Gratiot Avenue TOD Plan — Local Form Studio

Gratiot Avenue TOD Plan
Detroit, MI

While Gratiot Avenue was once a major hub of activity in Detroit, major population loss impacted redevelopment potential. Seen as integral to the ultimate success of a planned BRT system, opportunities for TOD at key stations along the Gratiot corridor were identified.

Prior to completion of I-94, Gratiot Avenue was the main route connecting communities along Lake St. Clair including Detroit, Eastpointe, Roseville, Clinton Township, Mount Clemens, New Haven, Richmond, Marysville, and Port Huron. The corridor remains one of the primary routes connecting downtown Detroit to Port Huron and Canada.

The primary objectives for this study were to determine a Locally Preferred Alternative for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and the identification of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) opportunities on land adjacent to the BRT corridor.

Role
While Gratiot Avenue was once a major hub of activity within the City of Detroit, major population loss along the corridor has impacted redevelopment potential. Seen as integral to the ultimate success of the new BRT system, opportunities for TOD at key stations along the Gratiot corridor were identified. Working with the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan and stakeholders, Local Form Studio’s Christopher Riale led a series of TOD planning charrettes to inform the development of illustrative TOD master plans that showcase the most promising opportunities for redevelopment and community connections to the corridor. As a result of this planning process, many of the municipalities are updating their master plans to include key land use, connections, and building form strategies highlighted in the plans along Gratiot Avenue.

* Work completed by Christopher Riale while employed with WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff.

Client