Detroit, MI

Built environment, Community safety and policing, Climate and environment | 2025

Documented the neighborhood impacts of truck traffic hot spots to reduce pollution and increase traffic safety. 

Underinvested areas in Detroit’s Districts 4 and 6 are host to heavy industry, utilities, highways, and rail infrastructure. For nearby residential areas, the proximity to industry means increased truck traffic, which leads to increased air pollution and hazardous conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision worked with community groups to build detailed maps identifying areas with high truck traffic and collected data to document its impacts, aiming to reduce negative effects on their neighborhoods.

Partner organizations with established relationships in both districts hosted community data-gathering events. More than 100 residents attended, completing surveys about their perceptions of trucking and high truck traffic locations and their experiences living in proximity to these hot spots. Survey responses informed the five truck traffic hot spots where residents and community groups placed customized cameras that work in tandem with air quality monitors to collect and document air quality data. The monitors generally confirmed residents’ perceptions: high levels of particulate matter were identified near hot spots, with even higher concentrations expected in summer. Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision shared findings with participants through newsletters, social media outreach, and community meetings.  

Community partners, neighborhood block clubs, and community development organizations will use findings from the project to engage the city council and local agencies about ways to address the harmful effects of excessive truck traffic. The groups will advocate for a citywide ordinance establishing designated truck routes to mitigate these harms. For other community organizations documenting the impacts of trucking, this project can serve as a guide to air quality data collection. Through this work, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision built local capacity for neighborhoods to take planning into their own hands and create safer, healthier, and cleaner communities for their families and future generations.