Peters, Stabenow Applaud $31 Million in Federal Grants for Southeast Michigan Communities to Support Road Safety Projects to Prevent Deaths and Serious Injuries

DETROIT, MI – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today applauded more than $31 million in federal grants for Southeast Michigan communities to improve roadway safety. The funding awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program, is made possible through the bipartisan infrastructure law that Peters and Stabenow helped enact into law. The Safe Streets and Roads for All program funds regional and local road safety projects and strategies that will help prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.

“Michiganders deserve to have the peace of mind that their streets and roadways are as safe as possible,” said Senator Peters. “These federal investments will help communities take commonsense steps to help prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.”  

“This investment will help our local communities use their resources more effectively and make our roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers by focusing improvements in areas with high fatalities and other safety issues. This is another example of how the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is helping our state,” said Senator Stabenow.

"We are deeply appreciative to our partners at the US Department of Transportation for awarding our city this grant.  Thanks to this new funding, we will be able to bring safety improvements to 35 miles of commercial corridors, most of them in historically disadvantaged areas of our city," said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.

"This grant will provide resources that will be key in enhancing traffic safety throughout the city," said Ron Brundidge, Director of the Detroit Department of Public Works. "We are committed to implementing proven measures that will make a real difference in reducing speeding and improving safety on city streets, with a targeted emphasis on corridors with the highest volume of incidents." 

A list of awards for Southeast Michigan projects can be found below.

• City of Detroit - $24,800,000.00      
• Detroit has had one of the highest traffic fatality rates in the U.S. Last year, the City reported its traffic crash fatality rate per capita in 2020 was the second-highest among large cities in the United States and its pedestrian fatality rate ranked third highest. Detroit plans to use the federal funding throughout the city on projects to make high-injury areas safer, such as bike lanes and pedestrian islands, and add curb extensions, high-visibility crosswalks, intersection lighting, and pedestrian countdown timers. The projects are designed to improve pedestrian safety and encourage safe driving speeds.

• City of Ann Arbor - $3,800,000.00
• The award will be used by the City of Ann Arbor to build upon the existing safety action plan to conduct a speed management study and pursue other projects.

• City of Ferndale - $385,000
• The award will be used by the City of Ferndale to develop a comprehensive safety action plan.

• City of Highland Park - $200,000   
• The award will be used by the City of Highland Park to develop a comprehensive safety action plan.

• Macomb County Department of Roads - $1,000,000       
• The award will be used by the Macomb County Department of Roads to develop a comprehensive safety action plan.

• Road Commission for Oakland County - $467,528          
• The award will be used by the Road Commission for Oakland County to develop a comprehensive safety action plan.

• Southeast Michigan Council of Governments - $585,587.20       
• The award will be used by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments to build upon the existing safety action plan to conduct road safety audits and develop a safety analysis tool.

• Van Buren Charter Township - $384,900
• The award will be used by the Van Buren Charter Township to develop a comprehensive safety action plan.

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