DETROIT — The Downtown Detroit Partnership, in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Transportation and the City of Detroit, announced the selection of AECOM to lead the I-75 Cap Feasibility Study in downtown Detroit.
Funded by a $2 million FY2023 U.S. Department of Transportation Neighborhood Access and Equity Program planning grant, officials said this feasibility study represents “a critical next step” in realizing the community-led vision to reconnect neighborhoods divided by I-75 through the creation of new public park spaces above the freeway.
“The Downtown Detroit Partnership is pleased to enter the feasibility study phase and gather additional community input that will help shape a lasting legacy for future generations,” said Eric B. Larson, DDP CEO. “We look forward to partnering with AECOM to guide this pivotal project and deliver a visionary path forward.”
AECOM is a leading global transportation and infrastructure engineering firm. Locally, it has assisted with the rebuilding of the I-696 park caps in Oak Park. Nationally, AECOM led the urban design and public engagement on behalf of PennDOT for the Park at Penn’s Landing, a cap over I-95 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Scope of Work
Over the next 12 months, AECOM will lead a multidisciplinary team to deliver engineering, public space design, and community engagement services advancing the project’s design and construction viability. The study will focus on:
- Community Engagement: Developing inclusive outreach strategies and hosting regular public meetings to ensure the design reflects community priorities.
- Public Space Design: Creating schematic plans and placemaking concepts for three proposed park cap designs and adjacent right-of-way enhancements.
- Transportation Engineering: Evaluating traffic, pedestrian, and transit impacts, and preparing early-stage engineering and environmental documentation.
“The I-75 Cap is an example of how Detroit’s transportation infrastructure can adapt to better serve the needs of the City’s residents, businesses and visitors,” said Jeromie Winsor, AECOM Detroit’s senior planning manager. “We are excited to work with DDP and its partners to advance this initiative.”
The I-75 Cap Feasibility Study builds on previous community engagement and planning efforts completed last year and will lay the groundwork for future design, funding, and implementation phases. Final deliverables will include design concepts, updated budget projections, construction phasing, and maintenance recommendations.
In 2024, the Downtown Detroit Partnership, together with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the City of Detroit, hosted three community-led Vision and Alternatives Analysis sessions followed by online surveys to identify a preferred approach for capping a section of I-75 between Brush Street and 3rd Avenue in Downtown Detroit.
After a robust and meaningful engagement process, the community selected a series of three park caps as the preferred alternative. This approach was identified as the most effective way to reconnect communities long divided by the freeway and generate economic and social impact for Detroit residents, businesses, and visitors.
The I-75 Cap Feasibility Study will build on this work by refining technical designs and implementation strategies that honor the community’s vision and pave the way for future construction.
