The Dirt: Transit projects are all over the city

Last week, our news recap was all about renting . This week, it’s all about transit. We’ve got updates on state plans to build over I-75 and do streetscaping on Michigan Avenue. Is it finally regional transit’s time? Public officials are talking big about their commitment to improving public transportation in Southeast Michigan.

Also, the state allocated more than $55 million for Detroit projects, including money for the Motown Museum and streetscaping in Chinatown.

Put a lid on it

The idea of a street-level “lid” over I-75 downtown continues to gain momentum, as several major stakeholders get involved and voice their support.

The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) received a $2 million federal grant earlier this year to gather public feedback and conduct a feasibility study for the potential project. The additional real estate could be used for public parks and a mix of commercial and residential developments. It would also improve connections to new and proposed developments like The District Detroit, whose joint development team — The Related Companies and Olympia Development of Michigan — committed $400,000 to the study. DDP Project Manager James Fidler said city and state officials are also on board with the project. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) would oversee construction.

The maximum size of the cap would be about a half mile from Third Avenue to Brush Street (paywalled) — though Fidler said it likely isn’t feasible to cap that entire stretch. The first of three public meetings on the project was held in June, with two more planned for August and October, though the dates haven’t been finalized yet.

Planners hope to finish the design and begin construction in 2025 or 2026 and complete it by 2028. (BridgeDetroit, Crain’s Detroit Business)

Michigan revamping Michigan Avenue

MDOT is also planning to repave Michigan Avenue, sparking concerns among some Corktown residents (paywalled).

A brief description of the project on MDOT’s website indicates plans for a dedicated transit lane with space for autonomous vehicles, a single lane of vehicle traffic in each direction, sidewalk-level bike lanes and an expanded sidewalk. Previous reports estimate the project will cost $70 million, with construction to start in spring 2025.

Community members, who launched a “Save The Bricks!” campaign, are opposed to the removal of historic brick pavers and worry that a single vehicle lane would significantly slow traffic. The current plans call for reusing the bricks in the sidewalk. An MDOT spokesperson said no final decisions have been made and that outreach to the community will continue. (Detroit Free Press, MDOT)

$$$ for transit

Public officials are optimistic that Southeast Michigan is finally beginning to coordinate efforts to improve regional public transit (paywalled). Residents continue to move out of the region, with many citing the area’s limited transit options as a major reason.

A bill in the state Legislature proposes adding $200 million annually to public transit and mobility. The state House has also started a transit caucus to identify issues and propose policy. Each of the six major transit systems in the region have upgraded in important ways, like the Detroit Department of Transportation’s new $31 million transit center on 8 Mile Road and the Regional Transit Authority’s new bus services between downtown Detroit and the airport.

Plenty of issues remain with reliability, and ridership is still down more than 40% since the pandemic. (Crain’s)

$$$ for Detroit

The new $59 billion spending plan recently signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer includes more than $55 million in funding for projects in Detroit . Highlights include $5 million for the Motown Museum, $5 million for the Bonstelle Theatre and $2 million for the E. Warren Development Corp.

The budget also allocates $2.1 billion to local road agencies and $100 million to help the Michigan State Housing Development Authority increase housing stock and affordability around the state. (Freep)

Development news quick-hitters

We’re having trouble keeping up with all the latest news involving former Detroit RiverFront Conservancy CFO William Smith, who is accused of stealing around $40 million from the nonprofit. The conservancy filed its own lawsuit against Smith, echoing many of the allegations from the criminal case and naming co-conspirators, including some family members and an associate who may have helped him hide stolen money. Invest Detroit also revealed some new details about loans it approved for a cigar bar (paywalled) near the riverfront, a project proposed by Smith. The case underscores the many intertwining interests between the conservancy and the lender. (Detroit News)

In addition to the Renaissance Center, Dan Gilbert might also be eyeing a surface parking lot owned by General Motors Co. (paywalled). Developers have proposed many projects on the site over the years, but none have come to fruition. GM and Bedrock Detroit are jointly exploring future uses for the automaker’s soon-to-be-former headquarters. (Crain’s)

Another project in the state budget is $1 million for streetscaping in Detroit’s former Chinatown in the Cass Corridor. The money will be used to beautify and preserve the neighborhood’s historic Chinese heritage. (Senate Dems)

Last week, construction crews broke ground on an apartment complex in North Corktown that will create hundreds of new units . The initial phase at the Preserve on Ash includes five new buildings totalling 100 units, with 48 reserved for people making between 30-60% of the area median income. (Urbanize Detroit)

The Dirt: Transit projects are all over the city · Outlier Media