When the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) built I-275 in the 1970s as a western bypass of Metro Detroit, installing a paved bike trail parallel to the highway was a visionary, multimodal achievement. Although portions of the I-275 Metro Trail have since been reconstructed or planned for improvement, much of the trail has deteriorated over time and has limited connection with surrounding regional trails, contributing to low usage. To assist the MDOT Metro Region develop a strategy for increasing walking and biking usage, Wade Trim, with assistance from LivingLAB, conducted a scoping assessment for approximately 30 miles of the I-275 Metro Trail through eight communities in Wayne County and developed guidelines and recommendations for rehabilitation. The American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) recently honored the project with a 2024 Merit Award for Engineering Excellence.

The I-275 Metro Trail Scoping and Asset Management Plan accommodated the trail’s complex, road-like features and included design level activities to deliver an outcome-driven roadmap for implementing improvements. The study began with an assessment of the trail’s existing pavement condition, structures, signs, drainage, connections, fencing, safety, accessibility, road crossings, and user experience. Completed using Esri Collector with GIS/GPS technology, this unique approach streamlined collection of extensive geo-located data by uploading preset key items and parameters to the equipment prior to fieldwork. Data collected was combined with aerial images, MDOT data, and community resources. Two levels of recommendations, six prioritized projects, and funding analysis provide MDOT with a flexible approach to partner with stakeholders to expand the connected regional trail network in Southeast Michigan.

Wade Trim’s Community Design Area Lead Scot Lautzenheiser (left), Transportation Engineer Kristy Thullen, Transportation Area Lead Lori Pawlik, and Professional Landscape Architect Katie Dennis with MDOT’s Transportation Planner James VanSteel, accepted the award at the ACEC/M Engineering and Surveying Excellence Awards Gala on March 9, 2024, in Detroit, MI.