Environmental Assessment I-375 Improvement Project in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan December 2020 Prepared by the Michigan Department of Transportation in cooperation with the U.S Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. Environmental Assessment for I-375 Improvement Project I-75 South of Mack Avenue to Detroit Riverfront Located in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan MDOT Control Section 82111, 82195, 82196, 82251, 82072, Job Number 130035 Prepared by: Michigan Department of Transportation in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Digitally signed by MARK G LEWIS Date: 2020.12.22 _______________________________09:52:30 -05'00' Federal Highway Administration Mark G. Lewis, P.E. Program Development Unit Manager For additional information concerning the proposed Project or this document, please contact: Ruth Hepfer, P.E. Jonathan Loree, P.E. Environmental and ROW Program Specialist Senior Project Manager Federal Highway Administration Michigan Dept. of Transportation 315 West Allegan, Room 201 P.O. Box 30050 Lansing, Michigan 48933 Lansing, MI 48909 (517) 702-1847 (313) 967-5420 Comments on this EA should be received within 45 days of the date of publication and should be sent to: Monica Monsma, Public Involvement and Hearings Officer, Michigan Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 30050, Lansing, MI 48909, Phone: 517-335-4381, E-mail: [email protected] Preface The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 requires that the social, economic, cultural, and natural environmental impacts of any proposed action by the federal government be analyzed for decision-making and public information purposes. There are three classes of action. Class I Actions, which are those that may significantly affect the environment, require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Class II Actions, Categorical Exclusions, are those that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the environment and do not require the preparation of an EIS or an Environmental Assessment (EA). Class III Actions are those for which the significance of impacts is not clearly established. Class III Actions require the preparation of an EA to determine the significance of impacts and the appropriate environmental document to be prepared – either an EIS or a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). This document is an EA for the proposed changes to Interstate Highway 375 (I-375) from I-75 south of Mack Avenue to the Detroit Riverfront, Michigan. It describes the Practical Alternatives, identifies a Preferred Alternative, and analyzes potential impacts and the measures taken to minimize harm to the Project area. It will be distributed to the public and to various federal, state, and local agencies for review and comment. A formal public hearing on this study will then be held. If review and comment by the public and interested agencies support the determination of “no significant impact,” this EA will be forwarded to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) with a recommendation that a FONSI be issued. If it is determined that the Preferred Alternative will have significant impacts that cannot be mitigated, the preparation of an EIS will be required. This document was prepared by HNTB for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), in cooperation with the FHWA and other members of the I-375 study team. The study team includes representatives from the following areas of expertise within MDOT: Design, Planning, Real Estate, Environment, Traffic and Safety, Bridges, and Construction. Other federal and state agencies, local units of government, public interest groups, and individuals also provided information for this EA. I-375 Improvement Project | Environmental Assessment ii Table of Contents Preface .............................................................................................................................................................. ii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................ iii List of Acronyms and Abbreviations............................................................................................... viii 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1. Project Description ............................................................................................................1 1.2. Project Background ...........................................................................................................4 1.3. Project Information ............................................................................................................4 2. Purpose and Need ................................................................................................................................ 5 2.1. Background .......................................................................................................................5 2.2. Project Purpose .................................................................................................................5 2.3. Project Need ......................................................................................................................6 2.3.1. Outdated Design ...................................................................................................6 2.3.2. Condition of Bridges and Roadways .....................................................................6 2.3.3. Existing and Future Transportation Needs ............................................................8 2.3.4. Connectivity and Access Issues ..........................................................................10 2.3.5. Enable Future Development and Placemaking ................................................... 11 3. Alternatives ........................................................................................................................................... 13 3.1. Alternatives Screening ....................................................................................................13 3.1.1. No-Build Alternative .............................................................................................14 3.1.2. Low Cost Alternatives ..........................................................................................15 3.1.3. Illustrative Alternatives .........................................................................................15 3.1.4. Practical Alternatives ...........................................................................................16 3.1.5. Refinements to Practical Alternative 5 .................................................................21 3.2. Preferred Alternative Description.....................................................................................23 3.2.1. Boulevard Design Concept ..................................................................................23 3.2.2. I-75/I-375 Interchange .........................................................................................26 3.2.3. Gratiot Ave./Madison Ave./St. Antoine St. Intersections ......................................27 3.2.4. Eastern Market Area ............................................................................................29 3.2.5. Jefferson Avenue .................................................................................................30 3.3. Preferred Alternative and Purpose and Need .................................................................30 3.3.1. Outdated Design .................................................................................................30 3.3.2. Existing and Future Transportation Needs ..........................................................30 3.3.3. Connectivity and Access Issues ..........................................................................31 3.3.4. Enable Future Development and Placemaking ...................................................31 I-375 Improvement Project | Environmental Assessment iii Table of Contents 4. Affected Environment and Potential Impacts ........................................................................ 32 4.1. Public Transportation ......................................................................................................36 4.2. Nonmotorized Operations and Vehicular Operations ......................................................39 4.2.1. Nonmotorized ......................................................................................................39 4.2.2. Vehicular ..............................................................................................................43 4.3. Nonmotorized Safety and Vehicular Safety .....................................................................50 4.3.1. Pedestrian Safety ................................................................................................50 4.3.2. Bicycle Safety ......................................................................................................51 4.3.3. Vehicular Safety ..................................................................................................51 4.4. Parking ............................................................................................................................52 4.5. Social and Economic Factors ..........................................................................................55