Detroit
Department
of
Public
Works
Director
Ron
Brundidge
points
to a
rendering
of how
the new
East
Jefferson
Avenue
improvements
will
look
after
competition.
(Photo
by HB
Meeks/Tell
Us
Detroit)
City
starts
E.
Jefferson
Ave.
corridor
improvements,
making
safer
for all
residents
• Road
to be
converted
from
seven
driving
lanes to
five to
calm
traffic
•
Shorter
pedestrian
crossing
distances
&
clearer
crosswalks
to
improve
safety
•
Addition
of
protected
bike
lanes to
help
connect
residents
to Belle
Isle &
Riverfront
DETROIT
- On May
14, 2018
the
city's
Department
of
Public
Works
Director
Ron
Brundidge
announced
that
they
will
begin
the
first
phase of
a
project
to
increase
safety,
mobility
and
connectivity
along a
5.4-mile
stretch
of East
Jefferson,
redesigning
driving
lanes
and
installing
new
protected
bike
lanes
and
dedicated
parking
lanes.
The road
surface
redesign
is
expected
to
improve
safety
for all
who use
this
historic
corridor
running
from
downtown
to the
city
limits.
This
project
plans to
provide
enhanced
and
smoother
mobility
for
motorists,
bicyclists
and
pedestrians
along
East
Jefferson
as it
connect
all to
the
Riverfront.
Key
elements
of the
redesign
include:
•
Converting
the road
from
seven
driving
lanes to
five
lanes
(two
driving
lanes in
each
direction
and a
dedicated
left-turn
lane.)
This
will
create
shorter
crossing
distances
for
pedestrians
and help
to calm
traffic
along
East
Jefferson,
as well.
•
Installing
clearer
crosswalks
to
further
improve
pedestrian
safety.
• Adding
protected
bike
lanes on
both
sides of
East
Jefferson.
The bike
lanes
will
occupy
the curb
lane. To
improve
pedestrian
and
bicyclist
safety,
a
designated
formal
parking
lane
will be
installed
next to
the bike
lane,
away
from the
curb,
and with
a buffer
zone
between
it and
the bike
lane.
Schedule
The
project
will
begin
the week
of May
14 and
is
expected
to be
complete
by July
4. Work
will be
done in
three
individual
phases
to
reduce
the
project’s
impact
on
traffic.
The
first
section
to be
redesigned
will be
on the
east end
from
Lakewood
to St.
Jean
streets.
Once
that is
completed
and
fully
reopened,
Phase
Two
installation
will
occur
from St.
Jean to
Van
Dyke,
followed
by Phase
Three
from Van
Dyke to
Rivard.
Public
Education
Because
the new
design
will
bring
together
several
new
visual
street
elements,
including
red
painted
boxes on
the
pavement
to
identify
bus
stops
and
green
sections
where
bikes
and cars
share
the
road,
the City
is
undertaking
a public
education
effort
to help
residents
understand
the
changes
before
they are
put in
place.
This
week,
every
household
north
and
south of
East
Jefferson
within
the
project
limits
will
receive
a
printed
brochure
that
explains
each
aspect
of the
redesign
and
provides
tips for
motorists
and
bicyclists
on how
to
safely
use the
newly
designed
road.
Street
signs
will be
installed
temporarily
along
the
length
of the
project
reminding
motorist
that the
parking
lane is
now set
farther
out from
the curb
because
of the
addition
of the
bike
lanes.
The city
also has
set up a
web page
at
www.detroitmi.gov/eastjefferson
which
includes
the same
information,
along
with an
email
address
where
residents
can
submit
feedback.
The City
will
evaluate
the
project
based on
safety
data,
mobility
data,
and
community
feedback
to
determine
any
design
changes
that may
be
necessary.
“The
safety
of our
streets
starts
by
designing
them for
everyone
who uses
them,”
said
Brundidge
“Effective
public
education
is
another
part of
that
strategy
that
reinforces
safety
when we
bring
new
designs
to our
roads.”
District
managers,
DPW and
Planning
Department
staff
will be
available
to
attend
community
and
block
club
meetings.
To
request
city
staff
attend a
meeting,
contact
your
district
manager
or email
eastjefferson@detroitmi.gov.
Reasons
for the
changes
East
Jefferson,
which
carries
more
than
20,000
vehicles
per day,
saw 777
traffic
crashes
from
2012-2016.
Six of
those
crashes
were
fatal,
with
three of
them
pedestrians.
The
Detroit
Police
Department
regularly
addresses
issues
of
speeding
and
other
traffic
violations
along
this
stretch
of East
Jefferson,
which
passes
several
schools
and
residential
buildings
for
senior
citizens.
The City
of
Detroit
wants to
ensure
that
everyone,
whether
they’re
driving,
walking
or
riding
their
bike,
can
safely
get to
their
destination.
The
safety
improvements
and
protected
bike
lanes
along
East
Jefferson
will
help
accomplish
this
goal by
providing
safe
routes
for
cyclists
while
also
improving
experiences
for
pedestrians
and
improving
traffic
safety.
The
protected
bike
lanes
are
being
installed
this
summer
ahead of
a
planned
2020
repaving
of East
Jefferson
when the
Detroit
Water
and
Sewerage
Department
will
also
replace
outdated
water
and
sewer
lines.
To avoid
repetitive
and
wasteful
repaving,
the city
will
restripe
East
Jefferson
this
summer,
waiting
until
2020 to
fully
resurface
the
road.
Minor
impact
on
vehicle
traffic
There
may be a
minor
adjustment
period
during
the
construction
period,
but the
conversion
of East
Jefferson’s
lanes is
not
expected
to
significantly
impact
the
overall
flow of
traffic,
and will
calm
traffic
along
East
Jefferson.
Street
parking
will be
unavailable
for a
short
period
in each
phase of
construction.
When
construction
is
complete,
drivers
will
have
designated
on-street
parking
spaces
located
on the
traffic
side of
the
protected
bike
lanes.
Drivers
will
park in
areas
marked
by paint
along
bollards
protecting
the bike
lanes.
Improved
safety
for
bicyclists
Cyclists
can
expect
safer
bike
lanes,
protected
by
bollards,
painted
buffers
and
on-street
parking
following
construction.
During
construction,
bike
lanes
will
have
limited
access
in
construction
zones.
Upon
completion,
cyclists
will be
able to
ride
protected
from
vehicular
traffic
and
separated
from
opening
car
doors.
Shorter
pedestrian
crossing
distances
Pedestrians
can
expect
limited
impacts
during
the
construction
period,
and
great
benefits
following
construction.
New and
improved
pedestrian
crosswalks
will be
installed
along
the
entire
stretch
of East
Jefferson,
improving
safety
and
walkability.
The
conversion
of lanes
will
also
create
shorter
crossing
distances
using
nationally
recognized
standards,
and
promoting
connectivity
from
East
Side
neighborhoods
to the
Riverfront,
which
millions
of
visitors
enjoy
each
year.