MDOT has undertaken $4 million in road “improvements” at Belle Isle State Park where they not only failed to build sidewalks that were missing — they removed existing sidewalks.

When we first learned that substantial taxpayer dollars were allocated to Belle Isle roads, we wrote MDOT and the DNR asking that “All of the park roads, including the MacArthur Bridge, should be designed using Complete Streets principles. The major park roads should have wide sidewalks.” We also asked for other non-motorized improvements.

We were clearly ignored.

Now we can expect to see more pedestrians having to walk in the roadway, and more specifically in the bike lane, forcing cyclists to swerve into the vehicle lanes.

Not smart. This certainly does not follow MDOT’s Complete Street Policy.

The political reality is the Detroit Grand Prix got the $4 million from the state legislature with the intention of improving Belle Isle roads for racing. But these are state trunklines — and in a state park no less — and that same legislative body also passed the Complete Streets laws.

Making matter worse, for at least a month now MDOT has allowed the Belle Isle bike lanes and sidewalks to be blocked and inaccessible. We expect this to last at least two more months until after the Grand Prix finishes.

Neither MDOT nor the DNR are being proper stewards of a state park when public access is compromised for a quarter of the year.

While some may point to the benefits the Grand Prix brings to the island, they must be weighed against the $4 million benefit it got from the Michigan taxpayers.

In the end there must be a balance. This is a state park first and foremost for the people.

UPDATE, April 19, 2015: Through Michele Hodges of the Belle Isle Conservancy, the DNR has stated that the removed sidewalks were in poor condition. That is not true, so we’ve added three more photos showing the very good sidewalk condition prior to their removal. (The replaced road surface looks very good as well.)

MDOT has removed sidewalks on this Belle Isle road. MDOT installs sewer grates in bike lanes with unsafe gaps that can catch tires Belle Isle road rebuilt by MDOT but no sidewalk added MDOT is allowing the long term storage of barriers in the Belle Isle bike lanes. Current view of Downtown Detroit skyline from Belle Isle Does this look like a Complete Street appropriate for a state park? MDOT has blocked Belle Isle bike lanes for weeks MDOT directs Belle Isle bike lane into a barrier MDOT has removed sidewalks forcing pedestrians into the bike lane Belle Isle sidewalk, now removed. Belle Isle sidewalk removed to widen roadway Belle Isle sidewalk, now removed.

Additional Background

As part of the Belle Isle lease to the state, the roads on Belle Isle became MDOT’s responsibility. The park itself is the DNR’s responsibility.

In December 2013, the Michigan legislature appropriated $115 million from the general fund to a Roads and Risks Reserve Fund. That project list included the $4 million for Belle Isle roads. A Request for Qualifications was issued in March that described the project yet never mentioned the need to build Complete Streets. The team “Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix” was selected as project manager in April.

Our Original Suggested Improvements

Below are the suggested Belle Isle improvements we made in February 2013 and shared with the DNR, MDOT, the Belle Isle Conservancy, and the Belle Isle Advisory Committee.

Suggested Improvements for Non-motorized Transportation on Belle Isle

Since Belle Isle first became a park, it has been a popular location for biking and walking – however, there is room for improvement.

The old Belle Isle Master Plan’s Transportation Network section is out-of-date and doesn’t always propose best practices for non-motorized transportation. It was written before the bike lanes were implemented and seems to advocate against Complete Streets, which the city of Detroit and MDOT are using in current road designs. The Plan also offers no options for the large number of cyclists who ride in groups or at higher speeds – a historical use from the start.

Therefore, we are proposing some additional solutions and improvements that will make Belle Isle a world-class destination for those on foot or bike.

Current Problems

The two bike lane crossovers south of the MacArthur Bridge are uncomfortable for many cyclists.

The bike lanes, especially on the Bridge collect debris, including broken glass.

The Jefferson/Grand Boulevard intersection makes bicycle access to the island difficult.

There are no sidewalks along some of the major park roads forcing pedestrians to walk in the bike lanes.

There is poor drainage that causes large puddles in the bike lanes especially near the soccer field and nature zoo.

The asphalt pavement on the forest pathway is in poor condition.

There are only a few bike racks and they are not well-positioned.

There is a need for a basic bike repair station on the island.

Motor vehicle speeding impacts the safety of other park users.

Proposed Solutions and Improvements