Senators Stabenow & Peters Applaud Federal Funding to Improve Safety on Michigan Roadways

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (MI) and Gary Peters (MI) applauded several federal investments coming to Michigan communities through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program, which funds local and regional road safety projects that will help prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. Funding for this program is made possible through the bipartisan infrastructure law that the senators helped enact.

“This investment will give our local communities the tools they need to keep Michigan pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers safe. Roadway deaths are all too common, and this is an important step to improve some of the most dangerous streets in our state,” said Senator Stabenow.

“It’s important that Michiganders feel safe when using our roadways, regardless of whether they are driving a car, riding a bike or walking,” said Senator Peters. “These federal investments will help our communities take the necessary steps to address safety concerns and ensure our roadways are as safe as possible.”

Americans are currently enduring a safety crisis on our roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that 42,915 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021, the highest number of fatalities since 2005 and the largest annual percentage increase ever recorded. Preliminary statistics from 2022 continue to indicate elevated rates of roadway fatalities. The SS4A program will help reverse this trend by supporting the development of comprehensive safety action plans, which help identify and address the most significant roadway safety concerns in a community. Once a comprehensive safety action plan is in place, a community is eligible to apply for additional grant funding to demonstrate or implement strategies defined in its action plan.  

The communities and entities listed below are receiving funding for demonstration and implementation activities related to an action plan:

• The City of Dearborn is receiving $24,894,430 to install a road diet, which will calm traffic along a two-mile stretch of Warren Avenue. This project also includes the addition of a separated bike lane and installation of LED lighting, which will improve safety and lower the carbon footprint of the area.
• The City of Detroit is receiving $24,800,000 to improve safety and bus stop accessibility at 56 high-crash intersections served by the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) bus service. Safety implementations include sidewalk widening, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) curb ramp updates, high-visibility crosswalks and signal timing improvements.
• Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) is receiving $10,000,000 to test a variety of road safety measures aimed at protecting pedestrians and bicyclists, who are among the most vulnerable road users. This includes in installation of bike lanes, curb extensions, speed bumps and enhanced crosswalk pavement markings.
• Macomb County is receiving $2,140,000 to implement video analytics platforms to identify safety issues at signalized intersections.

The entities listed below are receiving funding to develop initial comprehensive safety action plans:

• Novi Safety Action Plan - $160,320
• Wayne County Comprehensive Safety Action Plan - $1,000,000
• Dearborn Heights Safety Action Plan - $396,700
• City of Saginaw Safety Action Plan - $278,530
• Canton Township Safe Streets and Roads for All Action Plan - $396,800
• Mount Clemens Downtown District Comprehensive Safety Action Plan - $80,320
• City of Pontiac Road Safety Action Plan Development Project - $200,000
• Creating Safe, Equitable Streets for the Cities of Wayne, Westland, Garden City, and Inkster - $192,000

More information about the Safe Streets and Roads for All program can be found here.

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