DETROIT – The Michigan Departments of Natural Resources and Transportation and the Belle Isle Conservancy have finalized recommendations to improve travel to and around Belle Isle in Detroit.
The announcement occurred on Thursday (Jan. 23), when the goals were set.
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Officials said they want to ease traffic congestion, enhance accessibility, and increase public safety.
The Belle Isle multimodal mobility plan, informed by a 2.5-year comprehensive study, outlines a 10-year implementation strategy to help visitors move freely and efficiently throughout the park, including its roads, trails, sidewalks, and parking areas.
Key recommendations include:
- Restriping the MacArthur Bridge with two lanes for cars in each direction and a dedicated two-way bike lane, providing a safe and separated path for cyclists and pedestrians to access the Detroit International RiverWalk.
- Restriping the perimeter loop road to include one-way vehicular traffic and two-way bike lanes.
- Converting Central Avenue, spanning 1.25 miles from the James Scott Memorial Fountain to the woods, creating a people-focused promenade for walkers, bikers, runners, and others.
- Installing wayfinding and directional signage to help visitors better understand how to move around the island.
- Partnering with the Detroit Department of Transportation to expand bus routes and stops around the island; MOGO – a Detroit-based nonprofit bike-share organization – to expand on-site bike sharing; and others to determine the feasibility of a ferry stop at Belle Isle.
- The construction of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trail, which also serves as the southernmost six miles of Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail, is being completed for biking, walking, and rolling around the island.
While many of the recommended improvements will necessitate additional funding and the development of more detailed designs, many changes are already underway.
For example, the last phase of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trail, a two-way cycle track for bicyclists, and interim restriping of Central Avenue to better define driving lanes, two-way While many of the recommended improvements will necessitate additional funding and the development of more detailed designs, many changes are already underway.
For example, the last phase of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trail, a two-way cycle track for bicyclists, and interim restriping of Central Avenue to better define driving lanes, two-way bike lanes, on-street parking, and pedestrian crosswalks will be completed in 2025.
Officials say the design and installation of new wayfinding signs are taking shape, with some items to be installed this year.
Building upon the multimodal mobility plan, the DNR Parks and Recreation Division will soon develop a strategic plan for Belle Isle Park that will outline additional priorities that align with community needs.
Click here to find the Belle Isle multimodal mobility plan which is available at Michigan.gov/BelleIsle.
