Ambitious Complete Streets Plan Proposed for Woodward Ave Between Detroit and Pontiac

Eric D. Lawrence reports on the details of an ongoing planning effort by the Woodward Avenue Action Association. According to Lawrence, the association's board recently approved the Woodward Avenue Complete Streets plan, which proposes changes to Woodward Avenue from the M-1 sttreetcar line all the way to the city of Pontiac.   

Lawrence provides details about the proposed complete streets makeover, which would vary across the length of the long stretch of road. "In the M-1 Rail vicinity, for example, bike traffic would be redirected west of Woodward to Cass Avenue, but pedestrians along Woodward would see improved crosswalks and mid-block crossings."

Farther afield from Detroit's core, "a 'Parisian boulevard' is envisioned from McNichols in Detroit, north through Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Huntington Woods, Berkley, Royal Oak and Birmingham, to Quarton Road in Bloomfield Township. It would provide lanes for rapid transit buses — assuming they are eventually implemented —  in the center lane, and then spreading outward in both directions would be three lanes of traffic, a wide curb for trees or bioswales, a slip road for slower traffic, parking spots and protected bike lanes, or cycle tracks, at the same elevation as the sidewalk."

The plan would still face significant funding hurdles to reach implementation. Implementation is also contingent on the cooperation of the Michigan Department of Transportation. The article includes a lot more details about the politics behind this multi-jurisdictional plan.