Belle Isle traffic revamp: 2-way roads, bike lanes, ferry access among proposed ideas

Randy Essex, Detroit Free Press
Updated ·4 min read
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The main road around Belle Isle could be converted to two-way traffic, among other changes meant to make it easier and safer to get around on the island, under recommendations being considered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Two-way traffic is not a certainty, said Amanda Treadwell, a DNR urban field planner involved in Belle Isle changes. It was included in a set of preliminary recommendations, drawn from public surveys and meetings with stakeholders such as the city, the Riverfront Conservancy and Michigan Department of Transportation. Treadwell said, though, that public comments on the recommendations have tilted toward retaining one-way travel on the perimeter road.

After an open house July 8 drew more than 100 people, the DNR extended the public comment period on the plan through Friday. Final recommendations are to be published by November.

Early recommendations for Belle Isle traffic flow

Suggestions include:

  • Creating a promenade for walkers and bikers down the center of Central Avenue.

  • Adding traffic circles on Central Avenue and at key intersections with the perimeter road.

  • Installing protected bike lanes on the MacArthur Bridge.

  • Improving signage around the island.

  • Adding parking as needed.

  • Offering alternative ways to reach the park, such as a ferry or improved public transportation.

The DNR, which took over management of the park as part of Detroit emerging from the nation's largest-ever municipal bankruptcy a decade ago, doesn't have a timeline or cost estimate for whatever the final recommendations turn out to be. Wade Trim, a metro Detroit-based engineering consultant firm, is completing the traffic study.

As part of the $850,000 study, the agency conducted a survey that drew more than 3,000 public responses; another survey of 400 people as they entered the island; traffic counts and aerial surveillance of movement on the island, and a traffic crash analysis.

The larger survey showed dissatisfaction with the condition of roads on Belle Isle. A third of respondents cited road conditions as their top frustration with getting to or around the island, while 21% said the condition or design of trails and sidewalks was their top concern. A quarter said they had no worries about getting around the island.

Which way do I go?

Treadwell said that survey showed that visitors found roads in the park confusing.

"People are not sure which way to go, and they were frustrated they have to drive all the way around to get somewhere" because main roads are one way. A first step among the changes, she said, will be improved signage to help direct visitors to the park's features.

But traffic calming is essential, Treadwell said, with officers observing high speeds around the island and growing numbers of visitors. An analysis showed that most conflicts occur because drivers are confused about where to turn, but in the island's most serious recent incident, a 12-year-old girl was killed last year in a hit-and-run.

"We want to simplify circulation so it's more intuitive," Treadwell said.

"You want to improve the experience and make it safer," she said. "There are a lot of ways to do that and preserve the experience of users."

Public wants more transit options

While 83% of those surveyed said they used private vehicles to reach the island — and 19% were frustrated by long lines of traffic — respondents, who could choose more than one option, also indicated their interest in ways to get on the island other than driving:

  • Shuttle or trolley to and from island (50%)

  • Bike rentals (45%)

  • Ferry to and from the island (42%)

  • Additional bus service to and from the island (27%). Detroit bus service to Belle Isle was restored in 2016, and the Detroit Department of Transportation is examining its routes, with Treadwell hoping bus options are added.

Mike Neeley, founder of D-Town Riders bike club, checks traffic as he leads bikers cruising on Belle Isle during a Soul Roll Detroit ride in Detroit, Saturday, June 5, 2021.
Mike Neeley, founder of D-Town Riders bike club, checks traffic as he leads bikers cruising on Belle Isle during a Soul Roll Detroit ride in Detroit, Saturday, June 5, 2021.

The survey also reported top uses for the park, with respondents able to choose more than one activity:

  • Relaxing and enjoying the water (63%)

  • Visiting features of the park such as the conservatory, which is currently closed for renovations, or the aquarium (60%)

  • Walking or running (48%)

  • Biking (45%)

  • Cruising (32%)

More: Long-planned riverfront path to Belle Isle set to open in October

A big change already partially completed is the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Trail, which eventually will circle the island between the main road and the Detroit River. That, along with the contemplated Central Avenue promenade, will give runners and walkers an option to avoid the roads, though more funding sources need to be identified to finish the trail, Treadwell said.

Bikers can ride there, too, but many Detroiters love Belle Isle as a flat loop to ride fast. Treadwell said that option will be preserved.

The park, which had 5.2 million visitors last year, is expected to top that total this year.

To comment on the plans, email Treadwell at treadwella@michigan.gov or call 313-261-5059.

The plans can be studied here along with survey results and other information.

Contact Randy Essex: ressex@freepress.com; @randyessex on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Belle Isle traffic revamp: 2-way roads studied amid visitor confusion