Project Overview

The Joe Louis Greenway (JLG) is envisioned to be 27.5 miles of pathway that provides a safe loop around the city and connects Dearborn, Hamtramck and Highland Park. The project entails new trails, on-street bike lanes and links to existing trails. In 2018, the City of Detroit purchased a 7.5-mile stretch of former Conrail corridor and securing the remaining land needed to complete the circuit. At its widest point, the JLG will be about 276 feet across, allowing for an array of recreational amenities and unique programming and development opportunities. The City of Detroit has committed at least $20 million to construct the first phase of the project in 2021 through a combination of public and private funds.

Project Scope

NTH is providing the following environmental consulting services to assist the City of Detroit (City) and the design team in identifying and managing environmental concerns affecting the acquisition and reuse of the 7.5-mile former rail corridor within the JLG project area:

  • Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) performed in accordance with the current American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Practice E1527, consistent with U.S. EPA All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI), Rule 40 CFR Part 312.
  • Phase II ESAs to evaluate the recognized environmental conditions or items of potential environmental concern identified during the Phase I ESAs. The studies consisted of geophysical surveys, drilling soil borings and chemically analyzing soil and water samples.
  • Subsurface environmental investigations to further evaluate, characterize and delineate the contamination in near-surface soil to facilitate proposed design elements.
  • Baseline Environmental Assessment (BEA) report prepared on behalf of the City to seek exemption of liability for existing subsurface contamination at the project site.
  • Due Care Plans to satisfy the City’s continuous obligations to prevent exacerbation of contamination and to protect public health and environment from contamination that exists at the project site upon acquisition and during site development.
  • Response Activity Plan (RespAP) developed for approval by the Michigan Department of Energy, Great Lakes, and the Environment (EGLE). The plan documents the response actions that will prevent or mitigate unacceptable exposure to subsurface contamination at the project site, allowing for its safe use by the public after construction. Development of the RespAP required additional investigation to delineate and protect against exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as required by the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Proposed response actions include limited removal of contaminated soils and installation of exposure barriers such as pavements and imported soil in landscaped areas, passive planting areas, and storm water bioretention areas.
Client Benefit

NTH’s expertise was instrumental in conducting due diligence and developing a plan for complying with continuing obligations for the proposed Joe Louis Greenway. NTH is proud to contribute to this transformational project that links Detroit neighborhoods previously separated by freeways and other obstacles and revitalizes them with a family-friendly, multi-use path.