Senators Stabenow and Peters Announce $9.3 Million in Federal Funding to Improve Roadway Safety Across Michigan

Senators Stabenow and Peters Announce $9.3 Million in Federal Funding to Improve Roadway Safety Across Michigan

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (MI) and Gary Peters (MI) announced $9.3 million in federal funding to help Michigan communities identify local and regional road safety projects that will help prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. The funding is being awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program, which was funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that the senators helped enact.

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

"We have an obligation to ensure that our Michigan roadways are as safe as possible for drivers, motorcyclists, bikers and pedestrians," said Senator Peters. "These projects will help communities across our state harness technology to identify and take action to address safety concerns and save lives on our roadways."

Below are descriptions of each project:

• Romulus Fire Department Signal Preemption: The Romulus Fire Department was awarded $4,837,834 to test traffic signal preemption systems, which aim to improve safety for motorists as emergency vehicles enter and continue through intersections when responding to emergency situations.

• Long Lake Comprehensive Safety Action Plan: The Charter Township of Long Lake will receive $2,400,000 to develop a comprehensive safety plan and conduct supplemental and demonstration activities around post-crash care. Activities will include emergency vehicle transponders, providing critical health information to first responders, and investigating advanced vehicle location information.

• Road Safety Assessment Using Advanced AI and Collaborative Sensing: Macomb County is receiving $1 million to test Omni RoadSense technology in up to five locations across the county, prioritizing areas with high traffic fatalities and serious injuries. The project aims to enhance the safety monitoring and mitigation capabilities of the county to understand the scope of intersection traffic safety issues.

• Wayne County Safety Demonstration Pilot: Wayne County was awarded $792,000 to conduct safety demonstration activities that will inform future updates to its Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. The project aims to improve signalized intersections and help detect dilemma zones, or sections of roadway that present drivers with a difficult decision whether to stop or proceed when a stoplight turns yellow.

• Saugatuck Township Comprehensive Safety Action Plan: Saugatuck Township was awarded $140,000 to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan to address safety issues for commercial, residential, pedestrian, and cyclist traffic throughout the Township. By examining the key routes in the area, the proposed plan will define the Township's priorities for improvements, determine the acceptable capacity of roadways and intersections.

• Village of Ahmeek Comprehensive Safety Action Plan: The Village of Ahmeek was awarded $80,000 to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan to address safety risks associated with increasing tourism and four-season recreation in the area.

• Rawsonville Road Safety Audit: The Washtenaw County Road Commission will receive $72,000 to conduct a comprehensive Road Safety Audit to identify proven safety countermeasures to significantly reduce or eliminate fatalities and serious injuries.

Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that the number of roadway fatalities across the United States rose significantly in both 2020 and 2021, but have declined in the years since. In 2023, NHTSA estimates 40,990 roadway deaths - a 3.6 percent reduction from 2022. Since passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law, Michigan has received more than $120 million in planning and implementation awards made possible through SS4A. This funding aims to support continued reduction of roadway deaths by helping communities improve roadway safety at the local level. More information about the Safe Streets and Roads for All program can be found here.

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