Introduction
Detroit’s streets serve critical functions: While their primary purpose might be to help people and goods move, our streets also serve as places to socialize, shop, and exercise. They are places of artistic expression and community meeting. Detroit’s streets have a fundamental impact on people’s quality of life, health, mobility, and safety. Recognizing the important role Detroit’s streets play in the lives of our residents and visitors, the City of Detroit is introducing the Detroit Street Design Guide Streets for People (SFP) to provide guidance and recommendations on all aspects of street design in Detroit.
Designing Streets for Safety
Our highest priority is to design streets that are safe for all users. Between 2014 and 2018, 435 pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers and passengers were killed in traffic accidents in Detroit and 1,639 more were seriously injured. Our goal is to eliminate these preventable, life-altering tragedies, recognizing that the responsibility for road safety is shared between designers and users. We will use this guide to design streets where all people feel safe, secure and welcome.
What is the Purpose of this Guide?
The Streets for People Detroit Design Guide communicates expectations regarding the design of Detroit’s public streets. The intent of this Guide is to ensure that Detroit’s streets serve all users: pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and drivers of all ages, abilities, and identities.
Who should use this guide?
The Guide is intended primarily as a resource for City planning and engineering staff, but is also a resource for residents, decision makers, developers, advocates, and neighborhood groups. The Guide is also intended to serve as a reference for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Wayne County Department of Utilities when designing or improving streets under their jurisdiction within the City of Detroit.
What is included?
This document includes guidelines for the variety of street types in Detroit. More details on street furniture, sidewalks, bike facilities and more are included.
