• Construction is also underway from Michigan Avenue to I-94. That should be completed by October 2011.
• From I-94 to Sibley Road, MDOT is replacing 6 bridges. They do not have funding yet to improve the trail surface.
• There are no funded reconstruction projects yet for the I-275 path once it gets to Monroe County. That is actually in a different MDOT region. Monroe is very much interested in seeing this trail continued into Downtown Monroe, the Raisin River battlefield (War of 1812), and Sterling State Park.

From the Detroit News

By early next summer, the Corktown/Mexicantown Greenlink project will add bike lanes and routes all across the area. It’s likely that these neighborhoods will have a higher density of bike facilities than any other in Michigan.

But there’s more than just biking planned for this area.

Tonight from 4pm until 7pm is a public open house:

Come share with us a Community Vision for a 20 Block Area of Vernor and Bagley in and around the Mexicantown Mercado. Over 100 stakeholders came together to strategize on the Redevelopment of this Vital Area.

Design Boards will be on display for your review and comments.

Sponsored by: Southwest Housing and Detroit Collaborative Design Center, University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture.

Today’s Detroit News has an article with additional details.

One good question is how will this area’s planned redevelopment enhance and take advantage of the new biking facilities? We’ll know more tonight.

C and G News published an article on Ferndale’s passing of a Complete Streets ordinance.

In it, Mayor  Covey (and soon to be county commissioner) astutely noted that Ferndale has already had great success with Complete Streets, citing the W. Nine Mile road diet — a key turning point in revitalizing Downtown Ferndale.

Another key benefit to the ordinance?

Councilwoman Kate Baker pointed out that having a Complete Streets policy in place will also help to get the Police Department, the Department of Public Works, the Community Development Services Department, the Parks and Recreation Department and the Plan Commission on the same page.

That’s an interesting point. In many cities now, there is no such formal departmental coordination on road projects. We recently spoke with another city’s planning commission chair. They pushed their city engineering to let their commission review and comment on the road designs before they’re finalized.

In Detroit there been a discussion on what the health department’s role is in transportation decisions. We know that road designs affect whether people can safely bike or walk. We know that these decisions affect obesity.

And, road injuries and fatalities are a health issue. New York City Mayor Bloomberg noted the increase in life expectancy for his city residents just from reduced pedestrian and cycling deaths.

One final word: Thanks to the city of Ferndale for the beautifully re-paved bikes lanes on Hilton north of Nine Mile. They’re so smooth!