• Truck traffic to be prohibited or limited along many key corridors as part of effort to reduce impact on area residents and small businesses

• Access will be maintained for local business deliveries

• Changes the result of comprehensive industry and resident input

• Truck travel restrictions will entail targeted police enforcement

In an effort to improve the safety and quality of life for residents in Southwest Detroit, while also supporting the city’s critical business economy, City officials today announced significant new truck route changes and restrictions that will go into effect Monday, October 6 as a result of the Southwest Detroit Truck Study.

The changes include new prohibitions on truck traffic along stretches of major roads that pass through residential areas – most notably Livernois, Dragoon, Clark, Scotten and W. Grand Boulevard – as well as on all residential streets. The plan also allows for limited truck access in some areas for local deliveries – including the West Vernor and Springwells commercial corridors, and identifies approved truck routes including John Kronk, Dix, Michigan Avenue, and Fort Street.

These restrictions, which will be accompanied by traffic enforcement and education, are the result of years of study, coordination and planning with the City, residents, small business owners and truck operators. The City conducted an exhaustive analysis of the various truck traffic generators in Southwest Detroit and identifying travel behavior to and from these generators, particularly the Livernois Junction Intermodal Terminal which has more than 1200 truck trips per day.

As a result of its findings, City officials are implementing new truck restrictions throughout Southwest Detroit to prevent cut through truck traffic on residential streets and will be working with City Council on ordinance revisions to strengthen penalties on owners and operators that don’t comply with signage and restrictions.

The City is also happy to announce the release of a new platform for reporting truck-related issues such as truck parking, truck idling, and trucks driving on restricted routes to assist with enforcement and further refinement of trucking policies. Residents can report trucking issues to the City using this link: arcg.is/iGDbv0.

“Trucking is critically important to our local economy, but as that economy has grown, the increased truck traffic has created environmental, health, and quality of life issues for residents of the Southwest Detroit community,” said DPW Deputy Director and Chief of Infrastructure for the City of Detroit, Sam Krassenstein. “It’s taken intense work and input from all sides – City, industry and residents – to roll out a strategy that balances needs, health and safety of the Southwest Detroit citizens and the business of the trucking industry.”

Detroit City Council has also been a great partner in making decisions that will improve the quality of life for Detroiters and the Southwest community. Former District 6 Councilmember Raquel Castaneda Lopez was a vocal advocate for residents in the area and initiated the city’s study and current member Gabriela Santiago Romero has been a full partner in the process.

“For decades, our residents have suffered from the harms of heavy truck traffic: poor air quality, reckless driving, and damage to our city infrastructure. They have organized and advocated that the City take action.” said Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero, “Now, after years of working towards a legislative solution alongside the Administration and community, I am thrilled to announce these new truck route restrictions which center the safety of our families and our residential streets. While work still remains, I am grateful we are finally taking action to improve the daily lives of our residents.”

Below are details of the new truck traffic restrictions, as well as approved truck routes:

No Truck Traffic:

• Livernois between Vernor and I-75 Service Dr.

• Dragoon between Vernor and I-75 Service Dr.

• Clark between Toledo and I-75 Service Dr.

• Scotten between Toledo and I-75 Service Dr.

• Grand Blvd. between Toledo and I-75 Service Dr.

• Lonyo between St. John and Michigan Ave

• Central between Parkwood and Michigan Ave

• Toledo between Livernois and Clark

• All streets between Vernor, I-75 Service Dr., and Woodmere unless otherwise posted

Local Truck Access and Deliveries Only:

• Central between John Kronk and Parkwood

• Lonyo between John Kronk and St. John

• Vernor between Woodmere and Dix

• Vernor between I-75 Service Drive and Livernois

• Springwells between Vernor and I-75 Service Dr.

Approved Truck Routes

• M-85 Fort Street (MDOT)

• US-12 Michigan Avenue (MDOT)

• John Kronk

• Livernois north of Vernor

• I-75 Service Drive

• Dix (Wayne County)

• Wyoming (Wayne County)

• Miller (Wayne County)

Access to the Livernois Junction Intermodal Rail Terminal:

• No access from I-75 through residential neighborhoods

• Trucks must access using approved truck route

• Recommended access using I-94 – Exit 212/212A (Livernois)

• Trucks may also use for access to M-85 Fort Street or I-75:

  • John Kronk to Wyoming

  • Dix to Miller

“Based on our study and the feedback we received from the community, our primary goal was to make the biggest positive impact in the corridor between Vernor and I-75, so we’ve addressed many of the cut-through corridors trucks have used in the past,” said Krassenstein. “While this may result in somewhat longer routes for truckers, it will improve the quality of life for residents and businesses. The trucking industry has been understanding and supportive of the need for these changes.”

Background

Southwest Detroit is an international commercial gateway and key node in the local, regional, and state level freight, logistics, and manufacturing sectors. Southwest Detroit encompasses 18 square miles and is bordered or intersected by the Detroit and Rouge Rivers, I-75, I-94, and I-96 freeways, and has multiple rail lines crisscrossing through it. The neighborhood is host to the Ambassador Bridge, the busiest United States–Canada border crossing and only international crossing between Detroit and Windsor, Canada that allows large trucks. A second bridge span across the Detroit River, the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which will also carry truck traffic, is projected to open soon. These transportation corridors have made Southwest Detroit a prime location for industrial activity.