Detroit, MI - The City of Detroit is seeking input from city residents in developing a transportation plan the city is calling, Streets for People.
The plan has a singular focus; make it easier and safer for all Detroiters to move around city streets, whether walking, biking, driving or via transit. The plan seeks to knit together diverse neighborhoods, prioritize safety of the most vulnerable road users, and identify clear implementation and design strategies for roadway improvement. Most importantly, it will be rooted in an inclusive planning process that gives a voice to the city’s residents who are most implicated by the transportation system.
Over the next several months, the city will host a series of virtual community engagement meetings, a text campaign, surveys and website updates providing a platform for residents to share their thoughts and ideas on how to make city streets safer and easier to navigate, no matter the mode of transportation being used. Dates for these meetings will be available in the coming weeks. The transportation plan is set to be completed over the next 12 months by the Department of Public Works in partnership with MDOT, SEMCOG, city departments, and partner agencies.
The plan will focus on five core areas:
- SAFETY FIRST - Streets should be safe for all Detroiters - no more crashes, no more deaths
- EQUITY, DIGNITY, AND TRANSPARENCY - Detroiters, these are YOUR streets - help us make them work best for you
- ACCESS FOR ALL - All Detroiters should be able to easily move around the city, no matter their age or ability
- ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY - Improve access to jobs and support neighborhoods by designing better streets and mobility options
- PUBLIC HEALTH - Better mobility options can improve the health of Detroiters and reduce pollution
As part of the Streets for People plan, the city is launching a public safety campaign. Residents can see the campaign messaging in billboards across the city, bus advertisements, as well a new campaign video that will be posted to the city’s website and social media pages.
In September, the city announced a major expansion to its speed cushion program. In 2021, 4,500 speed cushions will be installed on residential streets throughout Detroit, up from 1,200 speed cushions installed this year. This is just one method the city is implementing to reduce speeding and improve overall neighborhood safety. Traffic calming devices such as this and others will be examined in the Streets for People plan.
Residents interested in providing input can visit www.detroitmi.gov/dpw or text ‘Streets for people’ to 313-509-1559 for additional information.
Watch the Streets for People campaign video here: https://youtu.be/SQYz5DYL7qk