LANSING — State highway officials on Friday announced plans to revamp a section of South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Lansing to make it safer for pedestrians.
Plans call for four "pedestrian islands" to be added along MLK between Victor Avenue and Cavanaugh Road in south Lansing beginning next spring, with the goal of reducing the distance between designated crossings and making it easier for pedestrians to cross safely.
The Michigan Department of Transportation described the project as a collaboration with the city and the South Martin Luther King Jr. Corridor Improvement Authority.
State Sen. Sarah Anthony, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the "traffic calming" project resulted from years of conversations between MDOT and various local partners.
"Reckless speeding along our busy corridors and in our neighborhoods continues to be one of the most common concerns I hear from community members," Anthony said in a news release announcing the project. “Lansing’s MLK Jr. Boulevard is an integral part of our city, spanning numerous homes, businesses, and community centers. By prioritizing creative and strategic approaches, like pedestrian islands, we can create a safer, more livable community for everyone.”
Pedestrian safety a concern
Pedestrian safety along South MLK has long been an issue.
Son Thanh Huynh, 46, of Lansing, was struck by a car and killed in April 2017 while crossing South MLK in the 3000 block. Police said they believed Huynh entered the roadway "illegally."
In January 2018, Shenell Jeanette Carson, 47, of Lansing, was killed when a vehicle hit her on MLK near Hughes Road. Police said she was not crossing within a designated crosswalk.
Patrick Davidowicz, 49, died after being struck by a vehicle as he walked along MLK in November 2020. A driver was criminally charged in connection with his death.
In June 2022, a 51-year-old man was critically injured after being struck by a vehicle while crossing MLK at Pierce Street, the State Journal reported.
The project to add pedestrian islands won't go out for bids until October, and officials didn't release a cost estimate or say where the money will come from. MDOT said the work would begin in the spring and be completed by fall 2025.
"This project is an excellent opportunity for our agencies to work together with the shared goal of making the Lansing community a safer place for pedestrians," MDOT University Region Engineer Greg Losch said in the release.
Project not tied to controversial downtown MLK reconfiguration
The 2025 project does not appear to be connected to a proposed reconfiguration of MLK on the western edge of downtown Lansing that was halted in the spring after residents pushed back.
Lansing Mayor Andy Schor announced in April the project would be paused to find a different solution, leaving $1.2 million in state funds in limbo as the city considers new plans to reduce lanes.
The overall $3 million project would have torn apart much of the road, narrowed it and shifted the green space from the median to the downtown side of the boulevard.
It was planned to happen this summer, alongside a sewer project that would have ripped up trees in the median. Both the sewer and road projects were halted, although sewer work from Ionia to Saginaw streets north of the paused project was to continue.
Contact Ken Palmer atkpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on X @KBPalm_lsj
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