Pedestrian Mobility Analysis, Detroit, MI
Pedestrian Mobility Analysis, Detroit, MI
Embedded Files
Detroit’s I-375 freeway was constructed in the mid-20th century and created a physical barrier between downtown Detroit and surrounding neighborhoods. In response, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has proposed replacing the below-grade freeway with a street-level urban boulevard as part of the I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project.
This master’s thesis evaluates how the proposed redesign could affect pedestrian mobility and neighborhood connectivity in the areas surrounding the corridor. Using GIS-based network analysis, the project compares the existing pedestrian infrastructure with the proposed design to assess whether the redevelopment improves walkability and access between neighborhoods and downtown.
To accurately model pedestrian movement, detailed sidewalk and crosswalk networks were digitized from aerial orthophotography, creating a formal pedestrian facilities network. The analysis then measured changes in connectivity across 17 census tracts using a combination of network structure and accessibility metrics.
Results
The analysis shows that the proposed boulevard design improves pedestrian connectivity near the current freeway corridor, particularly in areas immediately adjacent to the redevelopment zone.
Network metrics such as intersection density, network density, and link-to-node ratio indicate improved structural connectivity in nearby census tracts. Distance-based measures, including route directness and walking shed accessibility, demonstrate increased pedestrian access to surrounding destinations.
However, the improvements are spatially concentrated near the corridor, with limited changes observed in areas farther away. Overall, the findings suggest that the redesign could strengthen neighborhood connections and improve walkability in downtown Detroit’s eastern edge.
Pedestrian Accessibility Metric Example: Pedestrian Route Directness
Current Network PRD
Current Network PRD
Proposed Network PRD
Proposed Network PRD
Percent Change in PRD
Percent Change in PRD
Key Maps & Visualizations
Key Maps & Visualizations
Digitized pedestrian infrastructure network (sidewalks and crosswalks)
Existing vs. proposed pedestrian connectivity networks
Intersection and network density analysis by census tract
Pedestrian Route Directness comparison between existing and proposed networks
Pedestrian Walking Shed accessibility maps showing pedestrian reach within the study area
GIS Editing & Processing Tools
GIS Editing & Processing Tools
Heads-up digitizing of pedestrian infrastructure
Polyline editing and topology correction
Network connectivity analysis
Walking shed and accessibility analysis
Spatial data preparation and attribute table management
Technical Tools & Data Sources
ArcGIS Pro
High-resolution aerial orthophotography
U.S. Census spatial datasets
Detroit municipal geospatial data
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