The I-75 Cap is a locally led, and U.S. Department of Transportation supported, initiative to reconnect communities cut off from economic and social opportunities by prior transportation infrastructure decisions. The DDP is co-leading this planning initiative with the City of Detroit and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).
I-75 Cap Community Visioning Session #3 Survey
The third I-75 Cap Visioning Session took place on Tuesday, October 29 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the MSU Detroit Center to continue efforts to review and develop plans to cap a section(s) of I-75 between Downtown and Midtown. During this session, the project team showcased the preferred alternative based on community feedback from the first two visioning sessions. The DDP is grateful to everyone who has participated in this important exercise, and we encourage you to take the survey distributed in the third session below.
DDP's Involvement
The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) was awarded a $2 million grant from the federal Reconnecting Communities program to explore freeway capping options within the I-75 right-of-way (along Woodward Avenue from 3rd Avenue on the west to Brush Street on the east) owned by the MDOT. DDP is co-leading this planning initiative with the City of Detroit and MDOT.
What is a Highway Cap?
Highway caps are structures built over highways with the intention of reconnecting communities harmed by this infrastructure. A range of benefits can result from these projects, including enhanced mobility, environmental benefits, and added public space serving as an anchor for current and future development.
I-75 is an Interstate Highway that runs north-south from Florida to the Upper Peninsula. Construction of the Downtown Detroit segment of I-75 started in the late 1950s, and the freeway replaced active urban uses with a barrier between Downtown and neighborhoods to the north. That barrier persists to this day. Building highway caps can help enhance local connectivity and quality of life while maintaining the regional and national transportation network.
Community Resources
Click here to read a case study of other projects that the design team reviewed and used as precedents to help inform their process, develop ideas, and understand what a capping project would look like: DDP I-75 Cap Case Study Report.
Click here to view a collection of data that is used as a resource for the goal development, public engagement, and influencing ongoing and future efforts in the development of the I-75 cap project: DDP Map Framework.
Click here to read a report that summarizes public engagement activities for the second phase of engagement of the I-75 Cap Study. Activities included an in-person public meeting, an online survey, an engagement session with local small business owners, and outreach to the senior community: Survey and Public Meeting 2 Summary Report.
Completed Engagement Opportunities
Public and stakeholder engagement aims to foster inclusivity and transparency toward gathering information, educating stakeholders about the I-75 Cap, and providing an opportunity for public input.
There will be additional opportunities for public engagement throughout this process. Our second and third public meetings will dive deeper into the alternative analysis for each of these sections, collecting input and feedback along the way.
Public Meeting #1: July 2024 (Completed)
Read the meeting recap.
Review the workshop stations materials.
Public Meeting #2: August 2024 (Completed)
Read the meeting recap.
Public Meeting #3: October 29, 2024 (Completed)
For additional information and feedback, please send an email to: [email protected].
Thank you for your thoughts, support, and partnership.